The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-12
a SHOCKING SURPRISE.
Capt. Bob Tells Of Cats Adventur
With an Electric Fish.

Capt. Bob Tells of Cats Adventure
With an Electric Fish.
"My papa says that last story you
told me, Capt. Bob, was not all true"
said Willie, with an air Of surprise on
his bright open face.
"llumph he did, did he?" grunted out
the old captain, who told wonderful
yarns while he objected to having them
questioned
Yes: he said that you must have
made up the story" replied the boy,
rather timidly.
But you don't think the story was
made up, do you?"
Willie looked puzzled. The cunning
captain followed up his advantage by
saying: 81 was going to tell You to-day
real, true story about some electrical
fishes. 1t is even more wonderful than
the last story, which your father says
is not all true. OF course, if you think
my stories are not true, you do not
want to hear it,"
''Do tell me the story, Capt Bob,Y
pleaded the anxious boy.
"Well," said the sly old fellow, as he
lit his pipe and settled back in his easy
chair, ''one day, when we were in an
/ eastern port, gentleman came to me
and wanted to know if he could send
some fishes by my ship on her return
voyage. He wore spectacles, and said
he was IA naturalist.
AT first l objected but he said:
Captain, am very anxious to send
some electric rays to a scientific society,
which is willing to pay you a good
price for them. These rays are peculiar
creatures, and they have power to give
quite strong electric shocks. | don't
think you will have much trouble. All
the fish need IS pure ocean water twice
IL day
IAN right, said l; but mind, we are
not to he held responsible if the fish
die SO, on the morning of sailing, the
electric rays were put into water
barrel, which was braced strongly on
either side on deck. A square hole was
sawed through the slaves on the upper
side in order to give the fish light and air.
Some of the men were rather
skcptical about the rays giving out
| electric shocks that amounted to any
thing | didn't know much about it
then myself; but wasn't going to
try it,
Zone sailor. known as Billy Bow
legs thought he would see just how
strong the electricity was. So, when no
one was looking, he leaned over, put
his hand down into the barrel aud
moved it around in the water until he
caught one of the fish, The instant he
did that, Billy Strengthened up as
though he had been shot. Then he
howlcd aloud OH He felt his right
shoulder and shook his arm to be sure
that both were there and all right.
What's the matter, Billy" inquired
one of the sailors, who came up.
"'Sure, that was an awful blow he
gave mel
"'Who?'
1.-The fellow in there said Billy,
pointing to the barrel.
after this event the sailors were shy
of those electric fish. When one OF
the rays died l had to take it out
myself with heavy glove on my hand,
and even then l felt singing shocks.
We used to roll the barrel on one side
and let the water run out Then we
would fill the barrel with fresh water
ar roll it back. On almost every oc'
cnsion some of us would receive /;
shock.
Now, Tom was a curious fellow; he
was always providing around and polk
ing his nose into places where he hac
no business"
"Who was Tom?"
"Why, he was big, lazy, fec
cat He was great pet with the sail
ors, who used to take him up in the
rigging. After awhile Tom climbed
aloft. and in clear weather he SCENE,
to enjoy it. He was a cunning cat. an'
had a number of tricks both good ant
bad.
Il am sorry to say that Tom was
bold thief. The minute the cooks bacl
was turned he would steal whatever h
could lay his his paws on. One after
noon | noticed the old fellow studying
the water barrel. Then | knew tina
Tom was going to commit larcency
So awaited developments.
Cautiously and lightly the eat pulle
himself up the side of the barrel. The
he peered over the square hole for hal
minute, when he saw one of the eleC
trio fishes. half alive and floating nea
, the surface.
THE temptation was too strong fo
, Toms voracious appetite. All at one
he made quick grab for the fish wit