The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-12-05

of, and never palsed until he reached
the masthead. As he was harmless nC
rarely spoke, the captain kept him OF
boa d, aud. In the course of year, sem
him alOft for amusemennt. Iii,
strength increased with his years, bui
his bulk and height remained nearly
the same at eighteen as when he became
J a maniac.
His ribs, breast and back seemed
one case of bone, and his sinews and
muscles made his legs and arms appear
like plllared columns. lie was fair
with light blue eyes and delicate skin
his face oval and full, but without ex-
presslon--neither love, fear, revenge
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. lie followed the men in
their various duties like dog follow
ing his master. Whenever he was
struck or startled by boatswain's IS
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
a maniac.
As the sailors story runs, the ship
arrived at Plymouth TO be docked and
rehtted. The captain, availing him
self of the opportunity, was going to
be married, and the news was cOmmu-
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 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 him
at the gangway, and asked him intelli-
gently whether the captain would be
married that evening and where? The
servant gave him the information de-
sired, and went about his business.
That night, while the captain was
undressing he was seized by the throat
aud dragged to the bridal bed. "Look,
fair lady, on me-" said Crazy Joe.
T" but do not scream, or | will kill you.
Look on me. hold within my grasp
devil, who delights in cruelty--a
merclless fiend who has scOurged the
backs of hundreds of brave men-a
ruflian who has robbed me of my rea-
son | hold him within the grasp of
death, at the very moment his black
soul thought itself within the reach of
bliss. Monster, look upon your lady
think moment of the heaven of earth
ly joy almost within your reach-then
think of me, poor Crazy Joe and of
the hell to which | send you! Die,
wretch, diew
When the alarm was given, the
strangled body of the captain was found
laying alongside of the bridal bed; but
the maniac who killed him was never
recognized afterwards. He belonged
to Cornwall, and probably found shell
ter from pursuit in the mines until the
excitement passed away. The lady
stated at the time, and many years af-
terwards, 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 to side as
easily as if he had been child, while
theforefinger and thumb of the left hand
gragped her own throat, ready to ex-
tinguish her life if she attempted to
raise an alarm. His face was pale and
deathlike, his eyes started, but were
motiOnless, and every word he uttered
seemed to issue from tile very depths of
his soul. The captains looks were ter
rible beyond description-death left the
impress of ferocity upon his darkened
features. How the maniac entered or
left the room she never knew; his de-
parture was as nOiseless as his entrance.
SO paralyzed was she with fear, that an
hour elapsed before she could muster
courage to call for help; but she thank
ed God, when the captains cruel char
acter became generally known ashore,
that she had been rescued from his alli-
ance.