Lyr. Add: The Ordeal of Andrew Rose

Come all you bold undaunted seamen,
Come listen a while to what I'm saying,
I will sing you of a cruel murder
That happened on board of the Martha Jane.

Oh now think on his cruel tortures,
He had no friends for to interpose,
Where they whipped and mangled, gagged and strangled
The British sailor named Andrew Rose.

The captain swore he would ill-use him
Seven long days before the time,
Then the cruel mate and the cruel captain
They then commenced at their bloody crime.

'Twas up aloft they sent that victim,
He was naked to the burning sun,
Then the cruel mate he flogged him after,
He flogged him till his blood in streams did run.

In an empty water-cask they put him,
Seven long days they kept him there,
And so pitiful he begged for water,
But our cruel captain would let none come near.

Then the captain and mate they made him swallow
Things on earth I cannot name,
And all of our crew fell sick with sorrow
Wlilst on board of the Martha Jane.

Then the captain trained his dog to bite him,
He not knowing what he would get,
And he bit and tore him, served him barbarous,
There were mouthfuls laying upon our deck.

And when his sores commenced to fester,
His legs and back and his sides likewise,
Then poor old Rose he could live no longer,
He lay down on the fore-hatch and died.

Oh now think on his cruel tortures,
He had no friends to interpose,
Where they whipped and they mangled, gagged and strangled
The British sailor named Andrew Rose.

Now for six long weeks we sailed the ocean,
Then our ship in Liverpool arrived,
But as soon as the justice came for to know it
He said,"Captain Rogers now you must die."

"Here stands my wife and children beside me,
Here stands my wife and children three,
I will leave them all now for my conduct,
For it's hung I'll be on the gallows tree."

Mrs. Mary Ann Galpin, Codroy, Nfld., 1960.
Kenneth Peacock, 1965, "Songs of the Newfoundland Outports," vol. 3, pp. 825-826, with music.

The record of the trial, verdict reached Sept. 12, 1857, was published in 1857 by Lewis and Son, London. "Trial for the Wilful Murder on the high seas of Andrew Rose, a seaman..." (part of the typical long title). Copy in Lillian Goldman Law Library (along with other papers).
Correct names, from the book on the trial- Andrew Rose, Captain Henry Rogers, and two mates, William Miles and Charles E. Seymour. Rogers was hanged, Miles and Seymour were transported. Rose had died on the 5th of June, 1857. The ship was "The Martha and Jane."
Also see 84589, "Happy" Happy Sept 12
Song not known before 1900. Other versions in the DT.