Within the last few years there was still to be seen in Appledore, as
a broken overhanging background to the new quay, the remains of large
brick buildings which in the middle of the last century constituted
an extensive porter brewery. A brisk trade was carried on in this
beverage, which in 1750 was as celebrated as Barclay's stout or
Guinness's XX is now; and never a week passed that did not witness
the shipping off of several cargoes. The whole concern belonged to
Mr. Phillipson, who found it exceedingly profitable in augmenting his
hoards, and was able, at this critical period of his history, to turn
it to useful account in helping himself out of a difficulty.
'So they're ransacking the Sarah Ann again, are they?' Mr. Phillipson
said, as his son made his appearance in the office. 'It's a done
job, Ben, a done job; but I'll double on them, you'll see. Begin at
once to take away the puncheons that stand in the outhouse. There's
a vessel now lading that will run out next tide, and you can start in
the yacht at the same time.'
'What are you going to do with the puncheons?' asked the son in
astonishment.
'Do as I bid you, and ask no questions,' said the merchant. 'The
bottle will uncork itself soon enough.'
Accordingly the son proceeded to fulfil his instructions. A truck
arrived at the house, and a couple of empty puncheons were borne off
towards the quay, after they had been carefully examined by the
detectives on duty. In a short time two others followed them, and
then two more, and two more, until suspicion was lulled, and the
great man of the place felt confident and easy in ensconcing his
person in one of the eighth pair, a few air-holes having been bored
by his own hand in the top before it was fastened. His position was
uncomfortable and humiliating; but he knew well enough how much was
at stake, when he was borne away in that inglorious hiding-place, and
lodged amongst a multitude of barrels in the hold of a vessel whose
'blue peter' streamed out in the wind.
As soon as possible she was swung out into the rising tide, and when
the flood was sufficiently on was started for the bar, with a fair
and brisk breeze. An hour after, the same track was pursued by Mr.
Benjamin in his pleasure-boat, and, having overtaken the schooner off
Hartland Point, he transferred himself to her deck, and proceeded to
release his parent from his narrow prison-house below. They
conversed for several hours on family and business matters, making
such arrangements for the future as circumstances required; and
amongst the last things which the moneyed runaway laid on the
conscience of his son, was the duty of providing for Mary Stauncy.
'I charge you, Ben,' he said, 'as though it were my last charge, to
take care of the widow and her children. Stauncy was faithful to me,
and I'll be faithful to him. Nothing would make me more wretched
than the thought of neglect in this matter. I should never be easy,
living or dying, if I had any suspicion that you would not
scrupulously fulfil my wish--I may say my command, Ben.'
'Of course,' the son replied, 'I'll attend to anything you say; I'm
only steward at present, and your orders shall be obeyed.'
'Steward or proprietor, Ben, it doesn't matter. I charge you, as
long as you live, to look after them, and to make provision, in case
of anything happening to yourself.'
'Very well, sir, I'll not forget,' the son responded, as he jumped
into a boat alongside; and, having returned to his yacht, he bore up
for Clovelly.
To what part of the Continent that laden vessel steered, or where the
merchant passed the remainder of his days, has never transpired. The
manner of his life, the manner of his death, are unknown. That he
never returned to England is certain; and it is to be hoped that
solitude and reflection gave opportunity for some improvement in a
character which the love of money had so thoroughly perverted.
The ship in which he escaped could not have been out of sight many
hours, when the Dutchman, as the sailors called her, which had graced
the Pool aforetime, cast anchor in her old quarters. The divers had
brought to the light the so-called bales of broadcloth, on which a
large insurance had been effected, but which in reality contained
narrow lengths of a coarse material, measuring the quantity
specified; and it transpired, in course of time, that similar
packages had more than once been employed for fraudulent purposes by
the Appledore merchant.
A warrant was immediately obtained for his apprehension; but, to the
dismay of the outwitted detectives, the culprit was nowhere to be
found. A large reward was offered for his apprehension, but his
hiding-place was never revealed, and probably was unknown to any save
the members of his own family.
That family continued for some years to take a leading position in
the little seaport and neighbourhood; but it gradually dwindled and
became comparatively obscure. Its wealth was squandered; its houses
and lands were mortgaged; its character sank lower and lower, and no
one now remains to perpetuate the name, even, of that ancient and
notable house.