The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-12-12

GOING ALOFT----A TRAGEDY.

Captain Basil Hall, in his miscellane-
Gus writings relates an incident on board
Of British frigate to illustrate the terri
bic cruelty inflicted upon seamen, in the
name of discipline, during the early years
of the present century. He describes a
timid boy who was so cruelty lashed be-
cause he was afraid TO 90 aloft, that he
became a maniac, and ever afterwards ap-
peared to act without fear, running like
a monkey from masthead TO masthead
and along the yards.
An old man of wars man told the wri-
ter of this The same story many years
ago, with a sequel, which Capt. Hall has
not given. The sailors story was in sub
stance as follows:
"a timid boy, about fourteen years of
age, hesitated to go aloft, but by the Cap
tain's orders was forcibly put in the main
rigging, and then boatswain's mate was
commanded to lash him like dog, until
he learned to run aloft. The poor fel-
lows legs and arms trembled, he grasped
the shrouds, he cried, he prayed the in
human Captain for Gods sake to have
mercy on him; but all ih vain. The
boatswain's mate was ordered to lay on
harder and harder regardless of the boys
piercing screams, which made even vete-
ran 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 out, Lay on, boat
swain's mattel With one wild scream he
sprang from under the lash, and bounded
up the rigging like a cat, passed up the
topmast and topgallant rigging with un-
diminished speed, Skinned the unrattled
royal rigging, and perched himself like a
bird alongside of the pendant which
streamed from the masthead. Here he
paused, looking fearlessly upon the deck
below. All hands came up to see him
his cries and cruel treatment had already
enlisted their sympathy, and if possible
had increased their hatred of the Cap
tain.
"The monster was smiling complacent-
ly 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 appre-
hensive that the boy might destroy him
self, and the circumstance be used against
him at tho admiralty, where he knew
representations Of his cruelty had already
been made. The men gazeG in silence,
looking first at the boy and then at the
Captain, who was seated near the tafrail.
They dared not be seen speaking to one
another; it was u hoggable offence; even
at night, spies passed under their ham
mocks to ascertain if they whispered.
The officers walked the lee side Of the
quarter deck, occasionally casting their
eyes aloft, but were as silent rs the men.
"Still the boy clung to the mast head,
playing with the pendant, apparently un-
conscious of the interest he excited below
Tired with gazing aloft, tho Captain sung
out through the speaking trumpet
Down from aloft! Down.
"Thc boy sprang upon the truck at q
bound, and raising himself erect, waved
his cap around his head, and stretched
his arms out, gave wild, laughing
scream, and threw himself forward. The
Captain jumped to his feet expecting tc
see the boy dashed in pieces on deck
but when clear of the shade Of the sails
he saw him sliding along the main roya
stay toward the foretopgalant mast head
and heard him laugh and chatter like {
monkey, as if enjoying the sport. HI
reached the masthead in safety, and ther
descended along the topgalant backstay
hand-over-hand. The Captain looked a
him, and was about TO speak, but eoult
not find words. The boy frothed at th'
mouth and nose, his eyes seemed starting
out of his head, he rolled upon the decl