Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-13
M ISCELL A NY
Going Aloft-A Tragedy.


Going Aloft-A Tragedy.
Captain Basil Hall, in his miscellaneous wri-
tipgs, relates an incident on board of British
frigate to illustrate the terrible cruelty inflicted
on seamen, in the name of discipline, during the
early years of the present century. He describes
timid boy who was so cruelty lashed because
he was afraid to go aloft, that he became ma
MAC, and ever afterward appeared to act with
out tear running like a monkey from masthead
to masthead and along the yards.
An old man of war 's-man told the writer of
this, the same story, many years ago, with Sc
quel, which Captain Hall has not given. The
sailors story Was in substance as follows:
A tiinid boy, about fourteen years of age, hesi-
tated to go alott, but by the captains orders,
was forclbly put in the main rigging, and then
boatswain's s mate was commanded to lash him
like dog until he learned to run aloft. The
poor fellows legs and arms trembled, he grasped
the shrouds cried-he prayed the inhuman
captain for Gods sake to have mercy on him !;
but all in vain. The boatswan's mate was
ordered to lay on harder and harder, regardless
| OF the boys piercing screams, which made even
| veteran seamen turn from the brutal scene with
| disgust. His clothes were rent from his back,
| the blood followed the lash, and still the tyrant
roared our, Lay on, boatswain's mattel" With
one wild scream he sprang from under the lash
and bounded up the rigging with amazing rapid
| ity He doubled the futtock rigging like cat,
passed up the topInast and topgallant rigging
with undiminished speed, Skinned the unrattled
| royal rigging, and perched himself like bird
| alongside OF the pendant, which streamed from
the masthead. Here he paused looking fearesslY
upon the deck below. All hands came up to
see him, his cries and cruel treatment had al
| tbo;,
| had increased their hatred OF the captain.
The monster was smiling compIacently at the
success OF his experiment; for he was one OF
those tyrants who boasted that the cat properly
applied, could make men do anything. Still he
was apprehensive that the boy might destroy
himself and the circumstance be used against
him at the Admiralty, where he knew repre-
sentations of his cruelty had already been made.
The men gazed in silence, looking first at the
boy and then at the captain, who was seated
ear the taffrail. They dared not be seen speak
ing to another; it was Hoggable offence
even at night, spies passed under their ham
mocks to ascertain if they whispered. The off
GERS walked the lee side OF the quarter deck, oc-
casionally casting their eyes alott, but were as
silent as the men.
Still the boy clung to the masthead, playing
with the pendant, apparently unconscious of the
interest he excited below. Tired with gazing
aloft, the captain sung out through the speaking
trumpet:
"Down from aloft! Down!'
The boy sprang upon the truck at bound, and
raising himself erect, waved his cap around his
head; then stretching his arms out, gave wild
laughing scream, and threw himself forward
The captain Jumped to his feet, expecting to see
the boy dashed in pieces on deck; but when
clear of the shade of the sails he saw him sliding
along the main royal stay toward the foretop-
gallant mast head, and heard him laugh and
chatter like monkey, as if enjoying the sport.
He reached the mast head in safety, and then
descended along the topgallant backstay hand
overland. The captain looked at him, and
was about to speak, but could not find Words
The boy frothed at the mouth and nose; his
eyes seemed starting out of his head; he rolled
upon the deck Id convnlslons, staining it with
the blood which still trickled from his back
He was a maniac. The surgeons skill in the
course of few weeks restored his health but
not his reason.
From that time forward he was fearless. In
the darkest night, in the fiercest gales, he would
scamper along the deck like dog, and bound
alot with a speed which no one on board could
equal He would run over the yards without
holding pass from mast to mast on the stays,
ascend and descend by the leeches of the sails,
and run upon the naked studding-sai booms.-
He was nimble as cat, and had forgotten fear.
Some of the light duties alott he learned to dis
charge in company with them-he did as they
did, but could not be trusted to do any ythiug
himself. One order he always obeyed without
bestation-at the command, away aloft, he
was off and never paused until he reached the
mast head. AS he was harmless. and rarely
spoke, the captain kept him on board, and, in
the course of year, sent him often alofL for
amusement. His strength increased with his
years, but his bulk aud height remained nearly
the same at eighteen as when he became a ma
MAC.
His ribs, breast and back, seemed one case
of bone, and his sinews and muscles made bis
legs and arms appear like pllared columns. He
was fair, with light blue eyes and delicate skin
his face oval and full, but void of expression
neither love, fear revenge or pleasure could be
traced in its stolid outline. His eyes stared at
everything, without appearing to see, and when
he spoke, there was rarely any meaning in his
words. He followed the men in their various
duties, like dog following his master. When
ever he was struck or started by boatswain's
mate, he ran up the main rigging screaming at
the top of his lungs, and never paused until he
had performed the first evolution, which had
made him maniac.
AS the sailors story runs, the ship arrived at
Plymouth to be decked and reftted. The cap
tain, availing himself of the LEISURE was going to
be married. and the news was communicated by
his servant to the cook, who soon circulated it
on the berth-deck among the men, who cursed
him and all of his kin.
His servant came on board of the hulk where
the men were lodged, the evening when the cap
tain was to be married. Crazy Joe the name
the boy was known by,) met him at the gang
way, and asked intellgenty if the captain would
be married that evening and where. The ser
want gave him the information he desired and
went about his business
That night, while the captain was undressing,
he was seized by the throat and dragged to the
bridal bed.
"Look, fair lady, on me-" said Crazy Joe.
'but do not scream, or will kill you. Look on
me. | hold within my grasp devil, who de-
lights in cruelty-a merciless iend who has
scourged the backs of hundreds of brave men
a ruffian who has robbed me of my reason.
hold him within the grasp of death. at the yery