A Prisoner Who Starved Himself to Death.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4419, 12 July 1884, Page 5

A Prisoner Who Starved Himself to Death.

Tiu.RK aro few more extraordinary narratives on record than that of Luc' Antonio Viterbi, .1 native of Corsica, who voluntarily suffered the dreadful pangs ot starvation wliilo lying in prison, condemned on the chargo of assassinating Donato Frcditini. Viterbi waa born in tho year I7ti!>, and it appears that from an early period uf his life tlioro had boon v feud between hi-i family and that of Frediiini. Tho two houses carried on the quarrel obstinately and remorselessly, and and on oiio occasion tho houoo belonging to the Viterbis rtas burnt down, and thoir property laid waste. Two membors of tho Frodiani family subsequently foil, stabbed or shot, and one of theso Luc' Antonio was accused of assassinating.

Political prejudices operated strongly against Viterbi on his trial, and with very little previous formality ho was condemned to suitor death on tho guillotine Vitorbi appealed against tho decision of his judges —only, as it subsequently appoarod, to gain time, in order that ho might bring about hts own ench Ho kept a journal during his imprisonment, and from this interesting document wo glean his story. At first ho tried to destroy himself by opium, but this failed, and having no weapon at hand, he ondeaTOurod to kill himself by a surfeit of food, but in this, too, ho was disappointed. Starvation was his last resourse, and tho determination with which he persevered through all the stages of this slow suicido is little short of marvellous.

On the 3rd of Decembor, 1821, ho began to fnst. The first two days he felt litt'o or no pain, and on the third day ho writes : "I feel no uneasiness of any kind. The stomach and bowels are in a state of perfect quiet; the head clear, and the imagination active and quiet; tho sight is extremely clear; no anxiety for food or drink; indeed, I have no appetite for either." On tho 6th of December — tho fourth day of his fasting —he scorns to have sufTored much from thirst and hunger, and ho records that his head began to be confused. On the 7th he endured " burning thirst, with bitterness in the mouth," and on the Bth his sensations appear to have boen much tho same, with tho addition of " failure of strength, frightful swimming of tho head, and general weakness." On tho 10th he writes: "At twolve o'clock, head firm—stomach and bowels quiet - sight clear — hearing acuto — the regularity of the yulso continues — the thirst resumes its power. I still continue to take snuff witn pleasure; I fool no desire to cat." In the afternoon, howevor, he • had "a strong desiro for food," and on the following day (tho 11th) he again suffered greatly from hunger and thirst. At ten at night on the 12th, he records: "Thirst intense; pulse very weak and irregular; cessation of the movement of the systole and diastole of the heart for sevoral hours ; constant watchfulness ; universal languor; extremo fatigue and inability to bear the light." On the 13th we have a long entry, ot which tho following is part: "At midnight the pnlse became extremely feeble and intermitting ; intense thirst; general prostration of strength. At this crisis my understanding abandoned me, and without tho concurrence of my judgment, stimulated by an intolerable thirst, I took the jug of water and drank a largo draught; this increased the coldness of tho parts; an instant afterwards my hands, feet, nose, and ears becoming icy cold ; the pulse then entirely ceased to beat—all the symptoms were mortal." Viterbi hoped that his hour was now come, and stretching himself out on his pallet, exclaimed to the soldiers standing around : " Look how well I have laid myself out."

A physician was sent for, and a little wine given to the sufferer, after which he again drank copiously of water. Seven soldiers were placed with him in his cell, and these men added greatly to the unhappy prisoner's discomfort! It does not appear that any attempt was made to force him to take food, although Viterbi says: "They want to prevent my dying." On the 16th December—the 13th day of his abstinence—he again suffered from intense thirst, and swooned away for nearly lialf-an-hour.

On the 16th his strength became much reduced; on the 17fch he suffered but slightly; and on the 18th—tho last day an entry was made in the diary—the following is tbe record :—" At 11 o'clock—l am about to end my days with the serene death of tho just. Hunger no longer torments me—thirst has entirely subsided; the stomach and bowels are perfectly tranquil; my head is unclouded, and my sight clear; in short, a universal calm reigns not only in my heart and conscience, but over my whole body. The few moments whifih I have to live glide placidly away,as the water of a small brook flows through a beautiful and delicious plain. The lamp will soon be extinguished from the want of food for the flame.—(Signed) Antonio Vitjsrbi." The unfortunate man lived two days after this—ha died on the 20th—and in his last moments he preserved the equanimity revealed in the above entry. Just before expiring, he said: "I am prepared to leave this world," and in a few moments his selfimposed sufferings were over.