Survivors Luxborough Galley

the survivors, improvised sail, in mid-atlantic. cleveley, c. 1727.

the escape on boat left fleeing in precarious situation, no food or water, no compass, , ill-prepared ocean voyage safety. of on board yawl, decrying predicament, proposed relieve craft s burden casting alleged instigators of blaze, 2 boys, ocean. overruled, , captain vetoed proposal settle matters allotment. later deaths of occupants made unnecessary.

the luxborough s crew adrift 2 weeks, , number reduced twelve before rescue fishermen off coast of newfoundland. captain died next day. tended rescuers before setting out major port. 5 men reached destination; 1 man went new england , rest reached london on 14 october. of few survivors, william boys survived age of 74; surgeon, scrimsour, 80; , george mould died @ greenwich hospital aged 82.

the gruesome details of survivors of luxborough galley appeared in notices in newspapers. in september, evening post , others reprinted ghoulish report of boston gazette. account of incident subject of 1787 book william boys, son of 1 survivor, commodore william boys, r.n. (c. 1700–1774), had risen through ranks become lieutenant-governor of greenwich hospital.

the penny magazine of 1834 reproduced part of boys narrative, comparing later disaster of sinking of royal george. narrative detailed journey leading sinking, , means navigated, improvised sail, , obtained meagre amount of water. frank account of fifth day of voyage gave recipe continued survival,

the sensation of hunger not urgent, saw necessity of recruiting our bodies more substantial nourishment, , @ time found ourselves impelled adopt horrible expedient of eating part of bodies of our dead companions, , drinking blood. our surgeon, mr. scrimsour, man of utmost humanity, first suggested idea, and, resolute set example, ate first morsel himself; but, @ second mouthful, turned face away many , wept. great reluctance brought ourselves try different parts of bodies of six, relish hearts, of ate three. drank blood of four. cutting throat little while after death, collected little more pint each body. here cannot mention particular respect shown men officers, men employed in melancholy business of collecting blood in pewter bason in boat, , rest of people, never touch drop till captain, surgeon, , myself had taken as thought proper. , can affirm, affected strong instance of regard left them larger share of right belonged them. expedient, shocking in relation, , distressing in use, undoubtedly means of preserving survived, found ourselves refreshed , invigorated nourishment, unnatural.

we saw birds flying on our heads, , fish playing round boat s stern, strove catch our hat-bands knotted together, , pin hook, baited piece of dead men s bodies; our contrivance not catch either fish or bird.

john nichols mentions boys work in literary anecdotes, , ends retelling of events remarking on great age of few survivors. series of paintings detailing events displayed younger boys in parlour, according thomas pennant.

another series of small paintings, attributed john cleveley elder in 1727, assumed reproductions of same; these acquired greenwich hospital , part of collection held @ national maritime museum. history of hospital reproduces rarer published account younger boys.