Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-11-03
8 Strap If Alstnry.
MACDONOUGH,
THE PRESS GANGS VICTIM
A SEA SKETCH


| Some time during the month o
June, 1909. the American brig Sa
rsb, of and from Norfolk. Va, enter
ed the port of Liverpool. with fol
cargo. She was commandedby Capt
William Brown, and his first mate wa:
Tom Macdonough, ue.beartec
Yankee sailor, who hailed from some
where in tue little State Of Dell.
ware.
Alter the brig had been Gully en-
tered at the custom-house, she was
soon cleared Of her cargo, and within
one week after her arrival she was
loaded for home.
One pleasant evening : the one
preceding the day on which the
brig was to s,il--Tom Macdoaongh
took a stroll up town. He had been
at work all day 10 arranging the car
90, and having merely started out iol
a stroll, be had not thought it worth
while to change bis dress. lie had
been up as lar as the Exchange, and
was returning by the way Of the
docks, when be was accosted by a
man who appeared to be citizen:
Good evening, strangcf.
The same TO you,' returned Tom.
never once mistrusting that there was
harm in the way.
DO you belong to any OF the YES
sells now in the river?i asked the 9th
or, as he cast scrutiniziDg glance
over the somewhat rough habillments
of the American sailor.
Yes, l belong to .he American
brig Sarah.
Mono; that won't do
What won't do?' asked Tom, not
a little amazed at the remark.
oh, | know you,' returned the
stranger. You are a deserter from
the frigate. ;,
AS be spoke he placed small
whistle to his mouth, aud in mo-
ment after its shriil notes had cut
the air. six marines came rushing
out from a tap room close at hand,
aud at a motion from the stranger,
thev seized hold upon Tom, and made
him A prisoner. In vain Was it that
Tom protested that he was second IN
command of the Sarah; and IN vain
that he threatened vengeance. But
against tie power of six stout fellows,
be could make no eff ctual resistance,
and so he Was taken along to the ma
val landing, where five other pr'so-
ners-all victims Of the press-gang
we're awaiting their tmbarkatlon
/ A boat was in waiting, in the COM
mand of lieutenant, and into II
was Tom. with the rest OF the unior'
L
tunate seamen, unctremoniously bur
,ied. and in less than half an houl
he found himself on board an English
| frisate, which lay at the mouth O
1 the river. >
"a fine set Of men, said the En-
glish captain, as he run bis eyes ad
miringly over the stalwart forms {, o
the IMPRESSED seamen. They viii
just fill up The list OF our main-top
men
.Are YOU the commander 0! thl'
frigate?' asked Tom. addressing th'
man who had Just spoken.
captain Downie, at your service,
rcolied the commander with noel
Then, sir, of you I demand m,
immediate release; ! am second il
conmsnd oI an Am 'rican brig, nov
re,dv for sea, and no power in Eng
land can legally detaln me-
THAT wort do, youDgster,' return
cd the Captain with sneer; you !. ar
> little too young for such an Office
The King needs men, and you mus
take your chance With The rest.
Do you meanso say that ! am u, t
y X
lbe detained on beard your snip!
Certainly. w.;,. i;
Ieyes flashed fire, 'y0u Will 10 y noa =
Your peril. Already have your pee
ple run up a heavy reckoning, am
tbs aay shall yet come when the iKlns
w;ll have to settle it. ] am exemp
by vour own laws from impressmeni
and YOU know it, 9s
y La inn