Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-02-06
CAPTURING A DEVIL FISH.
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE OFF THE
FLORIDA COAST.
"A Marine Monster That Fought Long
and Hard for Life-Eighteen Feet
From Wing to Wing.


and Hard for Life-Eighteen Feet
From Wing to Wing.
1t has been suggested to the writer by
our mutual friend DR.. Ferber, that some
OF the incidents which occurred during
certain trip made last season down the
western coast of the peninsula of Florida
were worth preserving. If it were
possible to picture to your readers the
events of such day as wildly as men,
DRY presents them to the actors. then
might this communication Justify itself
The day selected for the experiment is
March 10. 1885. The boat is the sloop
ELLA Nj. Little, of about eight tons
Captain and owner. Alfred p Jones'
Pilot, Wilson; Christian name omitted
as suspicion exists that he never was
properly baptized. Able seaman. Abram
Supernumerarics. Messrs. Blank and
Black, otherwise the "big' and "little'
doctor, wel-known physicians of Chi
cago, genial companions, ardent sports
men; and lastly, the writer. Time, sun
rise. Location. a few miles south of
Punta Rassa, and just opposite the en-
trance to Estero Bay.
The day is perfect one, the air soft,
balmy and inspired by gentle breeze
from the west Ono of the party is
seated upon the cabin sweeping the
horizon with his omnipresent field glass
'Pilot, what's that big fin half mile
away on the weather bowl'
Devil fish"
'Devil fish. Pilot, that's what we arc
here for. We want that fish,
"You don't want to fool with no
devil fish; there amt no child's play
about them"
'Pilot, we want that fish"
eyes" adds the little doctor; 1--WE
will have him if we have to follow him
home
"Well, if l must, I must, but you've
got to tend the line, and the others get
into the cockpit out of the way. l
don't want any one killed by this foolish
ness"
''Wc will do as we are told, if it is to
Jump overheard; only strike that fish -
Off came the pilots coat, shoes and
stockings. the anchors are carried aft
everything movable taken from the for
ward deck, and three or four hundred
feet of half inch MANILA rope coiled
there. The jib is hauled down
and carefully l;,Shed The pilot
plants himself upon the bowsprit, with
his heavy pole balanced in his right
hand, his left gathering in a few coils of
the line which he has just attached firm
ly to the harpoon. The hand of the cap
tain is on the tiller, while his eyes follow
every motion of the pilot. Abram stands
by the haliards ready for the expected
order. One of the passengers, with
hands trembling with excitement. holds
,he line prepared to give it turn around
the windlass or his own neck. as he may
be instructed. The other two sit with
the rifles on the top of the cabin, equally
ready to jump overheard or down among
the coils of line, according as the one or
the other gives promise of most excite
ment.
Thod. Crash \ young waterspout
under the bow, line whizzing through
torn and blistcred fingers
Down maiusail. Give that line a turn
round the windlass. Hard down Your
helm. Catch that pole" Bat everything
cannot be done at once The line has Il
double turn around the windlass; the
tloop is already plowing the water in the
poon pole is fifty yards astcrn. Into the
Ekiff tumblcs one of the party, and. pull
ing vigorously, soon RECEIVERS the pole
TO turn is less easy, and when, after a
long pull. cur friend is within forty Yards
of the sloop, the monster, suddenly chang
ing his course, swims strai ght for the lit
tie boat. For moment the occupant
Contemplatcs the sport OF the chase from
an unusual standpoint flor a mani, but
happily his boat is barely touched by one
of the great wings of the gigantic "sea
bat, and he soon finds himself safe land
warm) on board. Back comes the fish,
and casual blow makes our craft shiver
from stem to stern, and suggests that we
owe much to III" Ignorance OF our prey.
Somebody's rifle cracks. and the spout
ing blood and crimson wake promise to
our lneXpeTlence the approaching termi-
nation Of our resistance. and consequent
Iy of sport. But neither one bullet nor
the score that follow it avail in the di-
rection of our anticipations Deeper
and deeper swims the fish. now probably
forty feet below the surface. but straight
mt into the gulf and with increasing We
Iocity. The occupants OF II pleasure
stitLt W MIN w" piss gay Will WpUttcr
upon sloop bowling along against wind
and wave without sail set The wind
is increasing; waves rising; hours pass
ing The weight of three men is con-
Etantly on the line hauling in as opportu-
nifty offers, paying out as the vagarics of
the fish demand
Our captain, after glance in the di-
rection of the now invisible shore and
another toward some fast gathering
clouds, incidentally observes, THAT
devil fish is bound for Mexico"
''Then so arc we, captain.''
And yet something must be done. To
openly suggest cutting the line would ex-
pose one to the risk of assassination.
So another turn of the line around the
windlass, the bars inserted, and the
sloop walked up toward the fish until the
parting of one of the strands Of the rope
warns lis we must draw the line of me-
chanical force somewhere.
But now the back of the monster is
again seen near the surface and some
thirty feet beyond the bowsprit. Another
harpoon is hastily prepared, another
thud, furry. and renewed excitement.
Now we have two lines on the win,llaSs.
Soon the devil fish is swimming directly
under the bow. but with undiminiShed
energy. A great shark hook is s,,oa ra,t
in his governors mouth lis heavy ,.huiu