Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-08-01
HE CAUGHT AN EEL.
Good Luck Attended Negro Who Was
 Fishing for Another Man.

Good Luck Attended 8 Negro Who Was
 Fishing for Another Man.
 Among the crowd of spectators watching q knot of fishermen on the Troy line pier the other morning, was an elderly Afro-American, who wore an antiquated plug hat. a long linen duster and pensive look. He was waiting for the boat for Haverstraw, and from his occasional comments on the ill luck of the fishermen it was evident that he knew a thing or two about entrapping the fnng tribe, al though it subsequently, was developed that he wasn't an adept at unlocking his catch.
 Not even a nibble had agitated the lines for half an hour, and the man and brother occasionally vented his disap- proval of the piscatorial procedures with a vigorous 'humph. Finally one of the anglers wandered across West street to pilot schooner across q bar to eapacious haven, relinquishing his line to the disgusted gentleman of color.
 Instantly smile overcrept his fea- lures. He quickly set down his bag and umbrella, pulled his plug hat over his ears and slowly drew one of the lines out of the water. Then hestripped the hook, took fresh worm from the bait can. slapped it three times between his hands, slipped it on the hook. spat on it three times and tossed it over- board exclaiming three times:
 'Cudgy, eudgy, eudgy.a
 Whats that?" asked fat fisherman sitting near by.
 That's medicine answered the son of Ham, adding contemptuously You just wait.
 The crowd waited expectantly The medicine was good for in less than five minutes the colored man yanlxed a big blue eel to the surface and flung him with flop on the pier behind him.
 What did tell you?" whooped the black man exeitedly Seems to me you people don't know nothin' bout catchin' eels.
 You ain't got him yet. He's getting away. yelled the crowd.
 The eel, which seemed all muscle and resolution, was not accepting capture passively. He twisted and wriggled about like a snake, and was rapidly nearing the edge of the pier when the darlSey jumped mp and clutched him.
 It was a good attempt, as the polo grounds cranlls say, but resulted in 8 clean huff and the crowd promptly gave the player an error while it ap- plauded the eel for possible home run or slide Then the Afro-American buclzled in for an uphill game. With q mighty bound. he leaped into the air and swooped down upon the writhing form of Mir. Anguilla Vulc aris, with determination shooting from his eye and perspiration dripping from his fore head.
 For minute or two eel stock took 8 tumble, but went up again, when the vicinity became filled with eel, Afro American. fish-line, pole, plug hat, duster and baitbox in hopelessly con fused mass that resembled nothing quite so much as an animated Thomp- son street Laocoon for one.
 The colored mans eyes bulged until they seemed likely to fall out as he saw the eel slowly but surely slipping from his grasp dock man came to hls rescue and cut off the cells head with knife. This ended the struggle, and as the colored man walked over to his boat his pensive look returned and he sagely remarked
 Its easy enough to catch eels, but it takes more'n medicine to hang on to em. n-N. '. World.