Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-08-09
A MONSTER JACK
Graphic Account Of His Capture In
North Carolina Stream.

Near Murphy, in Cherokee Co., N. C..
and near the Tennessee line, is q very
deep hole in the Hiawassee river which
the Indians named "Claunoosa, mean
ing the big hole. The Indians thought
this hole had no bottom, and that 1t con-
tanned mammoth turtle which would
eat them up, and they never would go
swimming in that hole. One beautiful
day in May, Col. Davidson, Of Asheville,
concluded to go fishing in 'Claunoo-
sa." He went to branch and caught
q very large club minnow, walked to
the lower part OF "Claunoosa" and
waded in near where the big hole went
off in to a shoal. He threw his minnow
away off into deep water and stood lazi-
ly watching it bob his cork up and down
in its frantic efforts 10 escape. After
awhile he chanced TO look down at his
feet, which were naked, and around
which minnows were playing. About
two yards from his feet he saw some
thing that made his heart jump right
up into his throat He beheld two en-
ormous eyes, and these eyes were look
ing right at his toes, with hungry look,
making him think that the owner of the
eyes might perhaps want to devour said
toes, which looked, no doubt, very
tempting to an omnivorous jack-salmon.
The moment the enormous fish caught
the Colonel's eye it turned like great
ship, apparently without moving fin,
and sailed off toward deep water. The
Colonel commenced reeling in his line,
which pulled his minnow in the direc-
ton to meet the departing muscalonge.
Presently the Colonel felt an electric
thrill run from the hair on his head to
his big toes down in the water. His
muscalonge, or pike-perch, as he calls
him, started for the unfathomable depths
of "Claunoosa" with the velocity of a
schooner. The Colonel became alarm
ed and put his right thumb on his large
new silk line as it paid out from the
reel. In doing this he burnt his thumb,
for the line kept going. He ran along
the edge of the hole until he was pulled
into the water up to his neck, when he
resorted to heroic treatment; he gave
him butt! The pole, long, splendid
bamboo, curved gracefully until it form
ed rainbow. and then a half moon.
This checked the terrible impetus of
that first mighty rush of the jack, who
rushed hither and thither like mad
bull. Occasionally he would come
near enough to be seen, and it was q
sight. He was over four feet long and
as beautiful as a rainbow. After resort
ing to the tactics, the science of which
he had learned from his prognathean
ancestors and by innuherable contests
with the hair lines and bone hooks of
Indians of many decades past, he began
to sulk. The Colonel was afraid to let
him rest long, so he threw rocks at him,
and pulled at him, but to no purpose
for some time, but at last he started
down stream, and pulled the Colonel
after him, stumbling over boulders, and
sweating at every pore above the water
line. Finding he was getting into shall
low water, the fish started up the stream
again for the deep hole, the Colonel fol-
towing reluctantly, putting and blowing
like a narrow gauge engine. 1t looked
like steam tug pulling a schooner.
Over the shoals they 60, and into an
. other hole, the Colonel jumping from
rock to rock and swimming occasional
ly. On they 60 until another shoal is
reached, when the great fish turned
around and started down. Reaching
deep swirl below huge, rock that lifted
its head above the surface, the fish set
tied himself down for another sulk. The
swift current washed his line against
the rock, and it became hitched. Here
was dilemma! If the fish quit sulking
and start down, and made a pull against
the solid surface of the rock, with the
aid of the current. the line could not
possibly stand the strain. The only
way in which the line could be loosened
was by the Colonel crossing the rapid
current above. This was hazardous
undertaking, but what cares an old
sportsman for danger when such
grand prize is in danger of escapeP He
made long jump, and landed on big
round rock, on the other side of which
The water rushed with grand sweep.
Across this dangerous current he had
to make ten-foot jump, which he sue
ceeded in doing, but his feet slipped and
he fell sprawling on the rock, his arms
embracing it as he fell. He held on
thus for minute, and after much strug-
Cling he got on it, and was soon in
wading water. To his infinite relief the
fish had not moved. but he soon had
him stirring again and down he started.
He made for the bottomless hole, but
the Colonel gave him the butt and soon
had the satisfaction of knowing that he
was surrendering. He sailed around
and around, and finally the Colonel led
him into shallow place and ran in and
caught him by the gills, and dragged
him upon the beach. ..
The Colonel contemplated the noble
fish as he lay there moment, then he
gave yell that might have startled the
neighboring town. The Colonel put
big stick in the gills of the fish, and
threw the latter across his back, the
tail dragging the ground. The Colonel
had an old broad-cloth coat and the fish
slimed it all over and mired it, but what
cared he for thatp His wife scolded
him, but he cared neither for the coat
or scold or occasion. The jack weighed
twenty-seven pounds. There is said to
be one of this species in a pond in
France known to be 400 years Old
ASheUille correspondence NaShUille
american.