Shown on RTE on Monday The Last Confession Alexander Pearce chronicles one of those small episodes in history that are rather forgotten. Alexander Pearce was an Irish convict and cannibal, hence the film’s grim tagline: “No man knows what hunger will make him do.” Acording to today’s Independent Pearce (left) was transported to Australia in 1819 for stealing six pairs of shoes. He ended up on Sarah Island, a harsh penal colony off the west coast of Tasmania. Flogged repeatedly for the slightest misdemeanour he decided to escape, along with seven fellow prisoners.
The fugitives had little food to sustain them. They eventually made the decision to feed on human flesh. The first victim, Alexander Dalton, was killed by former sailor Robert Greenhill. After seven weeks, until only Pearce and Greenhill were left alive. Pearce killed and ate him. When recaptured, he confessed all to the authorities, who refused to believe him.
Pearce was sent back to Sarah Island, but escaped again, together with convict, Thomas Cox. When caught, Pearce was lying beside the remains of Cox. This time, the evidence was irrefutable. He was convicted of murder and hanged in 1824 but before he died he made a detailed confession to a Catholic priest. Father Philip Conolly.
After he was executed, Pearce’s body was dissected for science, and his skull is still kept in the Museum of Pennsylvania.
The film will also be shown on the BBC some time during the year. I am looking forward to seeing it as is the not-wife who has the hair of a hippy but the heart of a Goth!
13 comments:
The account is fascinating. But I think the film might be too gruesome for me!
I doubt it will be very graphic. Still it's an amazing story
"After seven weeks, until only Pearce and Greenhill were left alive."
This tells a lot about the quality of the food.
Or their hunger, Red!
Amazing story!!!!!
It will be televised in Australia on the 25th January. I plan to watch it.
What I continually do not understand, is that when I was in Primary school we were taught that convicts were sent to Australia for the smallest misdemeanor, like stealing a handkerchief.
My children were taught the exact same history. Now that I can question that, why would the British Government keep within their prisons all the violent rapists, murderers, mentally insane and only send to Australia people who had committed petty theft.
Also why in the 1800's if you are starving would you want to steal a handkerchief? What good is it?
Again with Alexander Pearce, he was sent here for stealing 6 pairs of shoes. That is a big jump from shoplifter to Cannibal don’t you think.
I don’t think the Australian government wants to divulge its questionable past.
It is fascinating Kay. I can't wait to see it.
Ah Ardent, prison wasn't really a sentence 200 years ago. For his crime, pearce could well have hanged. Perhaps he was sentenced to death and this was the commutation of his sentence
I caught this on RTE and thought it was one of the best films I'd seen in 2008. Great acting and story and it all looked very cinematic.
If you are interested, there is a facebook site that has trailers and photos.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=-3&id=10254372925&saved#/pages/The-Last-Confession-of-Alexander-Pearce/10254372925
Youtube also has the trailer up
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=6pMBtD8dNIQ
Good to see the dark side of Irish/Australian history getting an airing. This is as important a story as Ned Kelly.
Thanks for this. I;m glad the film is as good as I hoped. The links are most appreciated
redwine wins comment of the day!
Haha it's a good one, eh?
Ardent, transportation of convicts was the replacement for slavery, which had been outlawed in Britain. Convicts were chosen for their capacity to work, not for punishment as such. 80 per cent or more went straight to work on arrival and never spent time in the penal settlements like Sarah Island or Port Arthur.
Only those sentenced to death could be transported, as a commutation of the sentence, but as there were over 100 hanging offences at that time it was very easy to receive a death sentence. Any theft over 70 shillings in value, for example, was capital. Handkerchiefs, clothes, shoes, etc. were stolen to sell to buy food and drink. Gentlemen's clothes were very expensive and a family could live off the value of a few items for some time, being equivalent to many weeks wages for a working man or woman.
Murderers, rapists, etc. were generally hanged and pretty quickly. Few of these serious criminals made it to Australia. The concept of prison time as punishment was just emerging in the 1820s, largely pioneered by Lt.-Gov Arthur in VDL, who closed Sarah Island and built Port Arthur. Prior to this, people were either hanged or flogged then released.
Pearce's cannibalism was a product of his circumstances more than of his character, I believe. It was an established rule at sea that in case of shipwreck the survivors would resort to cannibalism. That situation arose more often in those days, of course, with very little chance of rescue in remote places, but people were obviously reluctant to talk about it. The expression 'Worse things happen at sea' was well based.
The Tasmanian Archives now has the original convict records with details of their offences, punishments, assignments, descriptions, etc. on line to view (free). Please do take a look at the history, rather than relying on the mythology that's been built up. http://www.archives.tas.gov.au/generic/convict-records-online
This film has been nominated for Best Drama at the Irish Film & Television Awards - http://www.ifta.ie - well deserved.
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