Smyrna times., 1860-03-08
[Fron the Boston Travesler,l
GOING AL0FT.
"A TRAGEDY.

/
tngs, relates an incident on board of an Eng |
lish frgate TO illustrate the terrible cruelty in.
hicted upon seamen, in the name of discipline, |
during the early years Of the present century. |
He describes timid boy who was SO cruelty |
lashed because he was afraid to go aloft, that
he became maniac, and ever afterward D.
peared to act without fear, summing like mon
Key from mast head to mast t-head and along the
yards.
An old man-ofwar's-man told the writer of
this the same story many years ago, with Sc
quel, which Captain Hall has not given. The
sailors story was in substance as follows:
i A timid boy, about la years of age, hesita ted
to go soft, but, by the Captains orders, was
toTcby put in the main rigging, and then a
boatswsin's mate was commanded TO lash him
like a dog until he learnedyo run aloft. The
poorfellow's legs and arms trembled, he grasped
the shrouds. he cried, he prayed the inhuman
Captain for God sake 10 have mercy on him
| but all in vain. The boatswaln's mate was or
! dered TO lay on harder and harder, regardless
OF the boys piercing screaIns, 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
foared out, "lsy on, boatswsin's mattel"
With ons wild scream he sprang from under
the lash. and bounded up the rigging with anna
zing rapIdity. iiedoublcd the fuItock rigging
like cat, passed. up the iopnasi and top gall
liant rigging will uhdiminished speed. stunned
the unrattied royal rigging, aud perched him
self like bird alongside of the pendant which
streamsd from The mast head. Here he paused,
looking fearlessy upon the deck below. All
hands came up tp see biin--his cries and cruel
treatment had alteady enlisted their sympathy,
a d. If possible, liad Increased lheir,hatfed OF
the caps.ln. ME4l
4 The monster was smiling cotnplacently al
the success Of his experiment; for be was one
Of those tyranis who boasted that the cat, pro-
perly applied, collld make men do anything
Still ne was spprehensive thatthe boy might
destroy himself aud the Circumstance be used
against him at The admiralty, where he knew
: representations of his cruelty had already been
made. The men gazed TN silence, looking fret
. at the boy and Then at The captain, who was
d seated near the Itafffaill They dared not be
z seen speaking TO one anetherj 1t was hogEa.
" Bile offence even al night spies passed under
: theu hammocks 70 ascertain it they whispered.
$ The officers walked the lee side oil the quarter
hi deck, occasionally casting their eyes aleft. but
were as silent sshe mea.
Sill the boy clung to the masthead, playing
with the pendant, apparently unconscious o.
10 the interest," he excited below. Tired with GO.
2, zing aloft. the captain sung out through ths
& speaking trumpet" Down from aloftl--
Down." ~ f4s saa4 y.
70 The boy sprailg upon the truck at bound
u and raising himself erect, waved his ca aronn,
his head then stretching his arms out, gave
- aid, laughing scream, and threw himself for
20 ward. The captain jumped to bis feet, expect
ing TO see the boy dashed to pieces ON deck
% but when clear of the shade of the saIls he say
70 him sliding along the main royal stay towar
e. the foretopgalIsnt mast head, and heard hir
"a laugh, and chatter like monkey, as if enjoy
10 ing the spsrl. He reached the mast head i
or safety. and then descended along the top-ga
liant bsckstsy hand overland. The captai
70 looked st him. and was abou, to speak, but di
a. not find words. The boy frpthed at the mout
on and nose; his eyes seemed starting out of h
nd head he rolled upon the deck il conyulsion
staining it with the blood which still trickle
go from his back Hewas a maniac. The SUI
IRE geon's skin in the course of afew weeks r
'ue stored his health, bul not his reason.
or From that time forward be wes fearless.
az the darkest night, 10 The iercest gales,
ca, would scanper along the deck like dog, al
bound aloft with speed which no one on boa
coold equal He would run over the var
o." without holding pass from mast to mast on d
les stays, ascsnd and descend by theleeches of Il
|. IL sa Is, aud run upon the naked sluddings
yer booms. lbs was oimble as q cat. and had {,
ace gotten fear. Some ofthe light duties aloft
in learned 10 discharge 10 company with them
49, dld as they did, but could not be trusted to
Gus anything himself One order ha always obe
mes ed without hesitation. Al The commal
an, Away aloit." he was Off and never paus
) Of until he reached tie mast mead. As he "
aw harmless and rarely spoke. iha captain k'
ary him Oh boafd, and ~ the course of year, 81
can him often sloft for amusement. His slreng
loss increased with his years, but bib bulk and
rdly height remained nearly the %safIe at eightt
inst as when he became maniac.
har- His ribs. breas, and back, seemed one case
sage bone, and his sinews and muscles made his i
t Of and arms appear like pIllared columns.
ONE was fair, with light blue eyes and delicate SIX
We a his iace oval aud full. but void of expression
posi- neither love, fear revenge. or pIessure, co
DIS be aaced in It's slolid outline. His eyes sta
tyH IN everything withoot appearing to see,
When he spoke. there was rarsly any tnesn
:, ID his words lie followed ihp msn 10 Il
4 T., ssrious duties, like dog following bis mas
w henever be wac struck or Startled by "a b
4. !. lswoin's mate, he ran up the main rIgq
- screamirg at the ftp OF his luhgs. aud M
a., !. pansed pntiI he had performed The iifsl ev
81, non. which had made him mailIac
Ar AS The sailors story runs Tie SIP arr
Plymouth TO be decked end reflsed- The
tain, awaiting himself OF the leisare, was &,
20 to be married, and the news wsticommllnic'
. the by hts sefvant 10 the cook, who soon citcui
here it on iie bsrth-deck among 'he iien, whe ca
. no' him aIId all This Kin
ever liza ssryan, came on hoard Of The hulk w
nst d he oen wers lodged. tha evengnQ the car
y and u ID Be- ma led cfazv Joex(the nnmc
: colsI hov Was Known bs1 mel 1.i.n al the gang
s. and asked iosefigently If 'tlle cap'ain woul
81. r,. narried that evening aad whetdf The ser
is 90 gay9 MN '"e in1ofmailopsne oofEfea ana
nlioas sonut ms pps1ness k6 ..,il.ssl3 .sn
4 heas Innt n'gnt white me elp'aan Wss nnafes
igheI bo WAS se'zsa oy me thFtH' aeaI dfaggea
n ths br'd '-oed. e s. l I'll
I soa. !. but 90 10. scream. or will klll you 10
me- hold withln my grasp Y devil, VIII