The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1910-04-06
APIucky oman
Story of a Press Gang
By EDGAR FALES MOODY
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association


A hundred years ago there was
Connecticut farmer named John
Clough living on the shores bordering
on Long Island sound. His wife
Katherine dearly loved her husband,
and their union was blessed with ten
children.
One evening when Katherine had
prepared Johns supper and was wait
ing for him to come home and eat it
small boy with eyes a-stare came
running to the house crying:
Mistress Clough, your mans car
ried OFF,
What dye meanY asked the
frightened woman.
Some men came along while he
was a seedin' and took him by the
arms and run him down to a boat.
They put him in and are rowin' him
out to a warship."
"Oh, my gracious. the press gangp
She ran out of the house and on to
an eminence in time to see the boat
pulling for a ship at anchor bearing
the British ensign from her peak.
John Clough had been pressed into
the British service. Katherine was so
fond Of him that she could not bear
the idea of waiting for him to come
home after a 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 of her hair. put on suit
of Johns and. taking a 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 a sailors uni
form. She was soon recognized by her
husband, but she gave him look CT
warning. and be 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 to Gil up his
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 aud get discharged.
But they both knew that so long as
the ship remained on the American
coast a very sharp watch would be
kept on those Americans that had been
impressed. so this task would not be
easy of accomplishment. And II they
made an attempt and failed one or
both would be put in irons.
They kept a sharp watch for an op-
portunity. but so strict was the watch
that none occurred. Finally prepara-
lions 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 low enough
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 n time at
least. as cook. Her request was grant
ed. and she was transferred to the
galley. But as there was not n wo-
mans garment of any kind aboard
she must needs retain her sailor toys.
One evening when the ship was at
anchor of New London John told his
wife that be 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 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 Engllshmen of the
crew were much delighted at the pros
pect of going home.
Though the night was not dark. the
Coughs determined to make an at
tempt. About eight bells great fare
of light appeared in the galley, and
Katherine, who had secretly collected
us much inhammable stuff as she
could conceal and had touched a burn
ing brand to it. raised the cry of
"Firem
A fire on shipboard. especially on
wooden man-of-war. where there are
magazine and more or less ammunition
always ready for use. is a danger need
ing paramount attention. All hands
were called either to the galley or to
the pumps and all hands except John
CIough obeyed. He was on the fore
castle at the time watching the marine
nearest him. The man was toe good a
soldier TO leave his post. but was too
much Interested IN the fire that might
cost him his life to think of anything
else. John Clough scuttled to 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-
tinguished. and unfortunately as it at
first appeared for Katherine there
were evidences that she had been an
incendiary. Had she been a man she
would have probably been hanged to
the yardarm. Even had the ship been
IN an English port she would have
been turned over to the civil authori-
ties. As it was she was considered a
ht person to get rid Of and was sent
ashore
Meanwhile John had landed safely
without even having been shot at. The
next evening the pair met at their
farm, embraced, Rugged their children
and enjoyed good supper.