The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1889-12-25


the noise brought to the doors and win
dows of the houses most of the persons
who were within, including the frequent
ers of a little club which met at the
George and Dragon and the Golden Lion
alternately.
In the midst OF a terrific combat be
tween st. George and the Turkish knight
there was a commotiOn among the
crowd, and q party of armed sailors ap-
Peared, headed by a tall fellow, who,
hourishing a naked cutlass, cried, ''In
the kings namer The crowd at once
broke away amid the screams of women
and cries of ''The press! the Press| The
sailors made 4 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
lives, 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 a 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
Capt. Trenwith, retired officer of the
navy, who had sailed with Admiral Ben
bow. and had lost a leg in the service of
his country; Mr.. Matthews, ropemaker
and mayor Of st. Ives; old Will Nance,
who had once been q 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
though occupying a lower social position,
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, a
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
a tyrannical 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 de5pOtism.
where" said he, waving a newspa-
per i'm his hand, "where are our boosted
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, tut" interposed Capt. Trenwith
with warmth. "Stop thy palaver, John
Tackabhd. The king must have men
for his ships"
''Men for his ships. Capt. TrenwithF
retorted the barber; ''let the king gel
them by fair and honest means, and then
he will perchance have men who viii
stick to their colors, and not run away a:
one of Admiral Benbows ships did in the
West Indiesi'
This was q 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 scat, his face
purple with rage. "Thou id CHR
scraping rascal how burst thou rak,
that matter up in my presence? II
drive my staff down thy throat fol
prating Of matters beyond thy barber
brainr'
may, nay, cap'n," cried VIII Nance
'let John Tackabird be. Mayhap hC
hath spoken unwisely, but tbs well
known Cap'n Wade and Capn Kirby
wereshot at Plymouth for deserving the
admiral"
eyes said Capt. Trenwith, resumins
his seat, his anger having passed away
as suddenly as it came-''yes, and shoot
ing was too good for them. They ough
to have been hanged at the yardarm-
and so should some others that 1 wot Off
here he looked hard at the ci-devan
spuggler.
'sWell, but"-resumed the barber
whose tongue must needs wag in spit
Of his fear of the captain-''touchinl
this matter Of the press gang
'eTn hear no more on Z, cried Capt
Trenwith; s'tis in every FOOLS moutl
that one volunteer is worth ten pressed
men; but have seen pressed men fgh
as bravely as the best-and as for Ad
miraI Benbow, he fought his ship like
hero, and died the death Of a gallant Of,
sea dog as he was. If some of his mel
left him in the lurch, enough rename,
to save the honor of England. But harl
ye, John Tackabird, let me warn thes
that there be some matters had better b
forgotten"
at that moment, steaming bowl O
punch being brought in, all further un
pleasantness disappeared under its sooth
ing influenza. The party. which nov
included Peter Hexel and John Renow
den, drew In their chairs, and the Tor
me1 proceeded to III the glasses Of hi
guests with a silver punch ladle that hal
q guinea let into the bottom Of it. As
was not yet known shat young Hexs