Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-02
GOING ALoFT: A TRAGEDY.

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discipline, during the early years of the
present century. He describes a timid
boy who was so cruelty lashed because
he was afraid to go aloft, that be became
a maniac, and ever afterwards appeared
to act without fear, running like monk
ey from masthead to masthead and
along the yards.
An old man-of-war's men told the
writer Of this the same story many years
ago, with a sequel which Capt. Hall has
not given. The sailors story was in
substance as follows:
A timid boy about fourteen years of
age, hesitated to 60 aloft, but by the cap
tain's orders, was put in the main rig
ging, and then a boatswain's mate was
commanded to lash him like a dog, until
he learned to run alof. The poor
fellows legs and arms trembled, he
grasped the shrouds, he cried-he prayed
the inhuman captain for Gods sake to
have mercy on him but all in vain.
The boatswain's mate was ordered 10 lay
on harder aud harder, regardless of the
boys piercing screams, which made even
veteran seaman 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, boaiswain's mate v With
one wild scream he sprang from under
the lash, and bounded up the rigging
with amazing rapidity. He doubled the
futtock rigging ike i cat, passed up the
topmast and topgallant rigging with un-
diminished speed, Skinned the unrattled
royal rigging, aud perched himself like
bird along side 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 al
ready enlisted their sympathy, and, il
possible, had increased their hatred Of
the captain.
The monster was smiling complacently
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 circumstances be useC
against him at the Admiralty, where ht
knew representations of his cruelty hac
already been made. The men gazed il
silence, looking first at the boy and thel
at the captain, who was seated near th'
ATRIAL. They dared not be seen speak
ing to each other; ii was hoggable OF
fense; even at night spies passed unde
their hammocks TO ascertain if they whis
pered. The officers walked the lee sid
of the quarter deck, occasionally castini
their eyes aloft but were as silent as tn
men.
Still the boy ciung to the masthead
playing with the pendant, apparently un
conscious Of the interest be excited be
low. Tired with gazing aloft, the car
:ain sung out through the speakin
trumpet Down from aloft! Down!
The boy sprang upon the truck at
bound, and raising himself erect, wave
bis ca2 around his head, then stretchin
his arms out, gave wild laughing screa'
and threw himself forward. The caI
tain jumped to his feet, expecting to st
the boy dashed in pieces on the deck
but when clear of the shade of the sail
he saw him sliding along the main roy
stay toward the foretopgallant mast-hea
and heard him laugh, and chatter like
monkey, as if enjoying the sport. Il
reached the masthead in safety, and the
descended along the topgallant backsts
hand-over-hand. The captain looked
him, and was about to speak, but cou
not find words. The boy frothed at Il
mouth and nose, his eyes seemed stal
ing out of his head, he rolled upon t
deck in commissions, staining it with t
blood which still trickled from his bac
He was a maniac. The surgeons SIX
in a few weeks restored his health, b
not his reason. From that time forwa
he was fearless. In the darkest mig
in the fercest gales, be would scamp
along the decks like dog, and bou
aloft with speed which no one on boa
could equal He would run over {
yards without holding, pass from mast
mast Cd the stays, ascend or descend
the teaches Of the sails, and run upon {
naked stndding sail booms. He "
nimble as a cat, and had forgotten fe
Some of the light duties aloft, be learn
to discharge IN company with the men
be did as they did, but could not be iru
cd To do ANYTHING himself. One ord