Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-07-20
From the GuIrCOass.

sNArPERs-CATCHING A WHALE OF !
A AsHARK-HoMEwARD BOUND,
Correspondence Of the Herald
PENSACOLA, FLA, July Il, 1871
The schooner Centennial left Mobile
on the 9th and sailed down the bay af-
ter a delay at the city which added very
little to the attractions OF the trip ex-
cept in aflOrding the party an opportu'
nifty to read some letters and papers
from home and enjoy some of the
luscious vegetables, such as melons,
peaches and fgs, which are abundant
on the coast just now. As we got
fairly under way q heavy rain cloud
appeared in the East, out Of which
flashed the lightning and pealed the
thunder, but It was well inland and as
Il appeared TO be going in direction
away from US gave no uneasness. Our
sails were all up and full except q
reef In the fOresal to allow q
place for our awning, and we
were scudding away under favorable
breeze. Directly, however, the omin.
Gus cloud pushed rapidly out toward
US, and we saw that small vessel lying
away of in that quarter had hauled
in nearly every foot Of canvass, and
was tossing and pitching In the sqnall
which had already struck her. The
warning was a fortunate one. Before
our awning could be taken down and
slowed away the blow gave US broad
side and sent our little vessel careening
upon her side under q full set of sail
until her guard went under water. II
we had not seen our little Captain
dance around before, we saw him per-
form now. And indeed there appear
cd some necessity for it, for We carried
no load or ballast, the canvass was In
excess of that required by vessels Of
our tonnage, and we could not
in this case run before the wind
as it would have driven US upon
the land, so we ran unusual risk OF be-
ing capsizad. In few moments we
were pitching about in such n fearful
manner that all landsmen had to squat
about or lie on deck to avoid being
lumbled overheard, while every light
article, such as cups, plates aud the
like went flying away. But IN time
the sails were in, the anchor overheard
and we laid safely rolling and tumbling
on our toughest sea, without the loss
of man. After this squsll the wind
suddenly shifted 10 the west, and a
worse one struck US from that quarter
but being prepared for It, 1t did nc
damage, nor gave us any alarm. Hal
an hour later we were again undeI
sail, aud that night lay at anchor II
safe harbor near Grants Pass.
, The next day we ran doWn past Fort
Gaines and Morgan, and came Il
anchor Off Sand island near the light
/; house, a structure some hundred an
fifty feet high, and which we had tn
pleasure of visiting and thoroughly Ia
specting during our stay at the place.
Here we stayed two days, having
nice time fishing, bathing and huntin
shells, when the vessel which ha
; agreed to carry US 10 the snapper bank
hove in sight, TO which Mr.. Warne
! and myself were transferred, the Other
of the party concluded to remain o
: the Centennial and TO Join US at thi
!, place. That day our thirty.hVe to
j smack, newly painted. and we'll equiE
: ped, and In charge Of clever men, ra
! over to this place, and spent two day
! industriously trying to catch fish f
bait, but with very poor success. 5
} on the second day, with less than
: quarter of a barrel Of sailed fish Il
: captain put out for the banks, trustin
to the luck OF catching more on Il
y banks while fishing for snapper.
." During the middle of the ahernoo
and when 1t was thought we were me-
y our destination, the Captain cried ou
!, "try the lead" A lead weighing eig
\ \ pounds, attached TO q strong cord, al
d to which a bsiled hook is attached ju
,e above the lead, Is whirled around al
;, ;, sent whizzing ahead Of the vessel, al
u as II settles down the man sings OIL
81 "Rfteen fathoms." Then trial after Il
- |, al, the vessel changing her course eve
y u' now and then, zigzaging here and theI
" with the depth varying from fifteen
y eighteen fathoms, showing ridges al
u the uneven bottom so much sought fC
u and still no bite. The Captain al
r. :, crew show signs Of disappointmel
Ie and then orders are given 10 try so
u. on the lead. This brings up sand al
Dr red cora.-just the very condition
u things desired. Cast after cast, al
n still no bite. Crew and passengers Il
g. g. easy. At last the man with the /,
al sings ont, in q sharp, quick key, "bite
W The vessel is luiled up, and in an
:" stan, over 60 one or two more lines
ns feel for the fish. In almost as qui
~ time one i hooked, and after he
r7 pulled aboard from his great depth /
'n low we hear the joyous word "SnO
W per" and see the beautiful fellow stru
Cling on deck. In moment he
IN tumbled into the well. 4 buoy Is C
overheard to mark the spot and
e. soon as can bo done the anchor
all pitched over, when all hands go
,rt work in earnest, and one soon het
,r- the constant splashing as the fish
.te thrown into the we'll, The sun Is ne
I'M ly down, but before dusk comes on, a
,m when the fish quit biting, the two r
ERE recruits were almost too tired TO slet
ed with hands sore and burning FRI
cd hauling on the lines. AT first the VIC
Ihe was real hard, pulling 8 line ovel
., e. ta.,o, tIh hnauv anti