You Never Know What You Might Find
While doing research, I often find articles that intrigue me enough I want to search further but really have to resist or find myself going down a huge time suck of a rabbit hole. The above article definitely is in that realm. I have read numerous period stories of ship wrecks and cannibalism but have never heard mention of this one. Below is an article on a subject that I am familiar with but just didn't know the time frame involved (1860). It is a fairly small blurb in a newspaper full of columns of blurbs and I wonder if anyone paused while reading it and think history is being made. I would expect that most well read people in this time have heard of the Pony Express.
The first report is shocking. The second is a piece of American history. What changes in 160 years! Quite remarkable really.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it is shocking in that it has blatant racism mention in it. The cannibalism part however shouldn't be too shocking as it happened throughout our history here in American and across the ocean in England.
DeleteEd, history is a lot more replete with interesting stories and unhappy endings than we care to admit - and yes, rabbit holes upon rabbit holes.
ReplyDeleteI find that newspapers were more willing to talk about such things, especially to give a shock and sell more papers.
DeleteUgh. I'm sure events like that took place far more often than we want to think about. I'd rather believe the unthinkable only took place using bodies that were already dead... not killing someone for the purpose.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't, you should read "In the Heart of the Sea" a book on the voyage of the whale ship Essex on which the classic Moby Dick is based upon. There is cannibalism in it too and they drew straws to be entrée.
DeleteI don't know why, but I read that fun pony Express clipping first. Only 10 days! Seriously you have to give those riders some serious credit. Then I read the top article, and I think I'm going to have nightmares tonight! I feel very sorry for that second negro.. who wants to overhear they're going to be someone's meal? My God!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that would be rough when your name is brought up after someone asks, "Who's for dinner?"
DeleteThat cannibalism story -- oh my! I'm surprised they couldn't find any food on those islands. You'd think there would have been some crabs or fish.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the word in the second story -- "eneciatory"? I assume that means the first, initial step? I don't think it was a word even then.
I think it was a typo and should be initiatory. I find misspellings quite common in older articles. The one I was looking for had a misspelling of height to be hite.
DeleteOh, my, stories of cannibalism are much more common than any of us expect (or want). Turns my stomach but it is/was reality.
ReplyDeleteI expect the first cannibals probably said humans taste like chicken. I would like to say that if my choices were a certain death by starvation or eating a fellow person, I would choose the former but I don't think I would be telling the truth. I would be truthful in saying that I wouldn't kill someone else for consumption and I certainly hope I am never in the decision to find out which way I would go.
DeleteWell. That was a story to start the day on. Especially with the wor.st stomach bug in recent history
ReplyDeleteIt is never fun to fly across the ocean only to be waylaid by a stomach bug. It has happened to me more than once unfortunately. Hopefully you get better soon and can enjoy yourself.
DeleteWell they didn't mess around back then as they got right to the point with the headline in the first article. No click bait needed. I am in.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing what they could do back then.
DeleteThe way the articles were written is of interest to me. Like you said, optimally worded to attract more readers. Maybe the moral of the story is to never travel without a wild foods identification guide.
ReplyDeleteOh my.
ReplyDelete