The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-02
APPS FISH STORIES,
NOT HIS OWN EXPERIENCE BUT
WHAT OTHERS TOLD HIM.
The Philosopher Down on the Gulf Where
Fish Abounds-Some of the Stories
Related are " onde rful.

Clear Water, Fla December 2S-We had
mullet for breakfast They good fish
when fresh caught, but get stale and taste
less when shipped far away. J. saw our
host buy these on the wharf-three good
large for nickel, and he seemed to
think he was cheated-said he generally got
them for a cent apiece, but these cool
mornings there wasent much fishing going
on. Next day the weather was more
amable, and two of the boys mode ready
to go out on e nights froc With their
nets. About sunrise we went down on the
wharf to them come In. The boat was
loaded to the guards with mullet, speckled
trout red fish, groupers and founders, num-
bering 1893 in all, and measuring from one
to two feet in length. One of the girls
rugged up her tackle ana caught twenty
three fine ones in half an hour right near
the wharf
The way to tell fish story is to let
the other fellow tell his first-then beat
him if you can; but l haven't had experience
in that line and SO have to confine myself
to the truth. l have listened with amaze
ment at the other fellows down here Our
host was regarded as a truthful man
long as ne lived in Cartersville. lie is
member of the church, and says grace at
the table, but he told me that he had laid
awake at nights listening to the roar of
the mullet they spashed over one an
other in cruising through the waters of the
many waters, and that he had seen them
in schools mile long and quarter of
mile wide, and so thick there Waseni
room for them in the water, and they
had to leap out of it, and it this
ie ping and spIaShing that made the roar
ing noise. He said that boatmen dident
on scursion for so many would jump into
the boat that it would sink it. ''Waren't
that before the war;" said |. "Oh, no."
said he, though L don't believe there are
nr1Ny
L first moved here, about ten years ago, L
saw women so down and wade out a piece
towards the channel and let the mus It jump
into their aprons and petticoats. There's
creek or bayou few miles down che
coast where they run up sometimes in high
tide and when the tide goes down they are
left on the sandy banks by the thousand
and are hauled off by the wagon load for
tertiilzing the orange groves and the gar
dens."
How's that for fishing? The boys have
killed eight tarpons here in few weeks.
They have TO kill them when
found in their nets or they
would tear the net all to pieces.
They use a little harpoon that is uniled
grain. 1t has long pole in the socket
and strong cord attached and 50 when the
fish is struck the pole bounces out of the
socket and the fish is caught with the line.
/ am just n my A Il C'S yet and haven't
fished any, but ! am listening and watching
and in day two will try my hand and,
in course of tir1c, will be able to tell my
yarn. The little girl has little spade
and digs in the sandy beach for fiddlers and
sand crabs and runs away from every one
she throws up.
These people seem to have more time to
frolic than to do anything else. but it beats
baseball football and frOlic that brings
in fish and oysters and sunburnt cheeks is a
good thing. No fear of perishing in this
region with fish at a cent apiece or cheaper
still if YOU are not too lazy to catch them,
and with oyster banks near by and sweet
potatoes for 10 cents a peck and oranges
and bananas for q dessert.
But all is not gold that glitters, is
there perfect serenity for any good thing
in this world. Last evening we called on
Mrs Tate in her beautiful 4l1nle on the
bluff the most charming of all the lovely
residences that overlook the waters of the
gulf | had known Colonel Samuel Tate, of
Memphis, in his life time, and was pleas
a. learn that his widow was l'V.os here
with her SON. It seemed to me that she had
everything that heart could wish. gem of
a house, that EMPOWERED in cha':e,
flowers and fruits, and a fine orange grove
near by. Afte3 a brief visit we took sail
across to the island and on our feiurn saw
her sitting on the veranda looking off
dreamily upon the waters. Soon we
reached our home and found tea was walt
ing for us. While we were enjoying it and
telling of our evenings pleasure, we beard
the cry of fire-that wild, weird cry that
always brings alarm ana breaks Up every
thing in a little town. We hurried froHl
the room to find that Mrs. Tate house
was on fire, and the flames were leaplng
from the windows. E.va,Ypo ly ran who
could run, but it was too late too late. n
whole ocean of VIZ within Il irW steps,
but no way to Use it-Ial thai beautt II
house with nearly Ill of irs furnitU e was
burned to the groull in an hour, and the
trees that had shaded i we're CHARGED and
ruined 1t was the oil story o. Il lamp, a
curtain and Il gentle breeze. The poor WO-
man was led silently q way, sobbul% her grief
as she leaned upon 're arm q n fr u q.
Somebody said that It was comfort TO
know that she was able t. lose it: but
there are some things about a home that
when it is destroyed Cam x be restored or
replaced with money. and this vas Sicn a
case Colonel Tate was much Beloved by
the people of this la.nlat, for he h2d done
much for it and would nave done more PAD
he lived l find that most >, The wealthy
people here are south IRA acs. :lr. Kerr and
Mr.. Phillips are from WtocheSteH, hy.
Colonel Frasier is a prominent lawyer or
Memphis and his dauSl.1't Mrs. I'uyle
a Well-knOWn COntrih ltOr to magazine inter-
ature With perhaos two eTccp ions, the
northerners do not seem to have found this
place. The tide, the swim has all been on
tn other side-the Atlantic coast and ~
dian river. This little peninsula tl43t ~
tends down to st. Petershlrg Nas @''n( st
unknown and inaccessible untd the OlGree-
belt railroad was built 'HIr years aSo
1t is little narrow gauge road thaS HIS
had it's troubles, but is getting out Of them
and is fast bringing TINS lovely gulf coast
into notice. ! intend 10 zee more / II
while in Florida. With good Load ana
lodging for 81 a week and boating ana
fishing for nothing and ish s:ori4s th1oWn
in, | can afford to try 1t n few weeks
BILL ARP.
KISSED HER AND KILLED HER.
A Maniac Draws Razor Across Has
Aife's Throat.
Weston W Va December 30.-The hos