Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-07-06
A Thrilling Story.

Inc toiiowing incident actually occurred
on board British frigate, and was COM
mpncated to the writer, several years ago,
by an old man.of-wars man.
A timid boy, about fourteen years Of
age, hesitated to go aloft, but by the cap
tain's orders was forcibly put into the main
rigging, and then boatswain's mate was
commanded to lash him like dog until he
learned to run alcf. The poor fellows
legs and arms trembled, he grasped the
shrouas, he cried, he prayed the inhuman
hand fur Gods sake TO have mercy upon
him, but all in vain. The boatswain'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 out,
Lay on, boatswain's mate !"
With one wild scream he sprang from
under the lash, and bounded up the rigging
with amazing rapidly. He doubled the
futtock rigging like cat, passed up the
topmast and topgallant rigging with undi-
minished speed, Skinned the unrattled royal
rigging, and perched himself like bird
alongside the pennant 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 the sympa-
thy, and If possible, had increased their
hatred of the captain.
The monster was smiling complacently
at the success of his experiment; 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 cir
cumstance be used against him at the Ad-
miralty, where he knew representations of
his cruelty had already been made. The
men gazed in silence, looking first at the
boy and then at the captain, who was seat
ed near the taffrail, They dared not be
seen speaking to one another-it was a
fogging offence even at night spies pass
ed under their hammocks to ascertain if
they whispered The officers walked the
lee side of the quarter deck, occasionally
casting their eyes aloft, but were silent as
the men.
: Still the boy clung to the mast head, play
ing with the pennant, apparently uncon-
scious Of the interest he excited below.
Tired with gazing aloft, the captain sung
a out through the speaking trumpet, " Down
? from aIoft Down"
The boy sprung upon the truck at a
bound, and raising himself erect waved his
cap around his head then, stretching his
! arms out gave wild, laughing scream, and
3 threw himself forward. The captain jump
ed to his feet, expecting to see the boy
dashed in pieces on the deck but when
clear of the shade of the sails, he saw him
sliding along the main royal stay towards
: the foretopgallant masthead, and heard him
, laugh and chatter like monkey, as if en-
: joying the sport. He reached the mast
head in safety, and then descended along
: the tep-gallant backstay hand-over-hand
!; The captain looked at him and was about
to speak, but could not find words. The
= boy frothed at his mouth and nose, his eyes
seemed starting out of his head he rolled
: upon the deck in convulsions, staining il
2 with the blood WHICH still trickled from his
: back. He was maniac. The surgeons
/. skill in the course of few weeks restored
: his bodily health, but not his reason.
, From that time forward he was fearless
In the darkest night, the fercest gale, he
would scamper along the deck like a dog,
and bound aloft with 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
studding sail booms. He was nimble as a
cat, and had forgotten fear. Some of the
light duties aloft he learned to discharge
d in company with them-he did as they did
t but could not be trusted TO do anything
o himself. One order he always obeyed
: without hesitation. At the command "Away
aloft," he was off, and never paused until
] he reached the masthead. As Ire was
D harmless and rarely spoke, the captain kept
him on board, and in the course OF year
, sent him aloft for amusement His strength
t increased with his years, but his bnlk and
D height remained nearly the same at eighteen
7 as when he became maniac.
: His ribs breast and back seersed one
ease Of bone, and his sinews and muscles
made his legs and arms appear like pillared
. columns. He was fair, with light blue
ewes and delicate skin; his face oval and
full, but void of exhression-neither love
fear, revenge or pleasure could be traced
to his stolid outline. His eyes stared al
everything without appearing to see, and
when he spoke there was rarely any mean
ing in his words. lie followed the men in
their various dsities Ike dog following
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