Ship in Distress, The

DESCRIPTION: Sailors on a becalmed ship suffer starvation. They cast lots to determine which of them shall die to feed the rest. The one who is chosen asks that a sentry climb the topmast to search for aid while he prays. A ship is sighted and they are rescued.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1907 (Butterworth) plus 19th century broadsheets
KEYWORDS: ship disaster cannibalism reprieve rescue starvation sailor
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South))
REFERENCES (9 citations):
Gardham-EarliestVersions, "SHIP IN DISTRESS, THE"
Copper-ASongForEverySeason, pp. 210-211, "Seamen Bold" (1 text, 1 tune)
Browne-FolkSongsOfOldHampshire, pp. 93-96, "The Ship in Distress" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sharp-OneHundredEnglishFolksongs 90, "The Ship in Distress" (1 text, 1 tune)
VaughanWilliams/Lloyd-PenguinBookOfEnglishFolkSongs, p. 96, "The Ship in Distress" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hugill-SongsOfTheSea, p. 143, "The Ship in Distress" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ashton-RealSailorSongs, #44, "The Ship in Distress" (1 text)
Palmer-OxfordBookOfSeaSongs 69, "The Ship in Distress" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, SHPDSTRS*
Roud #807
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "A Nau Catarineta" (Portuguese)
cf. "La Courte Paille" (French) (plot)
cf. "Little Boy Billee (Le Petite Navire, The Little Corvette)" (plot)
cf. "The Silk Merchant's Daughter (I)" [Laws N10] (plot)
cf. "The Banks of Newfoundland (II)" (plot)
cf. "The American Aginora" (plot)
File: ShH90

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