The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-06-04
A Press Gang
Story
BY PAULINE D. EDWARDS

? England that the British government
claimed the right to impress seamer
into its naval service.
During this period there was a Con
necticut farmer named John Clough
living on the shores bordering on Lone
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 1t
a small boy with eyes a-stare came
running to the house crying:
mistress Clough, your mans carried
orr
what dye mean?" asked the fright
ened 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 gangw
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 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 tnat night,
and the next morning, leaving her chill
dren In the care of her sister, Mrs.
Clough cut off her hair, put on a 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 a physical ex-
animation and donned a 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 a man into
bis service, desiring to fill 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 de-
clare her sex and 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
kAAA 1nI 4.x.
pressed, 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 OPP
portunity, but so strict was the watch
that none occurred. Finally prepare
tons making for 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
10 betray her sex. A petty officer was
he first to discover the fact and re-
ported IL to the officer of the deck.
was summoned before the ;
and acknowledged her de-
,eption. The officer would have put /:
Ter ashore at once, but she begged to
)e allowed to remain, for a time at
east, as cook. Her request was grant
d, and she was transferred to the gal
ey. But as there was not a woman's
Of any kind aboard she must
leeds retain her sailor toys.
One evening when the ship was at
nchor off New London John told his
wife that he could swim ashore IL he
ould only get away from the ship.
'ut that was impossible, for marines
pere on watch, and any one jumping
verboard would be shot. If he were
OF shot boat would be lowered, and
e would be captured before he had
wum a hundred yards. The sailors
ad got wind of the intention of the
aptain TO sail the next morning for
ngland. and the Englishmen of the
Few were much delighted at the pros
nct of going home.
Though the night was not dark, the
lOugnS determined 10 make an dJ-
.mpt. About eight bells great fare
light appeared in the galley, and
atherine, who had secretly collected
much inflammable stuff as she could
mccall and had touched burning
.and to 1t, raised the cry of Fire"
A fire on shipboard, especially on
OGDEN man-of-war, where there are
agazine and more or less ammunition
ways ready for use, is danger need
z paramount attention. All hands
ere called either to the galley or to r
e pumps, and all hands except John
ough obeyed. He was on the fore
site at the time watching the marine i
Arrest him. This man was too good
ldier to leave his post, but was too
lch interested. in the fire that might