The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-09-22
VOL Vino. 313.
DELIRIUM TREMENS.


grinning at me, and gnashing their teeth.
see their eyes of fire, and their horrible look
ing visages. They seek to chastise me with
their red hot iron scourges. Oh! how they
scowl and hiss! while stream of liyid fire is.
sues from their mouths! And now they rush
towards me- Away! away! | will not be
thrown among the loathsome venomous rep
tiles in that deep, dark pit! Keep off! will
not go with you!"
Saying this, and uttering screams of terror,
this unhappy being, exerting a preturnatural
strength, burst from the hands which had
confined him during the night, and in spite of
Simpsons exertions, threw himself from his
berth. He sprang to the forescuitle and push
ed by the cook, who sought to prevent his
leaving the bulkhead. He rushed up the lad.
der, and in a moment was on deck fully I'M.
pressed with the idea that legion of devils
were in close pursuit, bent upon torturing
him to death.
His appearance at that moment was singu-
larly wild and terrific. He was clad in no
garment excepting his shirt-his long black
hair hung in elf locks on his shoulders--his
eyes were lighted with the fires of insanity
his teeth were firmly set, and his lips apart,
exhibiting ghastly grin-his visage was hag-
gard-bearing the stamp of unutterable woe
and his voice was clear, shrill and unearthly,
as he cried out, "Oh help me! for Gods sake
help me! Away-away-away! All! they
have got me now. ! feel their burning breath.
Oh, mother mother-help your son! feel
their talons in my throat, and thus dash
them to the earthw
Here the hapless sailor escaped the hands
of Mr.. Cupeper and Ned Hopkins, who had
seized him as he was running aft, after having
with almost incredible agility enped over the
windlass and fife rail. He sprung upon the
beak of the quarter deck, and was instantly
within the powerful grasp Of captain Branch.
bill; but, notwithstanding his great strength,
he was unable to arrest the career of the
madman to destruction. Amos caught the
Captain by the windpipe, and COMPRISING 1t
with all the fury of madness, he threw him
as if he had been dwarf, with tremendous
force, against the binnacle, and in a moment
after the maniac was standing alone on the
taffrail unencumbered and free. With one
hand he pointed to the fathomless deep, which
seemed to yawn beneath his feet, and he
fiercey shook the other at his fancied pursu.
ers exclaiming in hollow but exulting tone,
-"Accursed fends! am now beyond your
reach, and defy yon! Ha! hal ha! and his
maniac laugh swept over the waters, and sent
chill to the bosom of his shipmates.
A rush was made by the crew to the stern
of the ship, to save the unhappy man from
fate he invountarly seemed to covet. But
ere hand could be laid upon his person, he
sprung high in the air, and alighted in the
waters over which the ship had just passed.
He disappeared for a moment beneath the
surface, and then his head rose high above
the waves. The poor fellow uttered shril
shriek--a shrek which seemed to be the very
embodiment of horror--and which rang Ia
the ears of his shipmates for days, and months,
and years afterwards. He then sank beneath
the waters, and was never seen again.
The main topsail was laid aback-the boat
was lowered and manned-Ringbolt himself
sprang into the stern seat, seized the tiller,
and the boat was showed off and pulled in the
direction of the ships wake, where Amos
was last seen--but no trace Of this miserable
victim of intemperance could be found. The
waters which had parted to receive him were
now closed over him, and not ripple remain.
ed to mark the spot
Such was the fate Of Amos Chauncey!