Tom Macdonough, The Press Gang's Victim

Some time during tbc raonth of June, 1809, the Americau Brig Sarali, of and from Norfolk Va., entered the port of Liverpool with a full cargo. She was commanded by Captain William Brown, and bis first mato was Torn Maodouough; a true hcarted Yankee who hailed from Bomewhere in the little State of Delaware. After the brig had been duly entered at the Custom Honse she was soon cleared of her cargo, and within one week after her arrival she was loaded for homo. One pleasant evening, the one preceding the day on which the brig was to sail, Tom Macdonough took a stroll up town. He had bpen up asfar as the Exehangc, and was rcturning by way of the docks, when he was acco&ted by a man who appearod to be a citizen. "Good eveniug, stranger." "The same to you" replied Tom, never once mistrusting that therc was harin in the way. 'Do you belong to any of the vessels now in the river?" asked the other as he cast a somcwhat scrutinizing glance over the somewhat rough habilimonts of the American sailor. "Yes; I belong to the American brig Sarah." "No- no; that wont do." "What won't do?" asked Tom not a Ule aniazed at the rfniark. "O, I know you," returned the gtranger. "You are a deserter from the frigate." As he spoke he placed a small whistle to bis mouth, and in a moment aftur its sbrill note had eut the air, six marines carne rushing out from a tap room close at hand, and at a motion from the stranger, they seized hold of Toin and made him prisoner. In vain was it that Torn protested that he was second in coinraand of the Sarah, and in vain that he tbreatened vengenance. But against the power of six stout fellows he could make no effeetual resistance, and so he was taken along to the naval landing, where five other prisoners - all victims of the press gang - were awaiting their embarkation. A boat was in waiting, in command of a lieutenant, and into it went Torn with the rest of the unfortunate seamen, and in less than half an hour he found himself on board an Englisb frigate whieh lay at the mouth of the river. "A fine set of men," said the English captain as he ran bis eyes admiringly over the stalwart forms of the impressed seamen. "They will'just lili up the list. of main-top-men." "Are you the commander of this frigate?" asked Torn, addressing tho mau who had just spoken. "Captain Downie, at your service," replied the commander with mock gravi "Tb en, sir, of you I demand mj immediate release; I am second in command of an American brig, now ready for sea, and no power in England can legally detain me." "That won't go down, youugster," returned the captain, with a sneer; "you are a little too young for such an office. The King needs men, and you must take your chances with the rest." "Do you mean to say that I am to be detained on board your ship?" "Certainly." "Then, sir," replied Torn, while bis eyes flashed fire; you will do it at your peril. Already have your people run up a heavy reckoning and the day will yet come when your K.ing will have to settle it. I am exempt by your own laws from impressment, and you know it." The captain showed a little anger as our hero spoke, but turning to one of bis lieutenants, he said: "Mr. Monson, have these men's names entered, and then station them and mess them;" and without further remark he walked aft to his cabin. In a moment Tom's niind was made up, and without resistance or remark of auy kind, he allowed his name to be entered on the purser's books, and bia. station and mess to be assigned him, after which his hammock and bedding were directed to ''turn in" as soou as possible. The frigate was guarded with sentrics, there being two upon the poop, one at eaoh gaugway, one at tho fore-castle, and one at the bowsprit, besides thoso that were stationed at the varioug ports below: so that no further notice was taken of the new corners, after they had received their bedding, except to givo the sentiuels additional caution with regard to watching well that no one left the ship unless ho was passed by the offioer of the deck. Tom's hammock was already cleared, and having hung it up, he turned into it without undressing. The night was warm and sultry, and as a meaus of giving a circulation of fresh air, tho gun deck ports were lowered, and from the place in which our hero swung, he could look out upon the water as it sparkled beneath the beams of the bright moon. Torn lay quietly until miduight; but as yet hc co'ld think of no mean a of esoape. Shortly after that hour had passed he lieard the relief guard callcd, aud in about teu minutes the corporal of the iirst guard came down upon the gun deck and uulashed the hammock whieh hung next to his owu; which oporation being performed, he proceeded to undress himself, hanging his clothes as he did so upon the clews of his hammock. Tbc four hours' duty had givcn the corporal an excellent appetite for sleep, and in less than live minutes after he touched his mattress ho began to snoro. "Now, or nevcr," thought Toin, "is my chance;" and with this idea in his mind, he slipped quietly lrom his hammock, and proceeded to divest himself of his clothes, whieh being accomplished, he very uncerimoniously substituted those of the snor ing corporal in their place and then sat down üpon the breech of a guu to ïueditate further upon his plaüs. One bell struck, and the sentinels passed thu usual "all's Well." Then Toin lienrd tho corporal, as he started to go on his rounds, and ere long he descended the main hatch ladder to visit tho post below. No sooner had tho marine oflicer passed beyond the galley, than our hero sprang up the ladder aud gaincd the spar deck. The officer of the dook was aft upon tho star board sido; the eentries wore walking their posts with regular tread while the old quarter-mastor stood upon rhe poop with his uight glass under kis arm. The sentries perfornied their walk upon tho gang boards, raised even with the bottom of the hammock inga, and tho running forward frota th ladders. ïbo starboard gangway wa shaded from the liglit of tlio moon by tl) awnings; and walking deliborately up th ladder, Torn looked over the ship's side. ''Sentry," said he, in a ixrambling sor of a tone; "what boat is that at th boom?" "The seeond cuttor," returncd tho ma rine, showing by hig manner that he hac uo suspicions of the spurioua sentinel. Torn iminediately walkcd aft to wlior stood the offieer of the duek, and being quite assured of the mistake of tho sentry, he pulled his cap down over his eycs and touching his visor respect f ully remarked, "I should liko to overhaul that seeond cutter, sir ; for I think there is rum aboard of her." Torn knew he was playing a desperate gamo, but hborty was to be the result of succoss, and he flinehed not a hair. " Ha, the villians I" uttered tho lieutenant. " Up to their oíd trielw aga in Go down corporal, get down iuto the boat, and if you do fiud rum ia her they'll catoh it." Toni startcd quickly forward, but just as he got abreast of tho foro hatchway he saw tho simón pure corporsl's head risiug abovo the combing8. The marine ascended no higher ; for with one blow of his fist Tom seut him baek from whence he carne, and then sprang quickly out through the port upon the swinging boom, and having roached tho place where the socond cutter's painter was made fast, he hauled the boat up and jumped into her. The flood tide was setting up tho river stror.gly ; and quick as thought, Tom cut off the painter and rapidlv dropped down the stream. " Help I help!" shouted our Loro at the top of bis voice. " The boat's got loose." " Get out a couple of oars, you lubber,'' cried the officor of the deck as he jumped upon tho poop, upon hearing the cry, where he arrived just as the cutter was sweeping past the quarter. " You can hold her against the tide." Torn did get out a couple of oars : but the moment he got thom balanoed in the row-loeks he commenced puiling for doar life, aud to the utter coDsternation of the lioutenant, the boat began rapidly to shoot up tho river. All the sontries on deek were immediately callcd upon tho poop, and their muskets were fired at the doserter, but although two balls whistled near the boat, yet none ol them did any harm ; and on the uext moment Tom heard the third cutter called away, but he knew the men were all sound asleep in their hammocks, and so he feit secure It was ten miuutes before the third eutter cast off from the ship, and long ere they reaehod Tom he had gained the shore, and was running at a remarkable spoed towards the city, which he reached in safety, and before two o'clock he reached bis own brig. The next morning the Sarah dropped down with the ebb tide, aud as ihe passed ,he frigate, Tom saw the second cutter swing in her usual place, as he gazcd upon the proud flag that üoated at the Euglishmau's peak, he murmured to himself. " if I live I'll some day take tho pride from these proud tyrants' How literally was that saying fnlfilled. Tom Maedonough had beeu Decatur's favorite midshipman at the siege of Tripoli, and wberever Decatur led, he dared to "ollow Subsoquent to that brilliant chapter in tho page of our history, occurred the event which is embodied in our sketch ; but five years afterwards, on the llth of September, 1814, Thomas Maedonough met one of England's proud ïeets on Lake Champlain. At the first broadside the English Commodore, Downie, feil, and at the end of a fight which lasted two hours and forty minutes without intermissioo, Commodore Thomas Maedonough was the conqueror of Champlain. He had gaiuod a proud victory ; ie had indeed humbled the pride of the tyrant ; and that day 's achievement form one of the brightest pages in the history of America. Commodore Thomas Matdinough - :he hero of Tripoli - the conqueror of Champlain ; he was a noble, true-hearted man, and a terror to all eneinies of his country. Peace to his ashes and everlasting honor to his memory.