The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-29
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A STORY OF THE PRESS GANG.

A STORY OF TIE PRESS GANG.
TIE WRONGS OF WIFE AND THE REVENGE
OF A HUSBAND.
Henry Mason had married Esther Word.
fnrd. the widow of Jabcz Wondford, who
was killed by an accidental fall in the Ply
mouth backward, of which he was foreman.
Henry had loved Esther when she was a
girl, but she had, in a caors blGuc, married
Woodfnrd After the death OF her husband,
she went to live with her hrnlhcr-in-law
taking with her an only child. Willy. sweet
hoy. bu, of weak intellect. Here the old
love was revived, and Henry Mason, who
had become mate of Grsi-class merchant
man. bclnnaing to the respectable house oi
Messrs Roberts of London, married the
widow Esther. The events Of their sub$c-
oueut life are TINS related in the "notcs OF
distinguished Barrslcr::'
II was about eight months allcr his ;iar-
riaue-,hnuuh he had been pro!i,aby cno;i.h
employed in tie intcrm-'hat Henry Ma
son, in consequence "f the welcome an
uouucemcnl that the new brig was at last
ready for her captain and cargo arrived III
London to enter upon lbs Ecw appoint.
ment.
The c Lodgings, Esther said he, as he
was preDaring tn y O out, soon alter breakfast,
,,u tile norning after his arrival, are scarce
lv the thing: and as |. like You. am stran-
ger in Cockncy-land, ! had better consult
some of the firm upon The subject before we
decide upon permanent ones. In The mean
time. YOU and Wnlv mus mind and keep III
doors whcr ] am MT with you. or Shall
have one or the other of vou lost in tbs
urea, wilderness nr Il civ. | shall return IN
two or three hours. will order something
for dinner as 90 along: have your purse.
Good .bv: Gnd bless y"u both
Inquirlng his wav every two or three III n
utes, Mason presently found himself III the
the vicinity of Tower Stairs A scutile i"
front of a public house attracted his a''cn-
lion. and his rea " svmpalhcS were IN an
instant enlisted in behalf ola younI sailor,
vai,lv struggling III the gras;I OF several all'
letic men, and CRYING Justify on the coping
bystandcrs for help. Mason sprang forward;
eauaAt one of the asSailanls by the collar
and hurled him with some violence against
the wall. \ fierce outcrv greeted ti'iS au-
dacious Interference with gentlemen who''h
those rood old times, were but executing
the law in a remarkably good old manner
Lieut.. Donnaghcu, a somewhat celebrated
snapper up of Iuosa mariners; emerged upon
the scene; and in few minutes was enabled
tn cxult in the secure possession "l an ahd!
,ional pr:zc in The unfortunate Henry Ma.
son. who. too late. discovered that lie had
cnbruilcd himself wfh prcsEga"S! Dcs'
pera,e, rrcnzied with the ell he made I"
extrica,e himself from the peril IN which he
rashly involved himself. lnvain' HIS pro-
,es,ations that he was mate, captain III
the merchant service, wcic unhccdcd or
morkcd at.
To uli his circumstances lie only got the
professional answer-'lIiS majesty wants
rou. and tha, is enough; 50 come along, ana
no more about It,
Bruised exhausted, almost NAL. he was
borne off in triumph to boat, i;'t" winch nc
WAS thurst with several others, and swiftly
rn,yed off to IA receiving ship in the river.
Even there hrs assertions and prolcsiat"ns
were of no avail. Nothing but an Admiral
i,y order the officer in command cahh'h'F
told him should effect his liberation. His
majesty was in need o! scamen: ami nc was
evidently too smart one to bc deprived "i
the glory of serving lis country. 10" must
therefore. concluded the officer, as he turn
ed IaughingIy upon his heel, 'do as thousands
ofo,her fine fellows have been compcllc" TO
tlo-"arin and bear H." In about 'hfec
weeks from the date of his imprisonment
Mason found himself serving in the Al'der'
rancan on board the Active trgatt Va p'aIh
Alexander Gordon, without having Dcch
permitted one opportunity I'll communlca'
ling with the shore. This was certainly
very sharp, but it was not the less very COM
mon practice in those great days OF triumph
an, battles by land and sea.
Very drcary passed the time with the
bereavcd wife. Her husband had promised
TO send home something for dinner, and va
rious groceries; yet hour after hour went
mast. and no,hing arrived. Morning fash
ed into noon, dav faded TO twilight, and still
the welknown and always eager step sound
ed not upon the stairs! What could have
detained him from his wife. shut up, lmprIs.
oned as il were, in that hot, hurrylng, sl.
limo ci,y? She feared to listen to the sug-
pcs,ons of her boding heart; and with lever,
ish res,Icssncss ran out upon the landing ana
peered over the stairs every time a Knock
or ring was heard at the street door. ms
strange behaviour was, il seems, not'ccu ny
the landladv Of The lodging house, ana '''lh'