Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-04-02
A Crazy Boys Freak.

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The usually quiet neighborhood OF
Decker's Run, a settlement four or flVe
miles back from Cochranton, Penn,
proved the scene of an exciting occur
renee which created deep sensation
throughout the district. About nine
o'clock on Saturday morning young
boy of sixteen years named Hallebaugh,
who had for some time previous exhibit
ed symptoms of insanity, suddenly
conceived the idea that his friends in
tended to kill him, and rushed from
the house toward o brush at little
distance. His grandfather and uncle
vainly pursued the poor fellow. He
reached the woods, and with the
energy of frenzied despair began
climbing large poplar tree. In few
moments he reached the topmost
branches, where ke looked down from
the dizzy height OF seventy feet upon
his baffied pursuers. The weather was
bitterly cold; the fugitive had neither
coat nor mittens, his clothing being
rather scanty at best. How to extricate
him from his perilous situation quickly
became perplexing question.
At length his relatives determined to
make IN effort to bring the demented
youth safely to the ground, and o
couple of men ascended the tree for
that purpose. But the frightened boy
frustrated this scheme by climbing still
higher and crawling out almost to the
end of frail- looking limb, that swayed
and bent under its unaccustomed bur-
den. From this dangerous elevation
| he defed all further attempts at effect
ing rescue, threatening to throw him
self headlong upon the earth If not let
alone. BY this time many OF the
neighbors had gathered; however, none
could suggest any plan OF relief that
might hope for successful issue.
Hours passed away without changing
the scene or terminating the agonizing
suspense of the assembled scores. His
coat was taken up the tree and left as
near the unfortunate boy as possible.
He finally descended far enough to
clutch the garment, put it on, and again
resumed his position on the fragile
branch. To the Mortified spectators it
seemed as if the limb must break every
instant, in which case they shuddered
to think of the fatal consequences. The
moments appeared like hours in dura-
ton, while the reckless movements of
the cause of all this anxiety continually
intensified the fear of q terrible fall,
mangled corpse, and stricken house
hould. A human life hung by slender
twig, liable to snap without the slight
est warning.
1t became painfully evident the boy
would perish from cold if not extricated,
and as the last alternative it was de-
cided to fell the tree. Stout ropes were
fastened high up to let it come down
slowly, willing hands took firm hold, and
the saw was briskly piled. The monarch
of the forest succumbed at length, amid
the widest demonstrations Of insane
delight from its dazed occupant. The
next minute was pregnant with supreme
interest as the tree gradually inclined
from the perpendicular and its top
started toward the solid earth. In spite
of the exertions Of the men holding
the ropes it struck against huge ma
ple, but ere the collision took place the
boy gave one frantic yell, sprang upon
a limb OF the maple, ran to the trunk
with the speed and agility Of squirrel.
and in few brief seconds had climbed
higher than before. Here was an un-
looked for circumstance, night was near
at hand, and hope almost died out in
each bosom. ,
The moon rose clear and bright and
beautiful the mir was crisp, and the
night bitterly sharp. Midnight came
on apace, and still the distracted youth
remained among the highest branches
of the leafless tree. Vainly the crowd
implored him to come down and receive
food and shelter. He continued deaf
to the entreaty, laughing with all the
glee of maniac at their earnest ap-
peals. A happy thought eventually
loomed up, which no time was lost IN
putting into practice. The throng dis.
persed, with the exception of small
number of men who secreted them
selves behind trees and logs to be III
readiness for whatever emergency
might demand their assistance. Then
a young playmate OF the crazy boy, to
whom he had always been much at
tached, stood ut the foot of the tree,
presented dishes of food, and begged
him to come down and get something
to eat. This measure finally succeeded ;
the boy yielded to the temptation, and
in little while once more stood upon
the ground. Some Of the men quietly
stepped from their concealment,
secured and carried him home. The
poor fellows hands and face and feet
were badly frozen as the result OF his
fearful exposure for over fifteen hours
during the rigors of the coolest day
and night Of the season. The JOY OF
the friends at the denouement may be
imagined. Every attention was paid
the poor sufferer that affection could
devise, and he is progressing favorably,
though his intellect is yet rs clouded
as before he underwent the dreadful
experience of that eventful Saturday
which mono who participated in the ex
citing scene will be likely for many
years to forget.
CHEAP LIvING.-A gentleman who
signs himself "Winnepisiogee' write:
to a Boston newspaper that he know;
by personal experiment that an able