The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-03-18

load of the finny food, which mean
comfort and content for those the
loved, was the thing to be done that
they might return and make matters
snug at home for the cold weather.
There were then no patriotic commits
sions that lavished money at home
while stalwart men fought in the field, to
give timely assistance to the families of
absent soldiers. So the fishermen
worked on day after day, and week after
week, through fair weather and foul, till
the "catch" was completed.
The night of its departure from the
fishing-banks the little fleet was widely
scattered by storm. Abner Taft's
smack was driven out to sea before the
gale and nearly suffered a wreck.
The warning of the tempest was in
his ears through the long, dark hours, as
he was hurried he knew not whittier.
When the morning broke ON the wild
waste of waters he knew that he must be
far out at sea, for there was nothing in
sight except, low down on the horizon, q
large vessel which was hardly noticeable
between the confused tumbling of the
waters and the thick, dark sky. A ship
at sea for the imperiled crew of frail
fishing boat is now a welcome sight.
| To these three men of Marblehead it
was thing more portentous of evil than
the cruelty of the ocean and the frown of
the skies. 1t could be nothing less than
an armed vessel of the enemy, for the
Colonies had but little merchant-marine
and their ships of war were as yet stand
ing peacefully in their primitive woods.
To be captured had but one meaning-a
lingering death by imprisonment in some
dungeon.hulk, or possibly to he i'm
pressed into service which they bitterly
abhorred-in any case long if not final
parting from all those they loved.
There was still one chance-their little
boat, lying low, might not be seen and
the British war-vessel pass on. This
hope was soon crushed as the rapidly-en-
larging ship came up with close-reefed
sails before the stiff breeze into which
the gale of the preceding night had SUBJ
sided. Only few minutes elapsed be-
| fore shot was fired and hoarse voice,
roaring through speaking-t1umpet, babe
them come alongside.
Abner Taft and his mates had fallen
into the fate they SO bitterly and justly
| dreaded. They were in the merciless
clutches of the British. Instantly they
had mounted the sides they were sum-
moned % the quarterback and con-
fronted with the English Captain,
heavy, dissipated-looking man, whose
red face We'd with the scarlet splendors
of his uniform. Capt: Scott, command
ing the sioop-of-war Tartar, q ship carry
200 men, had an unenviable reputation
even among his brother officers for
brutality.
The legend preserves some record of
the interview between the captOr and his
victims, as they stood before him with
stt I'm and surly looks, which they were
either unwilling or unable to subdue in
to the semblance of submission.
Cursed rebel spawn, I'll warrant"
said Capt. Scott; who are ye?"
Fishers from Marblehead, Driven to
sea by the Storm" said Abner Taft, in
slow, full tones, and the peculiar accent
which marked the speech OF his native
town, so different from that of the rest of
Yankee-land.
The characteristic information struck
the ear of the British Captain as he
peered keenly andosuspiciously in the
faces of his victims.
Englishman," said he with an oath ;
mo cursed rebel Yankee ever talked like
that. Pass the word forward for the
bosom; he'll know 'em down to the very
shire and village"
The bosom, weather-beaten old salt,
with villainOus face, who had been one
of the most cruel and INSCRIPTIONS
crimps IN Plymouth, and was a sort Of
humble edition of his chief, came aft.
"Ah, ha, bosom, here's good, fat piece
of work cut out for you and your mates
with the cat" roared the commander
Look at these cursed scoundrels, En-
glishmen, deserters from the colors of
their King. They'd pass for Yankees;
but know the breed too we'll. Talk to
'em and let's know what part of Old En-
gland they hail FROM"
LAY, ay, your honor; know 'em by the
very cut of the jib" answered the petty
officer, scraping and pulling his topknot
to his superior.
The men of Marblehead saw the trap
into which they had fallen, and obsti-
nately refused to answer any further
questions. Seeing nothing but death be-
fore them, they were going to die grimly
and silently.
trice 'em to the grating" shouted the
English Captain, with a volley of oaths,
infurated by the logged disdain of the
prisoners. "Give 'em four dozen apiece,
with right good will, too, or you and
your mates shall take their places. To-
morrow it will he matter of the yard
arm"
The bosom executed his mission with
| a cruel delight, and the crew were mus
tered to witness the savage torture, as
the blood spurted on the naked backs
from the strokes OF the terrible cat.
The unfortunate men were taken below
and put in irons, expecting next day to
be executed on the pretext which had
been so unexpectedly raised by their
brutal captor. His comrades had WINGED
under the fierce torment of the cat. but
herculean shoulders as on cold, impas-
sive marble. Not a sound from his lips,
nor culver in the flesh; only cold,
quiet look in the eye, full of some strange
meaning.
The three fishermen owed their lives
to the fact that the Tartar was at that
time some what short-handed. She had
taken several prizes, and crews under the
command of petty officers had been de-
tached for the captured vessels. Her
ordinary complement of hands was thus
cut down more than q third. Capt. Scott
and his junior officers, in discussing the
fate of the prisoners that night, concluded
to postpone their purpose of execution.
They could be used to advantage in
working the ship for the present, and by
and by they might be tried by court
martial. So Taft and his two comrades
were released from the calaboose, and
assigned to duty, though strictly watched
for some weeks. This sharp surveil-
lance, however, gradually wore off in
view of the apparent submission and
good behavior of the men.
The British navy at that period was
largely supplied with sailors through the
operations of crimping agents, who seized
and carried off men by armed force-a
species Of kidnapping tacitly counte-
nanced by the Government. Naturally,
therefore, there were many sour and dis.
contented spirits in the navy. Abner
TAFT was not long in discovering that
there were many mutinous aud dis