The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-11-28


his cap around his his head; then
stretching his arms out, gave a wild
scream, and threw himself
forward. The captain jumped to his
feet expecting to see the boy dashed to
pieces on deck; but when clear of the
sails of the shade of the sails he saw
him sliding along the main royal stay
towards the foretop- gallant masthead,
and heard him laugh and chatter Ike
a monkey, as if enjoying the speet
He reached the masthead and in safs
ty, and then descended along the top
gallant backstay, ,hand-over-hand. The
captain looked at him, and was about
to speak, but could find no words.
The boy frothed at the mouth and
nose; his eyes seemed starting cut of
his head; he rolled upon the deck in
convulsions, standing it with the blood
which still trickled from his back. He
was maniac. The surgeons skill in
the course of a few weeks restored his
bodily health; but not his reason.
From that time forward he was fear
less. In the darkest night, the fercest
gale, he would scamper along the deck
like dog, and bound aloft with a
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 de-
scend by the leeches of the sails, and
run upon the studding sail booms.
He was as nimble as cat, and had
forgotten fear. Some of the light du-
ties aloft he learned to discharge in
company withthem, he did as they did,
but could not be trusted to do any
thing himself. One order he always
obeyed without hesitation. At the
command, "Away aloft, he was off,
and never puaused until he reached the
masthead. As he was harmless and
scarcely ever spoke, the captain kept
him on board, and in the coruse of a
year, sent him aloft for amusement.
His strength increased with his years,
but his bulk and height remained
nearly the same at eighteen as when
he became a 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 oval and full, but with
out expression-neither love, fear. re-
venge nor pleasure could be traced in
its stolid outline 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 a
dog following his master. Whenever
he was struck or startled by a boat
swain's mate, he ran up the main rig
gin, screaming at top of his lungs, and
never paused until he had performed
the first evolution which had made him
a maniac.
As the sailors story runs, the ship
arrived at Plymouth to be docked and
reftted. The captain, availing him
self of the opportunity, was going tc
be married, and the news was eommu.
nicated by his servant to the cook who
soon circulated it on the berth-deck
among the men, who cursed him and
all his kin. His servant came ON board
of the hulk where the men were
lodged, the evening that the captain
was to be married. Crazy Joe-the
name the boy was known bY-met hin
at the gangway, and asked him inteli
gently whether the captain would be
married that evening and where? Tn,
servant gave him the information de
sized. and went about his business.
That night, while the captain was
undressing he was seized by the throa
and dragged to the bridal bed. "Look
fair lady, on me- said Crazy Joe, 'bu
do not scream, or [ will kill you
Look on me. l hold within my grasI
devil, who delights in cruelty
merciless fiend who has scourged til
backs of hundreds of brave men-s
ruffian who has robbed me of my rea
son; I hold him within the grasp G
death, at the very moment his blacl
soul thought itself within the reach c
bliss. Monster, look upon your lady
think a moment of the heaven of earth
ly Joy almost within your reach-thel
think of me, poor Crazy Joe and G
5 the hell to which l send you Die
wretch, die p
When the alarm was given, til
strangled body Of the captain wa
5 found laying alongside ths bridal bed
but the maniac who killed him va
t never recognized afterwards. He bt
, longed to Cornwall, apd pEohabl
: found shelter from pursuit in the mine
until the excitement passed away. Th
/ lady stated at the time, and man
: years afterwards, that the attack of ii
/. maniac was so sudden and silent thi
e she knew nothing Of it until the Gu
r tains were pushed aside and she fe
5 the pressure of the captains body ber