The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-12-27

In the midst of a terrific combat be-
tween st. George and the Turkish knight
| there was a commotion among the
| crowd, and party OF armed sailors APP
peared, headed by tall fellow, who,
flouTishing a naked cutlass, cried, "In
| the kings namel' The crowd at once
broke away amid the screams of women
and cries of "The pressl the press" The
sailors made a dash at some of the
| younger men in the crowd, and among
those they secured was Richard Hexel
who was standing at his fathers door.
| The party then retreated with their cap
tives, closely followed by the crowd,
| crying, Down with the press gang!
| Down with theml" More than once the
sailors were so hard pressed that those
in the rear had to turn and make stand
in the narrow streets, and a serious con-
| flict was threatened. But they reached
their boats with the men they had cap
| tured, and at daylight next morning the
sloop of war in the bay had disappeared.
That night there was much wailing
among the women of st. Ives, and a
| fruitful subject of talk was afforded to
the club at the George and Dragon.
| Among the members of this club were
| navy, who had sailed with Admiral Ben
bow, and had lost leg in the service of
| his country; Mr. Matthews, ropemaker
and mayor of st. Ives; old Will Nance,
| who had once been a smuggler, and who
wore a patch over his left eye, which
| had been knocked out in some encounter
with revenue officers; and, lastly, John
| Tackabird, the town barber, who, al
vTrl,
| was allowed to associate after business
| hours with the men whose wigs he
| dressed in the morning. But the barber
| was in advance of his time, and held
| opinions which Capt Trenwith and the
mayor thought little less than treason
| able. John Tackabird was, in fact q
Democrat; and on the present occasion
| he was loud in his denunciation of the
| press gang, which he said was contrary
| to Magma Charta and the bill of rights
| atyrannical and unconstitutional viola
| ton of the liberty of the subject, and
showed the English to be a nation of
| downtrodden slaves, writhing under the
| iron heel of despotism.
"Where' said he, waving a newspa-
| per in his hand, "where are our boasted
| liberties, when the hirelings of a corrupt
| government can thrust themselves into |
| our houses and carry off our sons and
brothers, and force them to fight in the
unholy quarrels of kings and their un-
scrupulous ministers? How long are we
to be chained to the chariot wheels of a
bloodthirsty obligarchy? How long
Tut, tutp interposed Capt. Trenwith
with warmth. stop thy palaver, John
rackabird. The king must have men
for his ships"
"Nlen for his ships. Capt. Trenwith!"
retorted the barber; "let the king get
them by fair and honest means, and then
he will perchance have men who will
stick to their colors, and not run away as
one of Admiral Benbow's ships did in the
West Indiesl''
This was a sore subject with Capt.
Trenwith, who could endure no slur on
the British navy, and who had himself
been an officer on board Admiral Ben
bows ship at the time referred to. The
barber felt he had gone too far, but the
mischief was done.
The captain rose from his seat, his face
purple with rage, Thou id chin
scraping rascal! how burst thou rake
that matter up in my presence? I'll
drive my staff down thy throat for
prating of matters beyond thy barbers
brainl"
"Nay, nay, cap'n," cried Will Nance;
''let John Tackabird be. Nlayhap he
hath spoken unwisely, but It's well
known Cap'n Wade and Capn Kirby
were shot at Plymouth for deserting the
admiral"
"Yes," said Capt. Trenwith, resuming
his seat, his anger having passed away
as suddenly as it came-"yes, and shoot
Ing was too good for them. They ought
to have been hanged at the yardarm-
and so should some others that wot off,
here he looked hard at the ci-devant
smuggler
"Well, but'-resumed the barber.
whose tongue must needs wag in spite
Of his fear Of the touching
this matter of the press gang"--
"lll hear no more on t." cried Capt.
Trenwith; "tis in every FOOLS mouth
that one volunteer is worth ten pressed
men; but have seen pressed men fight
as bravely as the best-and as for Ad-
miral Benbow, he fought his ship like
hero, and died the death of gallant old
sea dog as he was. If some of his men
left him in the lurch, enough remained
to save the honor of England. But bark
ye, John Tackabird, let me warn thee
that there be some matters had better be
forgotten"
At that moment, steaming bowl of
f"nch being brought in, all further un-
pleasantness disappeared under its sooth-
ing influence. The party, which now
included Peter Hexel and John Renow-
den, drew in their chairs, and the for
mer proceeded to fill the glasses of his
guests with silver punch ladle that had
guinea let into the bottom of it, As it
was not yet known that young Hexel
was one of the pressed men, there was
nothing to cloud their enjoyment. A
visit from the press gang was too COM
mon an occurrence in seaport towns in
those days to excite much remark, save
among those who were the immediate
sufferers. Capt. Trenwith said he would
take upon himself to propose a toast,
which he hoped no one present would
refuse to drink
The king of England had declared war
against Spain, and, rs the Spaniards had
seized all the British ships in their har-
bors, he thought the sooner they closed
with the enemy the better. He begged
to propose the health of King George
and success to the British arms. If they
lived TO see another Christmas eve he
doubted not they would be able to say
the honor of England had been well main
tanned, As the punch was exceeding
good and had put much heat into every
man of the company, the toast was drunk
with great enthusiasm. Even John Tacka-
bird smacked his lips with satisfaction.
'lt hath been reported" said Win
Nance, that Admiral Vernon is gone as
commander-in-chief to the West Indies,
and that he swears to take Portobello on
the Spanish main, even if he hath no
more than six ships wherewth to do it,"
Il know not how that may be-" said
the incorrigible barber, IF he has only
pressed men to back him, doubt it,"
With an ominous look at the last speak
er, Capt, Trenwith cut the matter short
1--WE shall see, said he. "When it's done
wa oh