Yes, I know, a hideous subject, but I just had to share it with my Blyth friends on here.
A short article was printed in the Hexham Courant 18 February 1868 and this is what was said;
February 18th 1868 recorded in the Hexham Courant
Extraordinary occurrence at Blyth
Killed and Eaten by Pigs
On Sunday morning, about nine o’clock, the body of a man was discovered in one of the pig styes adjoining the side of the railway at Cowpen Quay. P.C. Davison was speedily on the spot, when the body was identified as that of Mark Longstaff, trimmer, a native of Morpeth, who has followed the occupation at Blyth for some years. The deceased was found in a sitting posture in one corner of the “outrake”, with the clothes nearly all torn off by two pigs and a portion of his body eaten away. A stretcher was procured and the body removed to his home, when Dr Wardle and Son were called in. No marks of violence were to be seen on the face except a slight mark upon the upper lip as if it had been pressed upon some railing or prop end. Deceased left the Ship Inn, Crofton, about 12 o’clock on Saturday night, rather the worse for liquor, in company with a man named Thomas Richardson who lives at Cowpen Quay. He left Richardson about one o’clock on Sunday morning for Blyth, and was not again seen until the body was discovered as stated above. Deceased has left a widow and three children.
A bit of a shocking incident for the good residents of Cowpen Quay to wake up to on a Sunday morning.
Philip
