Family History

Why does anyone do it? They must be crazy. I have spent the day working on about a dozen pages of TRIBE's. Sample from Arthur's Book:
The story runs that William Tribe and his partner - for he worked in partners with another man - were one night in winter riding together on the Down in the neighbourhood of the famous Beachy Head, each mounted on one [of] the pair of horses which drew their van with which they were wont to do their 'business', and perhaps were even then in the act of riding them out to hitch them on the van. A snowstorm was raging at the time, with a fury which one who has battled with the elements in that bleak neighbourhood, - as has the writer- can appreciate.*
Blinded by the fury of the storm, and baulked by the intense darkness, they rode nearer the famous Head than they intended, and before they realized their danger were upon the extreme edge of the cliff. Escape was impossible!
(*I find since writing the above that it is improbable that a van was employed by the adventurers, owing to the need for great mobility. Pack-saddles were probably used. AWT)
Down they went over that awful height, down that sheer drop of [blank] feet to the beach below; down to what they must have realized as utter destruction.
Almost, it would seem, by a miracle, our ancestor escaped with his life; his horse was killed. His companion was less fortunate and lost his life, though his horse survived; William Tribe therefore rode out on his companion's horse; the state of the tide at the time is not recorded. History neglects to say whether our ancestor brought his late comrade's body out with him, or whether he informed the Eastbourne Coastguard of the accident and sent them to the rescue of his unfortunate partner-in-crime. As, however, his intent and inclination up to that time had been to avoid the 'men in blue' as much as possible, the latter supposition is not at all probable.
Another story I must give, and this one bears a greater foundation of fact than the other, and comes from a member of the family alive at the present time. It is interesting as showing the tenacity and bulldog courage of our doughty ancestor. This story is undoubtedly true as the authority is unimpeachable.
William Tribe was one day cornered by the coastguard and 'held up' by one of them whilst in the pursuit of his calling and accompanied by his horse. He was unable to escape, and, reconciling himself to the loss of his stock-in-trade, he determined to defend his own precious person and life to the last. He fought the exciseman for two hours, with a club against his sturdy opponent's trusty sword, and, after a fierce struggle, was at last successful, though he came out of the encounter with a broken skull. This, however, was but a detail in those stirring times. The date and place of the struggle are unknown, but the scene was probably the neighbourhood of Beachy Head, Crow Link and Birline Gap, three places on the coast surrounding the Downs, close together, and formerly well known as smuggling resorts.
After this affray, our ancestor had his skull mended with silver filling, and eventually settled in Kent, in the neighbourhood of Tenterden, where he married. I am unable to learn whether he from this time discontinued his smuggling exploits, or whether the ride over Beachy Head occurred before or after his marriage, but at all events I have it on good authority that he was by no means a good provider for his large family. His son John declared that he never had a meal at home after he was seven years of age, but was obliged to go out to work, and I suppose, to live away from home.