The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-09-03
THE STORY OF JEFFREY.

THE STORY OF JEFFREY,
Rclipses, comets, and extraordinarily
high tides can be predicted with accu-
racy; there even seems to be a proba-
bility that in time the weather will also
strike its flag to science. and that
means will be found of disentan Cling
the conflicting influences which send an
anerold up and down. But in the art
OF toretelling the probable current of
public enthusiasm there is no sign of
progress. Ihe keenest observer of hu-
man nature can no more guess whether
bne career of a'p particular suitor, war;
flof, explorer or criminal will simply
appear III the newspapers and excite no
more attention. or will be generally
TAX N up as a matter of national i'm.
p Jrtance, than the merest tyro can, It
was more than q million to one that
Robert Jeffrey's wrongs would remain
unnotlced, or raise but a feeble and
passing notice. He became a popular
idol, however-a representative victim
OF the press gang system, and the tyran.
nlcal customs which naturally grew out
OF 1T, and so a very curious story has
been handed down to us.
In 1907 privateer, named the Lord
Nelson, was fitted at Polperro, in Corn.
wall, England, place famous for its
hardy race of smugglers, the entire
population being brought up to look
upon coast-guardsmen as natural enc.
mics, who might be killed with as good
conscience as though they were
Frenchmen.
The profits of privateering were often
greater even than those of SMUGGLING.
and the Lord Nelson had no difficulty
in gathering together tirst-rate crew,
Amongst them was man who had been
brought up as blacksmith. but had
found both excitement and profit in an
occasional sea-trip, and indeed was as
good at the tiller rs at the forge, per-
haps trife better.
The name of this amphibious Cor.
nishman was Robert jeffrey, and his
career as privateersman was a short
one for the Lord Nelson, at the very
commencement of her cruise. was
forced 10 put into Falmouth, where
she was boarded by press gang. 1t
was perfectly illegal proceeding, the
press-Sang had no more right to take a
man out of the Lord Nelson, than you
or have to break into house and take
the plate basket. But at the COM
mencement of this century private
rights were very little respected where
The pubic Service was concerned. un-
iesS the person whom it was proposed
10 lhlure Fad plenty of money or politi-
ca! influence. Robert Jeffrey had
nett, ,er, and he was carried on board
IL. nj. .. Recruit, and converted into
man of-war's man quite against his
VIII, and in defiance of his clear and
undoubted protection.
The commander of the Recruit was
young officer at that time, well.known
III the navy as reckless, self willed,
passionate man, the foibles of whose
mature o igere forced and exasperated by
uespoGlc powers and drinking habits.
AS If his normal thirst were not enough,
re was now sent to cruise in the Ca,
1lbbean sea, where the heat of the sun
whetted it to such an extent, that he
was seldom or ever sober, the mildest
potat'on that he used to quench it
being spruce-beer, of which he kept q
caSk always on tap in his private
cabin.
Before he had been on board many
days, Jeffrey's proficiency as a smith
was discovered, and he was made arm
orer's mate. So that there was a fair
chance of his making his enforced trip
pretty comfortably, and returning after
few months to his native place, with a
pocketful of prize-money after all.
But an unfortunate group of circum-
stances got in the way. The captain |
was not the only thirsty man in the
ship; his armorer's mate, for example. |
occasionally had drought upon him,
which was considerably aggravated by |
the extremely hot weather, and the
small allowance of water served out
laily, for the ship was running short
Of that treasure, which we never prize
while we have. During this state of
itfalrs, Jeffrey was''sent to,execute some
OBJ in the captains room, and being
eft alone with the barrel of spruce
oeer, he began to ogle it. There was
thinking cup, which had Ebeen used,
ying very. handy; the captain was on
leck ;ino one could see him he was
'ery thirsty He snatched up the.cup,
md desisted from his work a moment
o draw off half pint and toss it down.
Iery good it was, and very refreshing;
stolen waters are sweet, what must
spruce-beer be? Presently
mother drink was taken, with equal
uccess. A third, however, was spoil
d by the thick and wrathful voice of
he captain, who had come below un-
,,eard, unnoticed, in time to witness
his outrageous act of daring presump-
ion. ,trT
1t would burn hole in the paper to
7rlte down Captain Lakes remark upon
he occasion. Seventy years ago all
swore little; naval officers
wore very much, increasing in vehe.
lenee as they rose in rank men in
QuOr sWore. as at the nresent dav