pressgangs

Republicans didn't abandon their fevered dreams of Maoist pressgangs when the Clinton Administration happened to spend more time rescuing the President's and his wife's career from the worse angels of his limbic system than rounding up subscribers to Combat Handguns and Redbook; they just told and retold the tales of that period as though the pressgangs and rounding-up had actually happened -- hence, George W. Bush.

What Happens When Socialism Doesn't Come? Rogers 2008

The pressgangs were now set vigorously to work, and, though there was a constant drain of desertions to contend with, the numbers on board the ships at Chatham and in the lower Thames rose day by day.

Famous Sea Fights From Salamis to Tsu-Shima John Richard Hale

He loved to talk of his cruises in the Mediterranean, of the whizzing of cannon balls, the mutilation of limbs, decks slippery with gore, levanters, pressgangs, boatswains 'calls, and the cat-o'-nine tails of the boatswains' mates.

Jack in the Forecastle or, Incidents in the Early Life of Hawser Martingale John Sherburne Sleeper

One of these unfortunate men, after having successfully dodged the pressgangs for a fortnight, and living meanwhile in an unenviable state of anxiety, was pounced upon by some disguised members of a pressgang as he left the boarding house one evening.

Jack in the Forecastle or, Incidents in the Early Life of Hawser Martingale John Sherburne Sleeper

The pressgangs brought in poor creatures whom the captains described as a useless rabble.

Famous Sea Fights From Salamis to Tsu-Shima John Richard Hale

Those who fight, fight for their bread and butter, and because they are forced by pressgangs, and under threat of death.

The Situation in China 1927

For so great had been the waste of life in the war that the fleets were short-handed, and anything in the shape of a man was pounced on by the pressgangs as soon as seen, and flung aboard ship to be licked into shape to be shot at.

Carette of Sark John Oxenham 1896

The license of these pressgangs was so well known, and had been made familiar to me by so many tales, that I had little hope from the first of escaping their clutches.

Athelstane Ford Allen Upward 1894

The pressgangs captured everybody, irrespective of whether they were officers, common able seamen, or boys, to say nothing of those who had no sea experience.

The Tragedy of St. Helena Walter Runciman 1892

But especially they are the days of war and the fortunes of war; days of pressgangs, to kidnap unwilling rulers of the waves; of hulks and prisons filled to overflowing, even in a mere commercial port like Liverpool, with

The Light of Scarthey Egerton Castle 1889