Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-08-02
FISHERMAN'S LUCK.
Exciting Episodes in the Lives of Gloucester Fish
ermen---Wonderful Escapes
From the Boston HERALD

Exciting Episodes in the Lives of Gloucester Fish
ermen---Wonderful Escapes.
[From the Boston Herald.l
The records of the fisheries are full of
remarkable adventures, many of which
would seem almost too incredible for use
In fiction. A wonderful experience was
that of the crew of the schooner Daniel
A. Burnham. The vessel was lying-to
off Sable Island on the evening Of Janu-
ary 10. 1877, when she was struck by
heavy sea which turned her completely
over, the masts giving way while she
was under water. There were thirteen
men In the crew, and all but one were
below when the vessel capsized. The
schooner rolled over so quickly that she
did not have timetO fill. The men were
thrown from the floor to the ceiling when
the schooner was bOttOm-up, and 1mme-
diately to the floor again as she righted.
The man who had been on the lookout
on deck was found hanging over the side
by portion of the gear and was speedily
hauled on board. Thus not life was
lost The crew was taken off by the
Allan steamer Austrian and landed at st.
Johns, n. f.
A story is told of another schooner
that IS turned turtle " IL q similar way,
having been rolled over and dismasted
by heavy sea. She was brought into
port by her crew, and the marks which
the stove made IN the ceiling as she cap
sized were shown In proof of the circum-
stance. 4 dramatic incident is that re-
lated about Alexander McEachen and
Augustus Armstrong, two of the crew of
the schooner Mary T. Chisholm, who
left the vessel during fog on May 9,
1878, to attend to their travels on west
ern bank. They got beyond hearing of
the fog horn and could not find their
way back. After rowing twenty-four
hours they fell In with French fishing
vessel. were taken on board of her and
remained there two days. They were
then transferred to the schooner Viking,
and arrived home in Gloucester the day
before their own vessel, the Chisholm.
AS that schooner came sailing Into the
harbor with her flag at half-mast III
token of their loss, they we're the first
ones 80 hail her. 1t was a merry meet
ing that followed, and the flag was
speedily flying from the masthead IL
rejoicing.
Probably more men are lost in fogs
while going out to their travis from
their vessels on the banks than in any
other way, and If any means could be de-
vised to keep them IN communication
with their vessels, SO that they may al
ways find their way back, it would take
from the fisheries one of the greatest
perils. Much suffering would be pre-
vented If the fishermen would only take
the precaution to keep a Jug of water
and some hard bread in their dories.
The dOries are often capsized while out
looking after the travis, and men are
only saved by clinging to the bottoms oS
the boats. Two of the crew of the
schooner Centennial, Peter Seaman and
George Sticking, we're capslzed IN
dory on the fishing grounds. They had
finished hauling their travis and were
ready to return to their vessel, when
sea boarded the dory aad she sank be-
meath the heavy weight; but she soon
capsized and came up again, so that the
men succeeded IN getting hold of her,
Scanlan at the bow and Sticking at the
stern. In going over one of the trawl-
hooks caught in Stockings leg. and he
was compelled to bear both his own
weight and that Of the trawl, fortunately
securing a fOot-hold in the stern beckett
Of the dory, but the heavy weight kept
him under water most of the time, and
his position was extremely perilous as
well as painful. Seaman was more for
tunately situated, and the bow of the
craft was kept out of water by the weight
at the stern. After clinging thus for
about a quarter of an hour, they were
discovered by men In another dory, who
were returning to the vessel and were
rescued. Sticking was nearly exhaust
ed, and while he was being pulled In the
hook was broken off in his leg, SO that
on reaching the vessel it was found ne
cessary to cut it out, making an ugly
wound
Fishermen sometimes have striking
adventures with whales. On December
Is, 1874, while the schooner Sultana was
at anchor on the Grand Bank, there was
a sudden motion felt by those on board,
and it was evident that the craft was
being carried through the water by some
unseen and unknown power. Looking
forward 1t was observed that the cable
was drawn taut and that something was
dragging the vessel along at the rate of
twelve knots an hour. Soon mammoth
whale came to the surface to blow. and
it was seen that he had the anchor
hooked into either his Jaw or his blow
hole. Another whale swan near by,
evidently greatly astonished at the
actions of his comrade. The men in the
dories, who had inst returned from visit
ing their travis, had barely time to
make fast their painters ere the vessel
started. Another dory with two men was
still some distance away. The captain
stood with axe In hand ready to cut the
cable, and he allowed the whale to row
them some distance. But finally he cut