Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-06-15

was undoubtedly insane, although the mate
acted rightly enough in holding sloof at
present, as the captain had not ye, evinced
himself incapable of managing the ship.
Whether any whisper had leaked out in
The cabin, through abe steward or officers,
] cannot tell, but the captain undoubtedly
suspected wha, had passed. Al noon the
next day he came on deck, will, a double
barrelled gun in his hands, and deliberate
ly loaded it with ball io our presence
When he bad done this, he called all hands
aft, and in language that sufficiently indl-
Gated, from its wlId incoherency, that he
was undoubtedly insane, he addressed the
crew, winding up with the words
"You think to ge, the upper hand of me,
do you? You will mu'iny-you W i'll take
the ship away from me? I'Il make an ex-
ample-Ill show YOU whom you have to
deal with ! Mr. Jackson. let those two
men be seized up this minute, for I'll make
spread esgles Of 'em sure as live"
As he spoke, the captain pointed to two
of The nearest men-one an American, the
other an Engishman. These poor fellows
locke round at their messmates, and SEEING
how undecided all were, they suddep 3
tuned and sprang into the rigging-rLAe
ming alofl for safety. -
The captains eyes glared like wild
beasl's, and seizing his gun, he shouted
"Lay down this moment, both of ye, or
| l'll shoot yep
| They saw the threatening movement, and
heard The command but this only caused
them 10 run up ;he rigging higher and high
er. Twice more the captain hailed them,
and then be raised his piece, and quick as
Iig ghtning levelled and fired. A burst of
execraton from us all followed, for the ball
had struck the Englishman, and broken his
leg. He fell like a wounded bird into the
malnlop, and screamed in agony.
"Oh, God what have you done, Captain
L--?" exclaimed the horror-slIcken
mate. "You have committed murdern
mo. have not" answered the captain.
81 ordered The fellow down, and if lie won's
obey, IFS muiny, and the law will justify
me in killing him, or killing you ei,her-so
mind what you say"
The mate turned aside, and when one Of
7 The oiues, seafnen Whltpefel IN bis Ss.-'
.'Say ,he word, sir and we will clap the
madman in iron<," he only shook his head
and buried his face in bis hands.
Meanwhile The American, a fine young
fellow, known by the soubriquet of "Bos-
ton BIII,' had asceDded to the royal yard,
and was looking down on deck to see what
course matters were taking. The captain,
not satisfied with disabling one man, al this
momen, pointed his gun a, him, and hoarse-
ly ordered him on deck, threatening TO
shoe, him if he refused.
"Cpme down, man, for heavens sake %
repeated The male.
''lie will fog me ii do, sir"
Yes, I'll hog you, sure enough" yelled
The captain.
'Then will die before come downn'
Without another word, the captain COM
menced taking deliberate aim, and half
dozer voices shouted to The man whose
life was in this fearful jeopardy
slump overheard, Bill, or you are dead
man Jump for life -
IN an instant the sailor ran along the
lfoorope, and cIung TO the royal yard-arm
TO leewsrd. The alternative was indeed
orribe. If he descended he would be
hogged-if he remand he would be shot
if he leaned overheard from ,ha. dreadful
height he ran the risk Of being dashed tC
pieces if he fell sideways on the water, oI
Of being snapped up by shark or drowned
lie. him fall which way he would. The
captain shifted his aim, and his finger wa:
on The trigger.
slump, Bill, jump screamed hl
messmates, and his resolution was ldken.-
He would leap for life!
Lowering himself from the yard-arm will
his hands. he pointed his feet downward
and Glove the air with the velocity of can
non-ball. A second or two, end be ha'
disappeared into The curling green sea.
The pcnt up excitement Of the crew
> found vent a, this moment. One part,
rushed on the captain, and dsarmed an
bound him, while the rest put the heln
|, !, down and threw The sails aback, TO s!o
The motion of The ship, and sprang to tn
falls of The quarler-boal TO lower sway t
J. pick up the American, should he rise to th
: surface.
{, A brealhless pause ofvery neatly a minu'
ensued, and then we beheld the head of III
) sailor emerge at the distance of hundfe
wards and, being capital water-dog, h
5 struck oul boldly for The ship. and amid
loud hurra was picked up. His "leaP ia
ll(e' had been successful.
IS The other poor fellow who was shot
} lof, was lowered on deck in sling. II
J was more injured by the fall than by II,
sr > ball in his leg, and died the same night
~ extreme agony.
d The mate now consented to take CON
70 mand of the ship, and Captain L--w
ht closely confined I'LL we came 10 port. b
is tina, time he was raving mad, and he die
r., re within three days after being conveyed TO
" hospital ashore.