Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-21
SENATORIAL FISH STORIES.
reasonable Yarns Told by Distin.
gufshed Legislators.

i
seasonable Yarns Told by. Distin.
| Eutshed Legislators.
MR. KENNA TELLS OF THREE CATFISH THAT
TELEsCoPED EACH orHER-MR VESTS STORY
| ABOUT PRESIDENT ARrHUR-rHE KENTUCKY
| SENATORS AND THEIR DOGS.
Senator Vest, who has from the mention OF
the project felt and manifested great interest
| In the Yellowstone park, by special invitation
| accompanied President Arthur and Gen, Sheri-
| dan on a tour through that extensive reserva-
| ton year before last. The Senator is a genial
| companion and superb story teller, and it was
| admitted by the party after their return that
| he was the life Of the excursion
Just after Congress adjourned Senator Vest
was one of q group that was engaged in a dis
| cussion of angling and in relating fish stories
| SENATOR KENNA's CATFISH YARN
Senator Kenna had just related an incident
| showing the voracity of the catfish, which came
under his immediate observation.
Accompanied by several other Senators
| among them Mr.. Nest-Mr. Kenna was fishing
In West Virginia. A sudden rain had rnuddied
the water, and bass were not feeding. One OF
the party had caught three catfish, each a size
or two larger than the other He strung them.
putting the largest first on the string and at the
| bottom. then the next In size. and the smallest
on top, and then tied them in the water inte nd
| ing to take them in the boat upon the return
home. Several hours later. when the party re-
the second Ash had attempted to swallow the
small one, aud had succeeded in taking him in
up to the fms; and the largest. at the bottom of
the string, had underworld to make a meal off
OF his next neighbor.
| Nov, Vest saw that" concluded Senator
| story"
A TALE ABOUT PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
Senator Vest asserted that he saw and exam
| ined the string OF catfish one swallowing the
| other, and then said: president Arthur is the
most expert and graceful angler 1 ever saw
handle rod, and have seen some OF the best
While we were doing Yellowstone Park, one
Sunday. the President, and several others be-.
sides myself, rode ahead OF the main party and
reached our camping place quite early in the
day. 1t was a beautiful spot, wel-shaded with
splendid spring at hand and near the bank of
river. After We had diSmOunted strOIed to
the edge of the stream, and on the opposite side
In hole just below little rill L saw IA splendid
trout playing. he was q magnificent fellow,
and seemed to be dispOrting himself in the
clear water-it was as clear as crystal-tor his
own amusement. l called to the others to come
and have look at him, and expressed my re-
greet that had left all my rods and tackle with
the pack mules. One of the party remarked that
he had brought his rod along and he at once
| returned to the horses tor it. In a few moments
he placed it in my hands and 1 rugged it and
attached fly. The President, with arms folded
trout.
AS soon as. as l had the fly properly secured
want you to catch that fellow.
No. no. he responded earnestly, hall turnin g
away from me, II never touch a rod on tie
81 was determined" continued Senator Vest,
that the President should have that trout; SO
stepped to the edge OF the brook, which was
high and almost perpendicular, and pretended
to make cast or two. I'm no sloIch with the
ny, and could have made the cast had L wan ted
turned to the President. who by this time was
| eagerly alive to the whole proceeding and said:
Mr. President, you must make the cast. 1t is
too far for me-"
The Keen instinct of the sportsman was
fully .s aroused In him, and his eyes
vest III consent pls to ne hook sSp''ed nim 5 S
will not land him on the sabbath" said
very we'll and passed the rod over TO him. He
stood and made q cast 1t felt little short; but
the next time he put the fly within two inches
fish seized the lure. The President hooked
him and turning towards ME he extended the
Dutt OF TIE rod In my direction and said bur,
won't land him on sunday"
II grabbed the rod continued the Senator,
land after playing the fish for while landed
him. He weighed three pounds and a quarter
and the President ate part OF him for supper
SENATOR BECKs CONSTITUENT.
Senator Beck not long ago received letter
froln Kentucky constituent informing him
that some person in Cumberland, Md, had
promised the constituent pair of pointer
pups. The kentucklan was anxious to get the
pups provided they had certain marks, but I'M
less thus distinguished he did not care for
them. He wrote to Beck that as "Cumberland
was not very lar from Washington he wished
he (Beck) would go up there, examine the
pups" and ii marked as he described have
them shipped to Kentucky.
HOW SENATOR BLACKBURN LOST HIS PUPS.
AS illustrative of the peculiar requests made
OF congressman, this letter was mentioned in
the presence Of Senator Blackburn. SWELL"
he declared, "if Beck had gone and the pups
had been any account that constituent would
never have seen them. When Beck gets hold
OF a really fine dog he holds on to it. In the
FOrty-iOurth Congress was chairman OF the
sub-eiections committee to which was referred
the contested election case of LIE Moyne against
Farwell. AS LIE Moyne was the democrat |
found the equities Of the case with him, and
after time we got him seated. LIE Moyne is
very wealthy, and he imports the finest strains
OF hunting dogs. Some time after he was
seated he told me one day that he intended to
send me one OF the finest Laverack settlers that
was ever seen. Well, he went out OF
Congress, and 1 forgot all about the
promise. Five or six years elapsed, and
l received a letter from LeMUyne telling me he
had been waiting TO get pup that would be
proud OF, and That at last he had purchased one
that he could vouch Ior. He sent the pedigree
and wrote that the pup would be shipped by
express at Il certain time then near at hand 1,
very foOlisbly showed the letter to Beck and
boasted " him vi the fine dog l would have l
had to leave for home, so made arrangements
with friend to receive the pup here. take him
out OF the box and iced him uptor several days
and then reship him to my home in kentucky.
When my friend called at the express Office
goL the pup. Why said Moss the Senator
called and said that as Joe Black burn had gone
home he had promished to take care Of the pup
for him. Well, Beck got the pup concluded
1t. asked him what became OF it, and with
one OF bis big laughs he said 1t died."