Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-10-03
" AMONG THE SMUGGLERS. "
EN CLAUDE CLEVER.

the town of Bridport, situated on the
southern coast of England. | had been
a surgeon in the British navy, but had
retired, and wishing to spend the rest of
nv life in quiet, had removed to this
isolated place, thinking l could here
best find the rest | needed. Nv family
consisted of myself and wife, having
buried our only child when he was but
two months old. The neighbors, know
ing me to be a doctor, would frequently
call upon me to attend their sick, which
was wont to do out of charity, never
asking pay for my services; had done
50 | would not nave received much. as
the majority of them were poor fisher
men.
At the time of which | write. the
whole south coast of England from
Lands End TO the Isle of Wight, was
infested by daring bands of smugglers.
The rocky coast abounded in numerous
caves, where they could secrete them
selves and their goods until an opportu-
nifty was offered to dispose of them in
the interior. In the neighborhood Of
Bridport there was a particular gang
under the leadership Of a young man
named Ben Darlington, but called by
his comrades Dare-devil-Bcn. The
eXcisemen and coast guard had been
after him for II long time, but could
never get hold Of him, although they
had come very near it several times.
He owned a little schooner called the
Petrol, and there was not n vessel owned
by the government that was fast enough
to Overtake him.
One night IN the month of December,
when the wind was bowling outside and
the snow coming down thick and fast,
was sitting in my study nearly asleep,
thinking of the storm and the poor I'M
tOrtunateS who might be exposed to its
fury, when | was reused from my reve-
RE by loud knocking at the door. On
opening it, beheld a man all muffled
up. lie told me there was person at
the Sailors Rest, a tavern in the village,
who had fallen from his horse and hurt
his shoulder, and that the landlord had
sent for me. Bidding him to wait, |
went into the house, and telling my
VIE where was gong, put on my great
coat, got my instruments, and told him
Twas ready.
We had gone about two hundred wards
rom our house, when suddenly three
men sprang from the roadside, and be-
fore | could resist, II handkerchief was
put INTO my mouth to prevent me from
making any cutlery. They then told
me that if | kept quiet no harm would
come to me, but if | attempted to give
any alarm, they would kill me, putting
the cold barrel of Il pistol to my tenn
pie by way Of emphasis. They then
took me to the shore, where a boat
being III waiting, we all got ill., and after
We were i'll our place and had pushed
oil from the shore, they removed the
sag, first making me promise not to
give any alarm. When the gag was re-
moved | asked them what they meant
ny tins outrage, when they answered
that their captain, Dare-devil-Be had
mat day been shot in the shoulder in
conflict with the coast guard, and that
they were afraid be would die if the
wound was not attended to- knowing
was the only person within twenty
mile who could help him, and suppos-
ing would not come of my own free
VIII, they had taken this method to
make me come. | did not like the
manner III which they served me,
out being powerless, | said nothing.
As soon as we were away from the
aore, the man in the stern, who SEEM
tu to be n sort of leader, told me |
mad to be blindfolded, to keep me from
seeing which way we went Having no
other alternative, consented. After row
lhg for about an hour, through a very
rough surf, we stopped, and | heard the
4oat Int what | supposed was rock.
iney proceeded to get out, and one OF
ule men lifted me up and carried me
ashore, | was then told that | had to
TIlnb a ladder. When got to the top,
l stood on what Isupposed to be a broad
Platform. | was led through long and
narrow passage-wav, and when stop
pea, the bandage was removed from my
cave.
Inc appearance Of the room, for such
+ looked like, was enough to awe
nI@Ier person than l. The ceiling and
>'4eS We're hung with cutlasses and pis-
,o'' while from the ceiling was sus-
pended lamp which sent faint glim-
"ler through the apartment. All
me l could see ropes ana
col99cks which betokened the home of
.oHoWers of the sea. About forty men
we're sitting around, smoking and talk
IS' In one corner | saw sight which
'saie me open my eyes. Upon a couch
y. o,d SAILS, coats and cloth, was stretch
~ me form of young man, and kneel-
Ti9 by his side was beautiful girl.
me appearance of the couple struck
'7 al once. The young man seemed