The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-02-23
Select STORY.
A TALE OF THE PRESsGANG.

A TALE OF THE PRESSGANG.
From Chambers Journal.
About one handred years ago, Hwhen
George the Third was King" England
stood alone against the world. On the one
hand she was fighting with America, then
struggling for independence and on the
other hand with France, Spain, and Holland;
while Russia, Sweden and Denmark had
formed an armed neutrality secretly hostile
to her. In such an emergency, special
effort was necessary to sustain the marine
service. The volunteer supply failing to
meet the demand for ablebodied seamen,
the impressment had to be resorted to. At
ordinary times, men of certain callings were
exempt from seizure but at time like
this, almost any man, if strong in body and
mind, was liable to be seized by the press
ang, and forced to serve in His Majesty's
ships of war.
During this period Elias John Eveson,
a stout Yorkshire lad of eighteen years,
then studying law in London, was one
evening strolling through that part of the
city between Ludgate Hill and the Thames,
in company with young friend whom we
will call Wilson, his real name having been
forgotten. While the two boys loitered
and chatted, sudden commotion arose in
the street, and men ran hurriedly by, shout
ing in friendly warning, 'Run, lads, the
gangs coming" Turning around, they
saw gang of soldiers approaching rapidly,
and evidently intending their capture The
boys dashed off at full speed, but being un-
familiar with the locality, they ran un-
knowingly into blind alley, and were there
seized by their pursuers. They fought
stoutly to get away, but to no purpose, ex-
cept to exhaust themselves and get some
hard knocks, their captors being too
many and too strong for them They were
taken to rendezvous" locked up for the
night under guard, and next morning car
ried by main force aboard his Majesty S
ship Panther, lying off Sheerness, ready to
sail for America as soon as her full COM
plement of hands should be aboard Worn
out by sleepless night, spent in sorrow
and rage, irritated by the rough treatment
they received, being handcuffed and hustled
along like dogs, and suffering from their
bruises besides, it was in no pleasant tenn
per that Eveson and Wilson met the cap
tain of the Panther when he came forward
to see his forced recruits.
He looked with delight at Eveson, who
was of striking appearance, large, power
fully built, keen-eyed, big-nosed, curly
headed, and Just then the very personif-
cation of fury,
'Well, my men, said the captain, II
hope you have made up your minds to serve
your country and your king like true Brit
ons. We are going to thrash the Yankees,
you know"
"Sir," replied Eveson, ''afer this expe-
rience of English law and Justice, be assured
that 1 shall never lift hand in England's
defence. Rather will l assist the CYAN
KEGS" as you term men nobly determined
to throw off her CALLING yoke"
"3ut, my lad,' returned the captain,
!you cannot help yourself. You mustserve
whether or not
"Never!'' said Eveson. $50 long as
you succeed in keeping me aboard this ship,
so long, to avoid contention, will l obey
you. But-and lay this to heart-I will
neuer fight for England. And I shall leave
this ship at the first land We touch"
"You intend to desert?"
II intend to desert"
"You know that the penalty is hanging?"
"Rather will hang under unjust law,
than serve by my arm to enforce that law
in God-free land"
''Tut, tut Little pot soon hot con-
temptuously remarked the captain, used to
such language from angry impressed men.
i'Wc'll make brave soldier of you yet, my
man" he said, as he turned away
"Little pot soon hot" The contemp-
tuous words burned into Eveson's soul like
fire. Torn away from home and friends,
from his beloved studies and fair pros
poets, brought by force to a war ship,
where daily toll and the ultimate horrors
of war awaited him, and sneered at in this
situation for the expression of natural feel
ings Soon hot, indeed, but slow to cool,
Eveson's temper rose till he felt like muir
der. But seeing that remonstrance and
resistance were alike useless, and would
probably bring further indignity on him,
he wisely controlled himself, and deter
mined to make the best of circumstances,
or to seem to, at any rate.
As volunteer, Eveson felt that It would
have been his proudest duty to serve his
country But to serve as slave, as a mer-
cenary, he never could; no honor lay that
way A gentleman by birth and educa-
ton, the knowledge that the lash would
punish ais insubordination or neglect of
duty, CALLED him to the quick. One touch
Of that lash, he well knew, would bring
red murder to his heart and to his hand
so, in proud self-control, he took up his
menial duty, and performed it faithfully.
that no occasion of reproof or punishment
might be fouEd against him. Strong as a
lion and active as cat, he soon led the
ships crew. Intelligent and respectful in
his bearing, he gained the esteem and the
confidence of the officers. The captain
deceived by this apparent submission, con-
graduated himself on having read Eveson's
character SO well, and marked him fol-
promotion.
| After ten weary weeks of storm and
hardship, all hearts beat high with pleasure
when sLand, ho!" was shouted by the
lookout man at the masthead Eyes
sparkled with interest and glistened witt