The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-07-29
WHOLE NUMBER, 537
Fishing on white River.

Last sumner, or rayhsf last spring. willie
stopping in Indiana, l formed one OF party
that went to The fills Of White River. near
the Viilsge Of Newberry, for the pufposs %
having regular set, two or three day's iIOh.
ing spree, ns The Hoosiers call L. The Ass
day Of our excursion turned out TO be windy.
and we had no luck; the next day We caught
only small bass, snsppine turtle, Z few
frogs--just for the fan Of it--and bed cold.
On the third day the tables turned and for.
tone smiled upon us propitinonsly, tor We ali
had fresh colds. Jack Collins fell overheard
andwe csughthim. Bill Martin seaughtshs
ngue, and Tom Bourbon csagkt ! eStifsh
that weighed some seventy pounds.
Our "spree" was now at an end, and We
foand IL matter of little difficulty to take
home with us all we had caught except the
big 6sh. It was too large to carry, and too
small to justify the hire Of special convey.
once, 80 we werdssoTely puzzled 10 TO what
disposition to make OF it. AT last happy
thought came to our relief. Joe, the anc.
tioneer. formed one or our company, and 90
we resolved to go up to NeWberry and sell
the monster at auction. Il was Just about
the first of the season, and 80 We expected
to realize handsome profit by way Of fun.
10 say the least.
When we arrived at the village, We found
about thirty persons assembled around
little grocery. Chuckling over such streak
Of good luck, Joe shouldered the Gsh, mount.
ed upon the head Of molasses hogskead
and proceeded to his business.
"Now, gentlemen" said he, "how much
do you say to start him. F.i-ft.y-c-e-n.t-s l
Do I hear bid from my one Of Fly ceutsI
But they did not say, and poor Joe cried
and went on at an awful rate without the
least prospect of bid. Seeing that our
chance of speculation was but slim, we con.
cluded to amuse ourselves by bidding for
| fun.
"Five dollars to start him." said I.
"Fivc dollars- five five-fye, and going
as cheap as dirt; who says more1"
"'Ten dollars" soys another Of our com.
pany.
"Fifteen."
And SO the bids ran on till they Fesched
thirty dollars--all sham, Of course.
Just at this moment tall, gawky looking
Hoosier was seen making rapid strides to.
wards the scene Of action. Having arrived
and looked ut the fish on all sides, and list
ened to "thirty and going" he bawled
out:
81 say, ,stranger-you on that are barrel--
I kin do better than that myself. Jest hold on
mint and let me have another squint at
lin. BY ginger Just say fifty and risk
him."
"Fifty fifty /" cried the auctiopeer, as.
tonished at the bidi salty !--going- -going
gone at fifty"
The fish was handed overt to the Hoosier,
who, after looking at old Joe 4 moment, and
smelling to see that his prize was not spoil
ed, began to walk OF with it.
4 "Stop, old fellow you havn't paid fOr
it!" cried several.
) "Psid, ginger" replied the green one,
} coming to holt. "Warn't the fish gin to
} mel Didn'. lear you ell guessin' thirtyf
and didn't guesss ifty'--and I'll bet coon
! skin he don't weigh any more; and didn's
that old pussy feller that's up thar give It to
. met"
"No, no!" exclaimed old Joe, while We
were all holding our sides, "you bid tifty
dollars for the fish and you have It 70
: pay"
After a sour look ard frown that was
intended to tell how indignant he felt, the
Hoosier replied:
> "1fyer Ingin enough to take 1 thing back
: arter givin,it to feller, take III" snd suit
ing the action 10 the word, he threw II a the
nuctioneer with all his strength.
Our corpulent friend, not wishing 70 come
in contact with a flying fish, leaped a. high
as he could, and when he came down, the
: hogshead'op gave way beneath his weight,
J and in the next instant he was founderinG
5 about up to his chin in molasses.
: "Te, he, he ~ roared the Hoosiers Do he
!, made tracks of in the way he had come
: "Te he, he! nosO yer IN 9 siOesi piekls!"
q And so he was. With much difficulty w
> succeeded in extrcating him, after which VI
z paid the damage, and started In search oi
e water, resolving never again, under any cir
d cumstances, to set up a fish market at New