New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-09
Neh OrIeans 9ailp Gresfsl,t.
THE MANIAC czusoE.
4 LEGEND OF THE BnnMUpAa

THE MANIAC CEuSOE.
LEGEND OF THE BEBaUDAs
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The three hundred and sixty-fye islands which
form the Bermuda group, although entirely with
are yet exceedingly fair; their cedar-coyered
shores ringing bays Of the most exquisite beauty,
wherein the tropie sea takes every color from the
various tinted coral rocks below. 1t is pleasant
trip, in that unequafIed climate, when the wind is
hushed, and the ocean forbears for space to leap
wrathnlly at the surrounding reefs, to sail from
isle to isle Of that delightful archipelago, and ex
piore each Liliputian domain. Deep water lies
around every one Of them 40 that ship of the
line as large az themselves can sail between any
Two Each with its cedar Forest and tiny harbor
defended BY breakwater5 formed by the laborious
coral insect, Is complete In itself-a fairy king
dom, especially adapted for picnic parties Of
moderate size Or for pair Of lovers or in many
cases-so infinitely small are some Of the Beruti-
das-for half a pair. When was midshipman,
s.anonsd at 81. Georges, often let the tropic
sands they pleased, where would disembark, and
take possession Of the miniature territory ii Inc
name Of Boyish Romance, and hoist my flag of
bllssful independence there for the liyeionr day
On an excursion of this description once land
ed upon Cedar Island--one of the very smallest Of
the gronp, and quite uninha5ited--and after sc-
curing my boat in little creek wherein the azure
waveiets rose and FELL as ii in sleep, garden
of blooming coral, j proceeded as usual to enact
the part of Robinson Crusoe-that ia to say, L
loosened my dirk in its Sheath and commenced
my exploration Of the island, in order to make my.
self certain that if was not legally speaking lord
of all surveyed, there was at least nobody on the
spot just then to dispute the fact. While thus
pushing through the odorous woods, such terri.
BILE cry burst forth within few yards Of me. that
10 froze my young blood within me, and haunts my
old ears yet.
I have heard the roar of wild beasts by night,
when have camped beside their drinking places
in the desert; and have heard the one piercing
nj 1pad6 nirnY oftstIc vhrca
struck amidships by our own in dark mid-ocean,
was taking her final shudderng plqnge; but nei-
Their sound was so frightful as that cry. Complete
stiffness had proceed itIfor the dreamy tapping Of
the istless wave could not penetrate the thick
grove wherein stood, and the air had no strength
to stir its heavy, hearselike plumes, and al invo-
liable was the quietness that followed. / heard my
own heart beat quite audibiy, and cautiously
threading my way back to the boat-for, like q
prudent commander, did not mean to suffer my
retreat to be cnt off by the unknown foe-I trod on
dead stick, and it cracked like the firing Of pis
toll. As reached the margin of the wood, the ter
rible cry broke forth again, filling sky and sea- but
this time was not so terrified. With sunlight and
the open air returned the consciousness that was
sailor which, truth to say, in the dark cedar wood
had somewhat lost sight of, and bound to fear
pigmy forest towards the spot whence the sound
had proceeded, with my dirk in my right Eand
ready to pick the teeth of whatever monster it
might be--for the yell could scarcely have come
from a human throat. Though advanced with
extreme crcumspection, it was impossible to see
above couple OF PAGES before me and when the
terrible cry broke forth for the third time it was
within few feet Of my ear. 1t was succeeded by
trampIing Of footsteps, the frantic impotence OF
which could be detected even upon the messy
ground on which they trod, and then there fol
lowed hideous clanking, as of iron chains. i had
at the moment little doubt but that it was the
Enemy of Mankind himself, and no other, who was
thus exercising his lungs and legs upon this retired
spot; but curiosity oyercame terror, and rejecting
that if was good boy, as intended to be, /
should in all probability never have another chance
of seeing him, passed between two cedar trunks
that grew very near together, and beheld the fol-
lowing phenomenon
Within small open space or clearing, evidently
made by the hand of man, there sat and gibbered,
with curious clatter of teeth the most frightful
object that my eyes had ever looked upon, With
my present knowledge, should at once have set
him down as specimen Of the gorilla; but
plunged in the dark ignorance of fifty years back,
was, still chung to the opinion had originally
entertained of his being Aud Hornie. He had no
visible horns, it is true, but he wore tail whose
length report had by no means exaggerated; a
long and ragged black beard covered his face al
most up to his fiery eyes, his bare hairy arms were
beating monotonous measure upon his lap, which
set down as the "Devils Tattoo ~ and to COM
plete his Satanic character, as described by both
philosophers and divnes, he had good deal of the
woman about him. He wore his bonnet, at least,
torn, and frayed, and filthy to very extraordinary
degree, and his pettieoats battered and dragged
pei me to admit that all resemblance to a lady
ceased.
The prevailing expression of this frightfnl face
was that of intense malice-ma gnant hatred of all
living things; but while looked at it, fascinated
by its exceeding horror, it changed to one of exult
ing, fendish triumph; and with a cry similar to
his other yells, he leaped at me with his arms in
air. and his black hands stiffened like talons. i
could not run, although it was, very literally, to
save my life; and only when saw that he had
fallen short of his spring, halfsrangled by chain
that was round his middle, and which, attached to
huge cedar behind him, had taken for his tail,
faction. Surprising these iron links held out, and
SO long as avoided the clear space which was the
limit Of his tether, felt myself safe, and thankful
indeed, that had not nnknowingly trespassed
within that fatal circle. Huge bones were strewed
about it in plenty, though whether of man or beast
could not tell !; but how they got there did not
then awaken my wonder, so entirely was wrapt
up in the movements of the mysterious being be-
fore me. Having failed in his murderous attempt,
he did not renew it, but retired slowly to his
prison.tree, which was situated in the center of
the space, and appeared to forget my intrusion
altogether.
been unscientifcally felled, beside it, and upon
that he proceeded to enact what afterwards iden-
titled with the most awful scene OF the drama OF his
evil life. He took up small billet Of wood, and,
approaching the stump, appeared to regard some
thing upon It, which could not discern-Which, in
deed was not there at all-with an air of moekery
and insult he pointed at it, spurned it scornfuy
with his foot, seemed to whisper to it gliding ques
tons and finally throwing back his bonnet, so as
to expose his entire countenanee distorted with
passion he struck down at the impalpable sub
stance with the billet and uttered the frightful cry
which had at first so startled me. The whole pan
tomime, hideous as it was, was far too real to be
mere act of animal imitation; and the Satanic
theory being abandoned, felt also confident that
| no ape Of the woods was before me, but the form
| grown wild and bestial, Of what had been once a
fellow-ereature. There was little doubt of his be
| ing both mad and dangerous, but it was certainly
most cruel and unjustifable act to keep him thus
| chained upon an uninhabited island to become
| daily more and more assmilated to the brute crea
| ton; and jumped into my boat at once, deter
mined. upon my arrival at st. Georges, to imme
diately make known what had seen to the proper
| authorities.
Since my landing on Cedar Island, however, q
breeze had sprung up contrary to my course, and
by the time Preached the harbor, it was close upon
the hour when was engaged to dine with MIR
| Merton, one of the principal inhabitants of the
/ tow. which was then the seat of government.
The second lieutenant of the ship, and great pa
i iron of NINE was of the party and, finding my
self opposite to him. took occasion to ask across
the table whether he knew anything of Cedar Is
land and its one awful inhabitant, | received fol-
answer such kick upon my young shins as only
1 lieutenants can in6ict, and mdshipmen endure
whereby understood that the subject was not one
to be publicly discussed, and, indeed, as it was
| my ouestion seemed tn freeze the conversation fol