Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-03-25
From the Drawing Room Com panion.
2 Press-Gang's Victim.
A SEA SKETCH.
BY s. COBB, JR.

1909, the American brig Sarah, o. and
from Norfolk, Va, entered the port OF
Liverpool with full cargo, She was
commanded by Capt. William Brown,
and his first mate was Tom Macdonough,
a true hearted Yankee sailor, who hailed
from somewhere in the little State of
Delaware. After the brig had been duly
entered at the custom-house. she was
soon cleared other cargo, and within one
week after her arrival, she was loaded
for home. H a.ap'i Bis ss1s.tt
% One pleasant evening-the one pre-
ceeding the day on which the brig was
tocsail---T'om Macdonough took stroll
up into the town. He had been a, work
MI day, in arranging the cargo, and has-
ing merely started out for a stroll, he had
not thought il worth while to change his
dress. III chad been nPI as 9 far Sas The
Exchange, and was returning by the way
Of the docks, when he was accosied by
q man who appeared TO be a citizen.
,al'.Good evening, stranger" I H}t Ut
1.-THE same tosyou," returned Tom,
never once mistrusiing that there was
= F.
.il..Do you belong 10 any of the vessels
nov in the river!'' asked the other. as he
cast a scrutinizing glance over the come.
what rough habliments of the American
sailor. ssl 3 ssiAsawar a.I
"Yes. belong TO the American brig
Sarah" at T n0
mo, no,-that wont do"
"What wont doF" asked Tom, not a
little amazed at the remark.
20, know you," returned the sirang-
Or. "you are deserter from the friga,e. >
As he spoke, he placed a small whis-
lie TO his mouth, and in moment after
is shrill note had GU, the air, six ma
rines came rushing out from ,ap-room
close at hand, and at a motion from the
stranger, they seized bold upon Tom and
made him their prisoner. In vain was il
,ha, Tom protested that he was second
in command ofshe Sarah, and in vain
that he threatened vengeance,-but a.
ga.nst the power of six stout fellows he
could make no e!fec,ual resistance, and
so he was tskealalong tn the naval land
ing. whore five other prisoners, all vic
tins of the press gang, were awaiting
their em5arka,ion. A boa,'was if wait
'ing. lin the command Of lieu,enant, and
into it was Tom, with the rest of The un
fortunate seamen. Lnceremnpiously hur-
ried, and i,i less .han half an hoCr, he
found himself on board all English frigate,
which lay al the mouth of the river.
/. "a fine set of men, said The English
captain. as he ran his ewes admiringly o.
gver the stalwart forms of the impressed
se,men. "They will just fill up the list
ofour nam topmen."
"Are you the commander of this frig-
a,e!" asked Tom, addressing the man
who had just spoken.
"Cap.ain Downie, at your service, :
replied the commander, with mock grav
ity.
Then, r, of you demand my i'm
mediate release. | an second in com
mand OF an American brig now ready for
sea. and no power in England can legal
ly detain me-"
.That wont go down, youngster." re-
turned the captain, with sneer. "You
are title too young for such an office.
The King needs men. and Won must lake
yonr chance with ,be ~s,"
nDo vou mean n say that I am To be
detained on hoard vour shio!p
.CerainIy 3 TrE
.Tben s;rn re,,;ed rom. while his
ave. aasbed ara l.you win dol, at your
nsr;l Arcade have. your naople ran nm
3a heavy reckonino and the day shally e,
come ~ han yonr I;no will hare IA set,le
d Lam 1exsm,t. bv vonr own laws.
from imuressmen,. and YOU knowi,."
sorrl nero sroLa brt turning 10 one Of
ihis lieu,enan,s. he said: /" =
..Mr. Monson. have these mems names
ar entered and then station Them and mess
sihem.,, and wi,hont further remark he
,valLad aft ~ b;s cabin. - s,5f rs s.f III
M . momen, Toms mind was made
an and w;,hou, resistance or remark of
.rv L;rd he allowed his name 10 he en-.
,.,sd nm ,he nursar.s hooLs and his sta.
,;nn .nd mass - i. ,s.;gned him. after
-h;ch I hsmmmck on5 hsdd;ng were
$500 -