Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-09-25

THE RED COATS DROVE Us DOWN
country
@We refused positively. But wha
was the refusal of four unarmed sail
ors, with the bayonets Of ten marine
at their breasts, and q twenty-gu,
brig-of-wsr lying hardly . cables length
awAyf
Sir said Captain Eddy. turnin,
TO the Lieutenant, 7 appeal to you:
humanity and your honor. These yount
men = my neighbors when at home
They are true-born Americans. ]
have known them from childhood, ani
have always been well acquainted
with their families. II you take then
you commit IN outrage such o. ever
your own Government would not sane
ton.
4 have heard such talk before,
said the officer. IT is what they al
ways say. You Yankees should have
learned before this that the ROYAL navy
is not to be dafrauded by your miser.
able evasions. Such papers as I have
just thrown overheard pass among
you from hand to hand, answering fol
Yankees md foreigners alike; but You
perceive they have failed to serve their
holders in this CASE
3Then, turning to the marines, he
added: Corporal, see that these men
are got into the boat without delay
"1he red-coated soldiers encom.
passed rs, putting the points of their
bayonets through our clothing; and
the Corporal attempted to take me by
the collar, but recoiled upon seeing my
fist drawn back for q blow.
Captain Eddy looked sternly in the
face Of the Lieutenant. $50, sir. Won
are resolved p he said.
Yes replied the officer, and I
wish you to understand it. / have the
power 70 take these subjects Of the
king, and that power I shall use.'
Very WE'LL returned the Cap
tain; 1 am helpless to resist. But,
sir, if you - take my men, you can
take my vessel. Here, on the spot, I
surrender the ship Rebecca to Captain
Downs Of his Britannia Maiesty's brig
Falkirk!
When you brace forward, I shall
follow you. You will probably outsail
me, but, in that event, l shall make
for the first English port, delivering
up my ship " q prize captured upon
the high Seas by his Majesty's crusier.
II will test this matter Of Impress
ment to the very bottom; and, If Cap
tain Downs should be found willing to
stand . trial upon the question, in the
courts Of England, he may rest assured
] shall he thereY
@Such . declaratiOn would have been
astounding to the British Lieutenant
could he have believed the American
in earnest; but, as it was,
he replied simply by some allusion to
Yankee insolence,' and repeated his
command to the corporal to bundle us
into the boat.
"A semi-circle Of bayonets fairly
us to the gangway, and.
though we turned desperately upon the
sharp steel, il was only 70 receive
wounds which, il mot deep. were g
least painful.
captain Eddy, forcing his way be-
tween the soldiers and ourselves, shook
hands with us heartily before We went
down our good ships side into the En-
glish boat.
Don't be down-hoarted. my rood
lads, ~ said; I'll rec You through.
This matter isn't 10 stop herel II they
lake you, they take me. And, remem-
ber.' he .dded. with emphasis, that
eyen English Law does NOT sustain this
hing. The officer 81 my elbow knows
This "a we'll ~ / do. Or, ct least. II.
you do not, SIR he continued, address
the Lieutenant, .you are Ignorant
the laws of your own country
1T appeared to me that the Britop.
spite Of his brsvado. looked : little
startled. He must have felt himself
% be dealing with no ordinary man,
md the idea probably flashed upon
him that, after all, there might b
II such . thought, however,
sntered his mind, II was accompanied
81 the assuring ono that with lis su-
peri0r oflcer, and not with himself,
nust remain the responsibility d the
lct no Was committing.
But whatever vi0W his Naiesty's
,moer may have taken Of the case, 10
,ursslves the Captains words brought
u unspeAkable relief. We knew our
man, and felt sure that he would not
lesert us. Besides, w had IA prov1-
yusly heard that, though ENGLAND
u such outragss, her laws lid
Aot Co~untenAlace them; and no " falt
M What CAPTAIN Eddy had anid n