Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-14
ARTHUR, The ANGLER.
Biting Black Bass Cause Joy in
the Presidential Breast,
While Philips Pops Alligators
Without Naval Protection.


On BOARD THE STEAMER OKocHo.
BEE, via KIssIMMEE, Fla April TO-
Tle president and party spent the
night In the steamer Okochobee ON
the Kissimmee river, in the very heart
of the lower Florida region. After
the boat left the what at H~opakalaga
the executive disappeared In his state.
room, as did Secretary Chandler, to
emerge a few minutes later In the
garb betting the climatic occasion.
The president wore flsDnel
shirt, a broad brimmed hat
aud began to fab with his fly,
He believed that a black bass would
SEIZE q yellow fly, and with the zeal of
a fisherman he attached one to his line.
Then he fixed his rod. Meanshile
Secretary Chandler appeared In a linen
duster aud helmet cap and cautiously
eyed Secretary Phillips, who was load
Ing his gun for al alligator. When
the boat reached the K,ssimmee river,
the president, Impatient to cast his
fly, very carefully got down into a
dugout, and few minutes later the
chief magistrate was gently casting
the yellow haeckle. Soon he had q
bite. He played With the fish for
five minutes with q stern, business.
like expression on his face, and at last
landed
AsIx.PJUND BLACK BASS
That settled the business for the
president. No snakes we're in sight,
the alligators did not bother him, the
insects we're not troublesome. The
air, through tropical, was balmy, and
the president forgot his irritation Of
the morning. Unlocking the black
bass with the smile of an expert, he
soon had the yellow haeckle out again,
and before evening he had landed
more f,h than he had ever caught in
a day before. By and by 1t became
too dark to fish, and the party returned
to the steamer Okochobee. Here at the
stern of the boat, In the breezy night
air, two beds had been fitted up-one
for the president and the other for
Secretary Chandler. In the gangwsy
Mr.. Miller and Secretary Phillips
slept, while a hammock was swung 10
the bow for Sir Phillip Clark, of Lon.
den. By dawn the president was up,
ey ein0 his flies with the delight of q
fisherman, and before breakfast the
cti 1t magistrate was out in a dugout
in q q .nnel shirt, broad brimmed hat,
and casting a red spinner for an expe.
rimeut. The fish wouldn't jump at
the spinner, and he changed again fer
Q yellew haeckle. Soon the president
st,ffened up his rod, bent double,
which he held gently in his right
hand, and reeled gently with his
left. Secretary Chandler hallooed
to him from the steamer, but the
president was deaf. After ten min.
utes' struggle with the game fish the
president landed Q ten FOUNDER, and
the Joy pictured on his face vas great.
or than the biggest political victory
would eve have produced. Mean
while Secretary Phillips had his eye
bound for a~lligators, and at last saw q
pair of eyes In the water, with bis
glass, abuot . Thousand feet away.
Secretary Phillips put bis riffs to his
shoulder, and Secretary Chandler put
his fingers to his ears Phillips took
careful aim, fired, and
THE ALLIGATOR FLoPPED.
They got the reptile into the boat and
he measured seven feet Phillips was
JOY ful. Secretary Chandler by this
time was fastening a worm on q hook.
He took no stock In fly fishing, but
wanted to catch as he used to catch
~bullhesds when a boy. He got a bite
that nearly pulled him ov erboard, and
he was greatly excited when he pulled
the first on board. At breakfast q
dish of boiled Euglish snipe that were
shot by CIl. Kreame, Of Philadelphis,
and a half dozen grosback we're set
before the party. McC. fl 1ger had
cooked them beautifully, and olaret was
served to wash them down. The
president was anxious to get at the
fish again, and half an hour later he
was again In his dug out casting his
FLEE. BE was perfectly happy. 1t Ia
possible that for the next day or two
nothing will be heard of the president,
as he may be too far beyond the reach
OF the telegraph to make daily com.