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

WIS ~ iltthloc. hO ouiSSou . ohill III tllc
course of few weeks restored his health
but not his reason. From that time for
ward he was fearless. In the darkest
night, in the fiercest gales, he would
scamper along the decks like dog, and
bound aloft with q speed which no one
on board could equal. He would run
over the yards without holding, pass from
mast TO mast on tho stays, ascend or de-
scend by the teaches of the sails, and run
upon the naked studdingsails' booms.-
He was nimble as cat, and had forgot
ten fear. Some of the light duties aloft,
he learned to discharge in company with
tho men--he did as they did, but could
not be trusted TO do anything himself
Ons order he always obeyed without hes
itation. AT the command, Away, aloftP 7
he was off and never paused until he had
reached the mast head. AS he was harm
less and rarely spoke, the Captain kept
him on board, and, in the course of the
year, sent him often aloft, for amusement.
His strength increased with his years,
but his bulk and height remained nearly
the same at eighteen rs when he became
maniac. His ribs, breast and back,
seemed one case of bone, and his sinews
and muscles made his legs and arms ap-
pear like pillared columns. He was fair,
with light blue eyes and delicate skin,
his face was oval and full, but void of ex
pression-neither love, fear, revenge nor
pleasure could be traced in its stolid out
lines. 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. Whenever he was struck or
scared 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 ar
rived at Plymo~th to be docked and re-
fitted. The Captain availing himself of
the leisure, was going to be married, and
the news was communicated by his SER
want 10 the cook, who soon circulated it
on the berth deck, among the men who
cursed him and all his kin.
Ellis servant came on board the hulk
where the men were lodged, the evening
when the Captain was TO be married.
Crazy Joe, (the name the boy was known
by met him at the gangway, and asked
intelligently if the Captain would be
married and where? The servant 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.
90 Look fair lady on me-" said crazy
Joe, Z" but do not scream, or l kill you.
Look on mel hold within my grasp a
devil, who delights in cruelty-a merci-
less fiend who has scourged the backs of
hundreds of brave men-a ruffian who
robbed me of my reason, | hold him with
in the grasp of death, at the very mo-
ment his black soul thought itself within
the reach of bliss. Monster! look upon
your lady-think a moment of the hoav-
en- of earthly joy almost within your
reach--then think of me, poor, crazy
Joe, and to the hell which | send you!
Die, wretch, dieP
"When the alarm was given the stran-
gled body Of the Captain was found "
ing along side of the bridal-bed; but the
maniac who killed him was never recog-
nized a!terward. He belonged to Corn
wall, and probably found shelter from pur-
suit in the mines, until the excitement
passed away.
"Tho lady stated at the time, and many
years afterward, that the attack of the
maniac was so sudden and silent that she
knew nothing of it until the curtains were
pushed aside and she felt the pressure of
the Captains body bent over the edge Of
the bed. Joe held his victim around the
neck with the right hand and turned him
from side 10 side rs easily as if he had
been n child, while tho forelinger and
thumb of his left hand graspod her own
throat, ready to extinguish her life, if
she attempted to raise an alarm. His
face was pale and death-like, his eyes
stared, but were motionless, and every
word he uttered seemed to issue from tho
depths of his soul. The Captains looks
were terrible beyond description; death
left tho impress of ferocity upon his dark
ened features. How tho maniac entered
or left tho room she never knew-his de-
parture was as noiseless Us his entrance.
So paralyzed was she with fear, that an
hour elapsed before shecould muster cour-
age TO call for help, but she thanked God
when tho Captains cruel character be-
camc generally known ashore, that she
had been rescued from his alliance.
FRUIT TREEs.--Thero seems TO be