Last meal

Galway, in Ireland, Feb. 24.

Michael M'Daniel of New Ross, in the county of Wexford, mariner, the only survivor of the unfortunate crew of the late ship Anne and Mary, of this port, wrecked on the coast of Kerry in December last, arrived here on Saturday last, and gives the following relation of the sufferings of that unhappy crew.

He saith, that he, with eight others, sailed from Drontheim in Norway the 1st of Sept. last, laden with deals for this town. That after a series of contrary winds and bad weather, they on October 10th, from an observation taken the day before, computed themselves to be within fifteen leagues of the islands of Aran, in the opening of this bay. As they were put to allowance some time before, it is easy to judge how pleasing it was to find themselves so near their desired port. But that very night, which proved squally, in wearing the ship in order to lie to, she overset; in which condition she remained, tossed about for the space of five hours, when by cutting away the rigging and part of the foremast (the only one they could then come at) she righted again: but during this disaster, her counter was stove in, and her entire cabin carried away, whereby they lost not only what little provisions they had left, but also their compass, and every other article that could be of use to them in navigating the vessel.

Ten days passed without their tasting a morsel, except two rats, which were equally shared among the starving crew. What followed next nothing but devouring famine could suggest. It was agreed, that one should die to support the rest and accordingly they cast lots.

The first fell upon Patrick Lidane, the only son of a poor widow in this town, who requested, that for their immediate subsistence, they would dispense with the calves of his legs; and that perhaps before they should be necessitated to have further recourse to him, Providence might do more for them than they expected. His request was granted and after cutting away the flesh of his legs, which they ate raw, and whereof he begged a morsel himself, but was refused, he was permitted to live thirty hours.

The second person who suffered the same fate was James Lee, who was delirious three days before he suffered; the third was his brother Patrick Lee; and the fourth was Bryan Flaherty. On these four bodies, which were eaten raw, and without any kind of drink, but what rain water they could catch in the skulls of the killed, did the rest subsist (while three of them who escaped the lot died in the forecastle) from the 20th or 21st of October to the 1st of December following, when the vessel was drove into the county of Kerry as aforesaid.

The captain and the present survivor were so worn out with famine and distress, that they were unable to stand, and scarcely shewed signs of life, and notwithstanding the greatest care was extended to them, the captain died in about thirty hours after he had been brought ashore. The same care was continued to this survivor, who, so soon as he was in a condition to travel, made the best of his way hither, to fulfill the dying injunctions of the crew who fell by lot as aforesaid, who severally made it their last and earnest request, that whosoever should survive, should as speedily as possibly they could, repair to this town, and there relate to their friends their miserable sufferings and sad catastrophe.