1816, the French naval vessel Medusa ran aground, leaving behind a huge improvised raft with 147 survivors, abandoned by the other crew who escaped on longboats.
On their second night adrift off the coast of W Africa, orgy of destruction developed, precipitated by fear –  people attacked each other, and attempted to break off sections of the raft. More than 60 died the first night. They seemed to calm down for the next 24 hrs but the 4th night it started up again, with only 30 surviving to the following morning.
Rescue came after 13 days, by which time only 15 were alive, who had resorted to throwing the injured into the sea, and cannibalism.  Book written by ship’s surgeon made it public, then young artist Gericault chose it as the subject matter for his painting.