Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1886 — OLD TIMES IN ROBIN HOOD’S BAY. [ARTICLE]

OLD TIMES IN ROBIN HOOD’S BAY.

Smuggler* a* They Formerly Existed in a Quaint English Seaport. An aroma of adventure lingers about the place, and yet life there is ndw tame enougli. In the beginning of this century bow different it must have been. Bobin Hood’s Bay, says a writer in the Spectator, was then a favorite abode ol sea captains—owners of trading vessels, once called merchant adventurers —and what with the danger of encountering French cruisers during the war, and with the perils and protits of voyages to Greenland for whales, wlten the war was over and such expeditions were once more possible, there can have been no lack of emotional interest And then there was the perpetual delight of smuggling—the hauling contraband articles up the cliff's by ropes when nights were dark, and the not infrequent conflicts with the excisemen. Worse still, there wa3 always ♦he fear of the press gang swooping down and carrying off some of the men of the place to sea. Many of the houses can still show cunningly concealed hiding places, where kegs of brandy and gin, and kegs of what they called “elly go long” (eau de Cologne), and bales of cotton or silk could bo and were concealed. Such places might do for articles of this kind, but when the press gang drew near, flight was the best chance of safety for the men. Many now alive remember their fathers hiding in the chimney or spending a day and a night at the top of some tree in the neighboring • woods to escape these dreaded visitants. One man well remembers all the fishermen’s wives getting their knives ready to go to the top of the hill and drive back the men who were coming to snatch away their master-men. Compared with this, the feelings brought into play by smuggling must have been very inferior in intensity. Evasion of the law was briskly carried on. Gin was so common that people washed their faces in it; a tumblerful could be bought for a penny, or a large jugful for fourpence; and good brandy was just as cheap. It was easy enough to get as much of these things as was wanted for home consumption; but it was very difficult • to turn them into money. They were generally taken to Whitby, and what was technically called “delivered” at a place in the old town, near the asylum. Some widow who had no man to work for her often tried to earn a livelihood by delivering spirits or other things; but other women took a part, too. They filled bladders with brandy or gin, slung six or eight of these beneath their gowns, and then set Qff to walk the six miles which lay between them and Whitby.,. The excisemen were quite aware of what they were about, and kept a sharp lookout for them. The women did not go by the high road, but crept along behind the hedges. One day two of them were on their way when they saw the exciseman on the other side of the. hedge. They tried to walk on; but he had seen them, and soon found a gap and came into the field where they were. One of the women was now sitting down ,by the hedge, crying and groaning. “Now I’ve got you,” said he; but the woman did nothing but cry and groan. “Can’t you see what is the matter, you fool?” said the other woman. “The very least you can do is to go and get a doctor for the poor creature.” He did go, and no sooner was he out of sight than they jumped up and hurried off to get rid of their burden. Later in the day they met the same exciseman in the Flower, gate. “Well, Molly, safe delivered, lass?” said he. “Ay, sir, down there by the quay,” she replied, with a grin.