ANDREW ROSS (ANDREW ROSE)

Come all you seamen and give attention

And listen for a while to me

While I relate of a dreadful murder

Which happened on the briny sea

Andrew Ross*, an Orkney Sailor

Whose sufferings now I will explain

While on a voyage from Barbado

On board the vessel, Martha Jane

Oh think of what a cruel treatment

Without a friend to interpose

They whipped and mangled, gagged and strangled

The Orkney sailor, Andrew Ross

The mate and captain daily flogged him

With whips and ropes, I'll tell you true

While on Andrew Ross' bleeding body

Water mixed with salt they threw

For twenty days thus ill they used him

Oh think, what sorrow, grief and shame

Was suffered by this gallant sailor

On board the vessel Martha Jane

The captain trained his dogs to bite him

While Ross for mercy he did pray

And on the deck, his flesh in mouthfuls

Torn by the dogs they lay

Then in a water tank they put him

For twelve long hours they kept him there

While Ross for mercy he was pleading

The captain swore none should go near

The captain ordered him to swallow

A thing thereof I shall not name

The sailors all grew sick with horror

On board the vessel, Martha Jane

When nearly dean they did release him

And on the deck they did him fling

In the midst of pain and suffering