The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-02
A TRUE FISH STORY.
sMa,que,,s Mining Journal.

A TRUE FISH STORY.
 lMaiqueus Mining Journal
 A Journal reporter listened to ash story a fcw evenings ago, the truth of which can be vouched for by many who were residents of the city many years ago. It may not properly be regarded as what is commonly termed fsh-s,ory." but, rather as '' ilshyn joke. Twas somewhere in the neighborhood of ten years ago, at time when a stream of water ran through the lot on which was located the old Fremont house. The de- partment used for a wash-room was di- rectly over this little brook, and a trap door was put sn and through this water was taken from the stream as required
 The Peak family bell ringers were mak- ing tour of the upper peninsula tha, summer, and during their stay in Mar quette occupied rooms at the Fremont, which was then the leading hotel. The old gentleman and proprietor, Wm. D.. Peak, was rry fond of fishing, and soon after his arrival inquiries were made for a good trout s,reAr. where he could satis- fy his pisca,onal proclivities and at the same time treat the members of his troupe to a rare dish. One of the party. whose name we have forgotten. took |, into his head to have a little sport with the old gentleman, and with that end in view, procured the assistance of an able accomplice in the person of the hotel clerk, who was also fond of joke. The porter and bell boy were dispatched 10 the nearest trout stream with instructions to bring in pail full of live trout. In those days i, was not much of trick to catch pail full of the fish, and the boys were not out long before large number were brought m alive and swimming about in pail of water. A large wash tub vas then filled with water and placed under the wash room, just far enough down stream to be hidden from view. The live trout were put into the tub and the porter took up his position alongside of it. When all had been arranged to the satisfaction of the lokers, and several others of the troupe let into the scheme, Mir. Peak was informed by the hotel clerk that if he was anxious for a mess of fish he might try his luck in the little brook under the house for time, adding ,ha, sTou, were quite frequently captured by standing to one side oi the trap door and casting into the water and allowing the hook to float down stream short distance. At first the old gentleman was inclined to regard the matter as an ab- surdity. but being prevailed upon by the tronpe-who had congregated to see the sport-to fry it just once for luck, he brought out his fishing rod, and, stealing noiseiy up to the open trap, so as no. so alarm the 6sh, he dropped in his we'll baited hook: then, followed the injunc- ton of the clerk, he allowed the current of the stream to cary it toward the tub, and in less than jidy, Mir. Peak had the satisfaction of landing fine brook trout. Here the sport began in good earnest. In vent the hook, and out came another lively speckled trout. A pail of water was brought and as fast as he could pull then, out, they were put into 1t. When he had caught about four dozen or SO, and it vas thought that the tub and the porter must be running short of fish, the joker would slip fev through crack in the floor into the tub, and on went the sport, to the delight of all present. No one offered to .spell the old man, and he didn't appear to offer his rod to asy- one-fAct was, the old gentleman had struck it rich, and was having too much sport himself to give it up, and SO he kept right on fishing. Every time the hook came within reach of the porter a trout would be hooked onto it Inst be- fore supper time the pail of fish were carried into the kitchen to be cooked, but lot of dead ones had been prepared for the occasion, and the live ones found their way back into the washtub. After working" the old bell ringer all the affesnooa, the fiual resplt vas Hnnd brook trout a1ld sehanpaene suppW at his expsnsa Inc mater w1 kept quie, unfil jux befuse the depsstus9 of the fsnaJ, vhes Mr. Peak WIS n1d of the jcks. 8 uell haA it ben p1ayottAot he had failed to detect ii, bgt he took it in good part, and is after years was won, to relate 1t on the road, vith ss much zess appassatly as fl he had been the pezpe- ,rztor instead of the victim of practical 6sh joke