Terrible fate of the crew of the Three Brothers

 Liverpool Mercury April 27 1821

Extract of a letter from Deal:-

“The Lapwing, Captain GENTIL, arrived in the Downs in twenty-seven days from St Domingo. On the 2^nd instant, in lat36 30 lon. 50 42. fell in with a vessel water-logged, called the Three Brothers, Capt HUTCHINS and took there from one person, James MUNSON, who says the vessel belongs to St Andrew’s in America, and was bound on a voyage from Indiana to Berbice, laden with fish and staves, with a crew of seven hands; that on the 2^nd of March, the Captain being on the look-out for Bermuda, a heavy squall came on, laid the vessel on her beam-ends, carried away her foremast, and filled her with water, washing the captain overboard.

She shortly after righted. They had, at this time, a little beet-root, bread, and flour, with a little water, but all soaked with salt water. On this they subsided for seventeen days and were then about to cast llots who should be killed; but the mate advised they should wait till one died, which the poor fellow himself did the next day (there were left four hands, the captains son having died shortly after his father was washed overboard) when MUNSEN took the heart &c. from the body of the mate, dried it and existed thirteen days upon it.

The other poor fellows could not partake of this disgusting food and died the day after the mate. The captain of the Lapwing informs me, this man was lying on the deck with scarcely any sensation, he is now in a great measure recovered. He is about 27 years olf; and says he suffered more thirst than hunger One vessel, a brig, passed near but sailed on without notice, perhaps supposing there was no living person on board.

 Caryl Williams www.old-liverpool.co.uk Old Liverpool 1998-2008