The Wingham Times, 1889-12-20, Page 6of Ato
4n`
I tbt time the government declared war- craw„iewtl 2
Sagainst Spain, and it was oertein that- { :i,d ira,•;”
man would be wanted for the t "'.YW ; lex
iiavy. the.
If the king's ships crania not be will
manned by other weans, ,.the press away ae'S.; ;>
ttauga would be out, and they w:ntld ships did in the W
first of all try their luck at the aea-.
pert, What if they should visit St,
aces! It was not unlikely --and they
would be glad of to hint where good
men were to 'l;e found. Thomas
Champer turner: this -matter over in his
mind till he persuaded himself that he
would be. doing good service to the
state, and furthering his own interests
at the same time, ifhci could not lend.
a helping band'in mantling the navy,
provided, always, he could himself
keep out of the way, for he bad no de-
sire to serve 11h3 country ou board a
--ldelen Citticn t man-of-war. tie was full of sue
thoughts when he made no of his
periodical journeys to Galmouth ou
mining business, and sought out a
certaui crimp or agent for eutrapping
seamen for the press-gang. Who f he
dial there, or what argpments be used
to advance his plans, we need not in-
quire, but the oiin)p was richer by
sOme pounds at the termination of his
interview.
It was Christmas Ave, fatal the good
people of St. Ives were preparing to
keep tiie festival with due honor. The
usual excitement cif the season had
been increased in the crurse of the
afterpoon by the appearance .of a
aliened -war, -whish etichored in the
bay, and it was expected that some of
the officers and Drew would come to
shore to join ir, the general merry-
making. After dark a band of mune
niers entered the narlfet square, slid
stopping in front of the George and
Dragon, commenced the perfeernnuce
of the Christmas drama of St, George,
Soon a large crowd was ool.eeti d, and
the noise brow let to the doors and
windows of tbet houses most of the
persons who werewithin, including.
the frequenters of a little club whish
met at the George and Dragon at�d
the Golden Lion alternately. ,
In the' midst of a terefiio combat
between St. -George eorge and the Turkish
'might there will a commotion among
the crowd, and a party of armed sail-
ors appeared, headed by a, tall fellow,
who, tlonrishing a naked cutlass, cried,
In the kings name! The crowd at
once brolteaway amid the screams of
women and cries of 'The press! this
press'!' The sailors made a clash at
some of the younger men inthe crowd,
at
grove%
aped fells.
low,
r.cen pine.
be'biuel
ring it out,
three,
th„ whereto
; wlet:se dtvolln.
tat stars stone ant
()eked homes about;
within the door ---
rata" ; 0
ttg, by
omen <.t
iglu„. , need
Men Who
anti not ram
o i gal I3unbow'a
dies!
This was to sore enhje with Capt.
Trenwith, who could endures, ne slur
on the British 'navy,, and wile had
himse.f been an ofddcer on
Admiral I3enhow's ship at the time
referred to. The barber felt he had
gone to far, hot the mischief was
done.
The captain rose from his feet, his
face purple with rage. Thou
chin scrapiug reseal! how clarat you'
rake that,mattt,r up in my precencd,?
I'll drive my staff down thy tbn.nt
for prating of matters beyond thy
barber's brain!
Nay, nay, oap'n. pried- Will Nance;
let. Jobn Tackabird be. DJaybap he
hath spoken unwisely, hilt 'tis well
known Cap'u Wade and Cap''n Kirby
ht CHRISTMAS EVES.
tore
orner •ef the market square
lent town of St. Ives, Corn -
;1„ ther ''srtands :a picturesque old
eery •ed the ''Golden bion."
til quite tely it had for its neigh,
r auihinu e ualty picturesque, and
there even solder ---tile George and
on.. Both these ancient houses
entertainment must have witnessed
any strange events, besides being
the scene of many a jovial drinkiu;;
bout after the gathering of the harvest
g the sea, or at the less lawful laud -
ea
. rtg ot'a c,tttitrabnud eargo,or at the end
f .t, euceessfal vrivateering expo -Il-
ion. For all these things your
kw,,,tlehrnan hath an excellent relish.
art the epos was the palladium of the
berty of St. Ives, for here stood the
lipping post, the cage and the
owe
he The George and Dragon must have
: slat the fasliionahlet hotet,for after the
ornieh pilgrimage of grace the king's
t eeommissto„er, Sir Anthony Kingston,
^ lodged here, and eutertaiued at diuner
Phehel-port-reeve of St. Ives, whom he
patttely hanged in the market square
for his treneonahle practices. here,
the Dolle of Bolton, when he
heel the town iu 16119, was treated
*it.h"rix buttlf'e of sack. The two
fibber -en htood so chose together=being
`,divided only by the narrow street
*tiling into the martcet; sentare—that
s ooeupantei could with each other
'! rnc,.rtang from the Windows.
1 the days of George II Peter
-1 was landlord of the George and
, •and John Renewdon ruled . and among those they secured was
,len Lion, . .1 hey were not . Richard "'extra who was standing at
heeethis #`gaff Mewls., There . his father's door, • The party then re-
, perhaps, aoirething in the sunt- treated ..with their captives,- closely
ity of etreumstanees of these two followed b' the crowd, crying, 'Down
ape en thee strengthened., their fr-€end- with the press gang! Down with there!'
'flip. Tliey were both widowers and ,More than once the sailors were so
ch had an only child. Richard 1 hard pressed that those in the rear
exel hat a handsome, strapping had to turn and make a stand in the
'low of three -and -twenty. Ithtly
otrnten , was nineteen, and the
pie of heiefethees heart, As child -
they had played tegether, but
one le tiine when they only,
'tsiffiled and nodded to Path
+r. xe, m the opposite windows..
rlitted 7�titont,leawouldtch � olw
follow
e - o'� q tields or on the sea shore;
+" �,ljime to be at length another
shit) 'tile old, old story, which
es nobody—least of all, 'the.
sttery a of the Gterge and ?dragon
se ( .olden Lion, who looked for-
st the time when the interests
th those ancient estahlisinnents
a become one and indivise.
-
;P
there was one , person who
n t ; growing affection of the
e4 tt, a bitter jealous heart.
wr,nk{ not he as 'true love story,
'deg to thq ancl'ent and regular
egg, he'd thete been nothing to
its smooth and even course.
sin Thos Charnper', the son of
)nnstet� in the neighboring
lt, of Zennot, had long limited
;;ngitg eyes on Mary flenowclen.
%Swore disctntraged by the
the (}olden Lion, ttnd Mary
ruade it very, plaint that she
I his attentions, Nothing
reed the bitterness of his feel.
et) Charism found that he was
rd-5tfor of one who had been
sefnl rival from .boyhood,
1 ext.l bad taken hire down
in wrestlit,ct bouts at Fenst-
thrown Mtn in the Cornish
rad enr,stahtly snatched the
sin the gine of liurl-
1 niers (It -gents he had Pn-
itdr c'ornpari)tis•ex itelitiorenee.
,• honest: itt the game of lovas
mo easy to !war. Ile wat^.)Pig
• in their wake, till be heft
narrow streets, and a serious conflict
was threatened. • But they reedited
their boats with their men they had
captured, and at daylight next morn-
ing the slope of war ie 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 et the George and Pragon.
Atone the members of this club were
Capt. Trenwith, a retired ailleethof the
navy, who had sailed with .Admiral
13enbow, and had lost a log in the
service of his country; Mr Matthews,
ropemaker of St. Ives; old Will Nance,
who had once been a smuggler, and
who wore a patch over his left eye,
which had been knocked out in sante
encounter with revenue officers; and,
lastly, Join Tackabird, she town
barber; who. although occupying a
tower social position, was allowed to
associate after busine,se- hours' with
the men whose wigs he dressed in the
morning. But the barber was in ad -
advance of his time, and held opinions
which Capt. Trenwith and the mayor
thonght little less than treasonehle.
John Tackabird was, in fact. a Demo.
crag and on the present npcasion he
was loud in his denunciation of the
press gang, wuich he said was contrary
to Magna Charter and the hill of rights
—a tyrannical and unconstitutional
violation of liberty of the subject,
and showed, the English to be a nation
of downtrodden staves writhing tinder
the iron heel of despotism.
Where, t,airl he, waving a nerve•
paper in his band, where are our
hearted liberti.ee, when the heirlings
of a corrupt government can thrust
themselves into our houses and Carry
(dour eons and brothers, and force
them to fight in the unholy quarrels
of kings and their unscrupulous minis-
terst flow long. are weto he chained
is ,t ao n.at<tltieg short of harrier to the chariot wheels e1ea bloodthirsty
sett rival nor of tiv' way. Ba [(oafish:rnapl How long--•----
i liexet were'on'e removed t 'lilt, tut! irterupt«d Capt. Trenwith
t '..rene 110 might 'Vet with warmth. Stop thy palaver,
"'tit, Me v, tined -i' tr, ;1; .te' ittlttt 'I'peketb,rr'l. The kmntd meet
or of steep'tents. Al,mit;!leve men ftr hitt *hips.
hr
were shot at Plymouth' for deserting
the admiral.
Yes, eaid Captain Trenwith, resum-
ing his seat,, his anger having gassed
away as suddenly as it came—yes
and shooting was too good for them
They ought to have been hanged at
the yardarm—and so should some
others that I' wet of 1.her'+ he looked
hard at the ei-divaut smuggler.
Wells but --resumed the barber,
whose tongue must needs wag in spite
of his fear for the captain—touching
this Matter of the press gang `
1'11 hear no more on't cried Capt.
Trenwith;.'tis .in every fools mouth
bat one volunteer is worth'ten press-
ed men but I have seen pressed men
fight as bravely as the best -and as
for Admiral Benbow, he fought hie
ship like a hero, and died the death of
gallant old aea dog as he was. if
some of his men left 'Amin the lurch,
enough remained to save the honor of
.Jngland. But hark ye, John, Taint -
bird, let me warn thee that there be
some matters bad better be forgetter.
At that moment, asteaming bowl of
punch being brought in, all further
unpleasantnessdisappeared under its,
suothiu„ influence, The party, which:
now included Peter Hexel and John
Renowden, drew in their charm,' and
the former proceeded to fill the
glasses of his guests with a, 'silver
punch facile that had a guiue'a let into
the bottom of it. As it was not yet
knowii that young Ifexel was one of
the pressed men, there was nothing to
cloud their enjoyment. , As a visit
from the press gatig was to common
an occnrrence in seaport towns to
excite much remark, 'saver among
those who were the immediate softer.
ers. Osptain Trenwith said he would
take upon Himself to propose a toast
which he hoped no one present would
ash kos
t111:1 ar.
rT.ehn Rc, -...:et,hat/ h!.
If tato lnet-`*dlt-
Captain Trenwith
remain in thews
won't disgrace it.'i
should refuse to servo hi
when o1d Eur.lands's ene
)
said
e will
ant he.
f spirit
country
ea are
aiioat.. But come, cit down, 'one :
Champer, and lgalp us to finish til
punch.
Wt11.:.vnnce,`who vier: already three
sheets in tiff, wind, as he himself
would have bxipresscd it, boisterously
inquired of Ohamper how it was that
be himself had escaped capture. by
by the press gang. `
Thou arta likely Ind enough, said
he, and would swab a deck es well as
another'. . '
I was not in -,the town,. answered,
'Cllamper. 14 hri,ve, but now walked
over from Zeno'
Ah l cried Nance, with a drunken'
wink at the rest of the company,
trust a Zenor elan to take ears Of
lighting a pipe remarked that.
evenings were something chilly,tho
the Spring had come, in spite of to
men of Towodnack,
What have tate men of Tewednank
to do with the spring -1 said the mayor s
of fit, 'Yea.; kt
Whyyou not, replied Nance,
that the men cff ..' ''nwedttack built a
et l,e •frrtattl'''t✓i.e enekoo to keep tiffs
spring back ? But what's the remove
from the fleet? Tia rumored Portobello
is ta'lwn,
"I'is true, amid John 3Tenowtien, my
daughter hath received a letter from
Diehard Hexel, who was on heard the
llanipton Court and engaged in the
fight,
What? Dick :Lieu! hes smelt „un -
powder, then, in a real battle 1 IIurrah
for.oltt England and beloved St. Ives !
Amen l cried Capt. 'Trenwith, who
,Danis studriping into the room, Yo$,
friends, 'tis all true~ 1 -Tore is a copy
of Tho Daily Poet, dated• 11Mnrelt 29,
wherein is an accouut of the ` battle.
himself. They're wise folksin their writ by a gentleman on board the Bur-
gen-er-en-eratton: They know wily 'ford, the admiral's own ships.' Fill the
the cow ate the bell rope, glasses, and John Tackabird `shall read
Just as St Ives folk throw why they out the narrative.
whipped tho .hake, retorted Olutruper, Under the combined attracting of
angrily. the punch and the newspaper, all eag-
`l'he captain interpeseed.• Come, erly drew around the table, and the
come, said be ; no more crops welds barber, clearing his throat, catnmene-
en Ohrutntas eve. Tis near mid ed
nlght, Yee and 1, Mr. liayor, lutist On the nfternnon of the hist, about
set a good exainple by appearing in .2 o'clock, wo carne up with P'ortobello
ebureh to morrow morning, so let as .harbor, where the Spaniards had hoist -
jog h ad:weeds, ' eel upon the Iron motto the flag of
The naayo'r crashed the rnntn with a rleliance. Tey welcomed -us'with a•
devious fait. Your shervant, Cee'n terrible volltly, wbieb, beltse A so
Tren'th. Shervant, sir, happy to end short a distance, took place with • n'1 -
you, and the Meyer of St Ives solemn most every shot. Ono struck as ay
ly staggered after Capt. Trenwith,who the, stern of our barge ; another broke
stutnped away lin bis wooded leg es• a large gun upon stir upper deck ;.
coated by his. black servant carrying another went through ourfort+tcpmast;
alantern. The rest of the company and the forth, pristine through the
also departed, Mand the George and artniug within two inches of aur niaiii-
Dra_un was left in solitu* e and dark. toast, broke doers fife barrieatie of our
Hess.. But lights were burning in the quarter deck very near the admiral,
Goldeu Lion long after midnight. anti er! he en n,
Three anxious • hearts• were ' ,there' wounding fitve reethmers winhoe. stnoclntoientby
holding 'communion, and vainly try'`. them. This !oohed as if we should have -
ing to find a way out of the trouble bloody work, bn't was far from die.
that lead come upoii them. coureging our heave fellows-.---.
After the first sht,ck of grief for The barber continued to read how
the loss of.her lover was over, Mary the Spaniards were drir•i'n from their
Renowdeti dried her tears sed review- guns And the 'English landed : One
ed the situation with a strength of :man set himself clots under an ems
'mind and a coolness of judgement brastire'whilat another climed ppm, ,
that astonished her father and Peter bis shoulders and entered the mouth
Hesed, of a great gun. This so dismayed they
Dick will retain after a time, site Spaniards that they drew down their`
said T am sure he will: He
is arms and fled far their lives--
strong and brave, and has always • I would give a guinea to knew 'twas.!
a Corinsh
been lucky. Perhaps he will do man -who girl ,that, erietJ'
something that will snake his name Capt. Trea with ; 'twee a brave tmctim',
famous, and then• we shall all be Set your heart et rest, their; Capt.
proud of him. said Peter Hexel ; 'twee 'Mama i
Hexel who Aid. it. T have a letter from
Cheered by this hopeful spirit of
h the old m.plucked u their
ray son- wherein he recounts this'very' •
in their usual places gat church on J. your son is a credit to. Corn {
refuse to drink. wall, and we'll drink his health ' fig•
The king of England had declared Christmas day. After service, ,as . + ?
war against Spin and, as the Spa»- they stood ie the 'church yard ,gazing'friend, oehor.k Ped the ter inflexrsl ot h aro
lards bad seized all the British ships.- rather wistfully over the., sea, they y
in their hrtrbtilts, Its thought the were joined by Thomas Chan:per, who. hand. 'Compound us anotheof punch,
sooner they .closed with the enemy the'
wished s them e clumsy Cext rens ons of worthy of the occasion.
that. it be
better. He begged to . propose the condolence about Richard }beet,' That night the rafters of the Got=
health of King George and success to He had heard, he ,laid, that the sloop den Lion rang with the cheers which
the British arms. if they lived to had gone to Falrnonth, and if its would greetedthe toasts of Tho.Britlsh Navy
see another Christb es eve ,he doubt bo ay satisfaction he would write to and The Hero of Bt. Ives—as Capt.
ed`not they would be able to say the a friend there, or would even go over Trenwith was. pleased to call Richard .
boner: of England had beenmawell himself and make any arrangements l eirel.
eeeditained, As the "ranch was ex- the lensed for hel in Diclt • but he It was dohiless the darkness.' that
reeding good, and had put muoh Beat y p p g '
into every man' of the
company,. the feared there was. little hope of his made it so afflicnit for the mayor'
toast was druiilc with great e g�tbus• release now tient war had broken out, and the captain to and their way
tasm. Even John Taltabird smacked - These friendly overtures rather Home that .eight; thorigh-- they ween
Iiia lips with satisfaction. softened the hearts of the two' fathers, escorted, as usual, by the black ser -
TE has been reported, said Vt'il but Mary felt snreethat •Champer, was want with a lighted lantern. The
Nance, that Admiral Vernon ds gone •insincere, His hyproeisy was not mayor accounted to his wife fog' a
as cornmaacler-in-eh€el, o .t. a West
proof against her ' woman's instinct. headache which opprssed huh, next
Indies and that he swears' to alto She turned coldly away' and he loft morning by the extreme exertion be
them, racking his ''brain for some had been obliged use in su erting
Portobel o on the Spanish 'main,. t; g tod?p +,
even if he bath no Moro ,than six ships
means of presenting hie suit in. a Capt. Trenwith, who, poor mini tale -
even
expected: -
wherewith to do it. favorable light. ing only one, leg, could not be expected
I know not how that maybe, said Day after day Thomas Chnmper eame to walk as+lirmly itis other people.
the ineerrigihle barber. Il; he hag _do the Golden Libn and Nought every Yott mag he gore the heart of iilary
only pressed men to back him, 1: passible opportunity of addressing , IRenowclen was gladdened by the news
doubt it. ' Mary, but his perseverance was use- that had some about her lover; brit
With an ominous look nit the last less. She would not listen to hem. months passed away, and nothing
speaker, Capt, Trenwith out the He' saw that the snit was hopeless, more was heard of him, At length
matter short. We shall tee said he and that he had ''gained nothing by there Dame a letter, stating that he had
When 'tie done we shell tee,
the absence of Richard I-lexel. Yet been severely wounded in nu action
hear nn it. -but what noise• is that be continued to Haunt the neiglidor- with a Spanish ship in the Went
outside ? What now, Tom Cliatneer ? hood of the ..Golden Lion, until one Indies, bad been discharged' and .was
What's auris l night he encountered the press gang, then lying in 'hospital; at Falmouth.
There's t'nuch amies, Capt. Tree- which had made another descent an Old Hexel at once started for than
wish, Raid young °hamper, who now St. rtes,. and be was caught in the place, and found parr Dick pale and
entered the room. Deck Hotel is same trap he Beni set for his rival, thin from wounds find fever, but, jn
among the pressed men. He was In. the mean time, letters had come good spirits end anxious to irettd n
from Richard Hexel. He wrote that hems. The doctors, Bower er wotthl
ers, o c en p same adventure. , t.
hearts and all three appeared
teen ►n the last boat when they pnt oil'
from the shore.
What 1 my son taken by the press
ga)ig 1 cried. Deter Hese!. starting to
his feet. Zounds! 1'll a>qb. believe it
—titbit. must be sonic mistake.
1 fear there is no tn" talre, said
Cbamper; and there was a gleam of
satisfaction on his face, which be
tried to conceal with a pretended
look of concern. There be those
outside who saw him carried off, and
the ofacer swore he would sink the
first boat that flared to. go nigh 1!p
he was welt, and was only unhappy not hear of it, and ordered the patient:
because he parted from: Clary. He to lay np a week or two longter, and
had joined. the Web Indian squadron alien, perhaps, he ni.,nht be allowed to
under Admiral Vernon, and expected go. His father cans, therefore core -
he would' soon be able to tell theist pelted to leave bim and return to St.
something about the war. So- time Ives, se! ere be was eagerly expected
passed on and the spring cringe, by John Renowdan and his daughter.
The club bad neesembled one Saturn When two weeks lend passed, they all
day evening in the parlor of the. Gald- three went over to Falmouth, when
en Lion, The customary bowl of the finishing,, touch was was put to
punch was shit the table, but Captain Dick's recovery by the embraces of hie
Trenwith had not arrived, and the happy sweetheart.
serious business of the evening coned * * * *
not begin without him. To pets the Time, though old, is strong in flight
, time Will l'i'ars stirred the fire Egad, attyu tiro old song ; and lee brsut let ata
•
`r,