The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-05-13
APlucky w oman
Story Of a Press Gang
BY EDGAR FALES MOODY
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

llitl JOul
Clough living on the shores borderin,
on Long Island sound His wifi
Katherine dearly loved her husband
and their union was blessed with tel
children.
One evening when Katherine hat
prepared Johns supper and was wait
ing for him to come home and eat i
a small boy with eyes a-stare came
running to the house crying:
Mistress Clough. your mans car
eied off,
What dye meanT asked the
frightened woman.
Some men came along while be
was seedin' and took him by the
arms and run him down to a boat
They put him in and are rowin' him
out to warship."
"Oh, my gracious. the press gang"
She ran out Of the house and on to
an eminence in time to see the boat
pulling for ship at anchor bearing
the British ensign from her peak.
John Clough had been pressed into
| the British service. Katherine was so
! fond of MIN that she could not bear
| the idea of waiting for him to come
home after long term of service and
resolved to join him if possible The
ship remained at anchor that night.
and the next morning, leaving her
children in the care of her sister, Mrs.
Clough cut off her hair, put on suit
Of Johns and, taking boat. rowed
out TO the man-of-war There she Of
fered herself for enlistment. She was
gladly accepted without physical ex-
animation and donned sailors uni.
form. She was soon recognized by her
husband but she gave him a look Of
warning, and he did not betray her.
The Britisher sailed about for some
time in American waters. her captain
here and there impressing man into
his service, desiring 70 fill up bis
crew, which was incomplete.
AS soon as possible John and Kath-
crime concerted to make their escape
Katherine's plan was to assist John
to get away, after which she might
declare her sex and get discharged.
But they both knew that 30 long as
the ship remained on the American
coast very sharp watch would be
kept on those Americans that had been
impressed. so this task would not be
easy Of accomplishment. And If they
made an attempt and failed one or
both would be put in irons.
They kept sharp watch for an OPP
portunity. but so strict was the watch
that none occurred. Finally prepara-
tons making for a voyage warned
them that the ship would soon sail
away and if they were to put any
scheme into execution they must do
so without further delay.
One day Katherine left the collar of
her sailor jacket open just lowssnough
to betray her sex. A petty officer was
the first to discover the fact and re-
ported it to the officer of the deck
Katherine was summoned before the
commander and acknowledged her de-
ception. The officer would have put
her ashore at once, but she begged to
be allowed TO remain. for time al
least. as cook. Her request was grant
ed, and she was transferred to the
galley. But as there was not 4 wO-
mans garment of any kind aboard
she must needs retain her sailor toys.
One evening when the ship was at
anchor off New London John told his
wife that he could swim ashore if he
could only get away from the ship. |
But this was impossible. for marines
were on watch, and any one jumping
overheard would be shot If he were
not shot a boat would be lowered. and
he would be captured before he had
swum a hundred yards. The sailors
had got wind of the intention Of the
captain TO sail the next morning for
England, and the Englishmen Of the
crew were much delighted at the pros
pect of going home.
Though the night was not dark, the
Cloughs determined to make an at
tempt. About eight bells great flare
Of light appeared in the galley, and
Katherine, who had secretly collected
as much infammable stuff as she
could conceal and had touched burn
ing brand to it raised the cry Of
"Firer .....
A fire on shipboard. especially on a
wooden man-of-war, where there are
magazine and more or less ammunition
always ready for use, is danger need |
ing paramount attention. All hands
We're called either TO the galley or to
the pumps. and all hands except John
Clough obeyed. He was on the fore
castle at the time watching the marine
nearest him. The man was too good
soldier 10 leave his post. bat was too
much Interested in the lire that might |
cost him his life TO think Of anything
else John Clough scutrlcd 10 the bow
spirit. got down on to the chains,
dropped noiselessly into the water and
swan for the shore
The fire in the galley was soon eX- !
and unfortunately as it at
first appeared for katherine there