The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-01-24
A. Thrilling. ;, Story. !. J.

t.y'fft. ->'ffi rt.u,f..
,'S The following incident actually oc-
Cured on board OF y Bri.ish frightc,
and was communicated to the writer,
several years ago, by. an Old maE-of-
y wars man.: :rE ~, -..,...., ..i..T
- = A timid boy, about fourteen years
-, aof. age, hesitaled to 80 aloft, but by
" the captains orders, was forcibly put
in the main rigging, and then q boat
'swain's mhtc was, commanded to'lash
him like a dog until liz, learned to run
The, poor, fellows legs and
= arms oatrcmblcd. he ..grasped =. the
1 strouds, he, cried, lie, prayed, the in
hun an captain for Gods sake TO have
~ mercy on lin; but all in vain The
u boatswain's mate was ordered to lay
IN harder and harder, rcgaruless OF
tie boys piercing screams, which
made even vttcrali seaman turn from
) brutal sccre. with ,;disgLst,r His
clothes wereHrcnt from his bdtk, the
-sb'ood followed the lash, and still the
ISrant roared out, Lay or, boat
~ swain's mate, !'r,.,., r.,,,,.,,.
with one wild scream he sprang
from under the lash and bounded up
tlies Rigging with ,amaziug ,rapiditv.
lie doubled the futtocls rigging like
lcat, passed up the .topmast and top
gallant rigging with. ,undiminishcd
speed, Skinned the unrattledn. oyal
rigging, and pcrchcd himself like a
bird alongside of, the pcnnant which
streamed from the masthead. Here
he paused, looking fearlessly upon
the deck below. All hands came up
to sec him-his cries and cruel trea L.
mcnt had already enlisted their SYM
patty, and possibly had increased
. their hatred of the captain. '.s.'
The monster wns smiling compla7c
Gently at the success Of his expert
mcnt ; he was one Of those tvrants
who boastcd that 'the cat, properly
applied, made men Dc : anllhipg.
Still he WAS apprehensive that tie
hoy might destroy himself, and lie
circumstances be used against him at
the Admiralty. where. lie. knew repre-
sentations OF .his cruelty had alrcad'
been made. The, men gazcd in .si-
"lcncc, looking first ut the boy anip
then at !he captain, who vas seated
{ near the lalIrail. They dared .np: be
seen speaking to one anoti. .cr-it was
IL ilrgging oIIence; even at 7 night
spies passed 'hndcr their Ilammrcks
TO ascertain if they whispered. The
officers walked the Ice side Of the.
quarterback, occasionally castin.
their eyes nlott, bit were us silent rs
the men. Still The hoy. clnngiite Tie
masthead, playing with the pennnt,
apparently unconscious Of The inter
est he excited below. Tired with
sazng alofl, the captain sung out
i" through the speaking trumpet, "Down
from aloit! Down! I" .,,.- .'l''
The boy sprang upon thcitrack at
bound, and raising himself erect,
waved lis cap around his head ;thcn,
stretching his arms out gave wild
laughing scream, and threw himscf
forward. I've captain JUMPED to his
feet, expecting to see the boy dashed
in pieces on deck; but when clear OF
the shade of tho sails he saw him
sliding along the maih1royal stay TO-
wards the foretop-gallant masthead,
and heard him laugh and ciattcf'ike
monkey, as if erjoying the sport.
lle reached the MASTHEAD in safety,
and then descended along the top
gallant backstay hand over hand.
The captain looked at him and was
about to speak, but could not find |
words. The hoy lrothed at the mouth I
and nose ). his eyes seemed starting
out OF his head /; lie rolled upon tue
deck i'll convulsions, staining it with |
blood which Still trickled from his 1:
back. He was maniac. The sur!
Seou's skill in The course Of u few
weeks restored his bodily health, but.
old
From that time forward lie was