The Washington times., 1894-08-26
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.

Senator Caffery, of Louisiana, was reclining
quietly in one of the great leather-covered
chairs in the ante-chamber to Secretary Car
isles room in the Treasury Department yester-
day morning, gazing out at the Washington
Monument, when in came Senator Villas. They
exchanged salutations, and Senator Gallery, in
response to n kindly query from Senator Villas
as to his health, replied that he was not feeling
very well. 'Come, off with me to the north
ern part of Wisconsin for a week, said Mr..
Villas. "We will get into cool, invigorating
climate, where your blood will fairly tingle.
If you say so, we will find spot where the
water will freeze in your pitcher over night.
"Ughl" shuddered Senator Gallery, at the
thought; 81 do not want TO go anywhere
where the thermometer goes below 20 degrees.
No. prefer going TO the Hot Springs for while
and SO be getting nearer home ali the time"
Better come along" continued Senator
Villas. you'll get some good tramping, some
shooting, and some flshlng-yes, he added,
meditatively, "some very good trout-fshing."
The magic word had been spoken. 1t was
now to be a close contest between the two in
the size of their respective flsh-stories.
Speaking about fishing, said Mr.. Caffery,
Il imagine we can give you good deal bet
ter sport in that line than you can give us.
Do you know the tarpon? Well the tarpon
is big fish, over six feet long, and affords
first rate sport. The only way to capture one
is to wait till he has swallowed your nook.
He is a mighty deceptive fellow, and will
hold it in his mouth good while before he
devours it just to see whether there is any
little game in the proceeding. After you
have hooked him you have to run, run, run,
miles If need be, so as not to give a chance to
disgorge his hook. 1t is royal sport, bur you
have to look out that he don't snap your line,
too. 1 spent TWO hours in capturing one not
long ago, and that was dong pretty well.
by the way, he added, was nearly killed
once by tarpon.
Indeed, said Mr.. Villas. "Yes. You
know they are great fellows for jumping.
Well, this one, weighing about 100 pounds,
jumped over my boat, and as he went through
the air he struck me on the shoulder and
nearly knocked me overheard. 1t was
an awful blow, and had a very narrow es-
cape. 1t took me some time to recover.
1t was now Senator Villas turn. "Yes, he
said. the tarpon is a great fish, but don t
believe the kind you have in Louisiana are
the ones l mean. Why, on the Florida coast
we have them very much larger. But l
landed one weighing 140 pounds and over six
feet seven inches long in thirteen minutes"
"Whew" calculated Senator Caffery in sur
prise. Then he added, after pause, what
did your tarpon look like? Has he large
mouth, no fins, and big, white scales all over
about as large as a dollar?"
what kind of dollar?" asked Mr.. Villas.
"A silver dollar, Of course, was Mr.. CAT
fery's smiling reply.
Yes, yes added Mr.. Villas, shuddering
inwardly AT such an unspeakaby wicked
thing as a silver dollar, that's the fish.
Aren't they dangerous felows?"
Then, he continued: "Well, am not sur
prised to hear that you were nearly killed by
one. One time off the Florida coast, this hap
pened to my certain knowledge. A boy and
a man were out tarpon fishing in boat forty
feet long, and all OF a sudden a small fish
jumped out OF the water, followed by big
tarpon-a very big one. We'll. the tarpon hit
the man, knocked him clean out Of the boat
into the water and fell struggling back into
boat itself. The boy first went to the mans
rescue and then whacked the tarpon over the
head with an oar and killed him.
"Whew'' again, calculated Mr.. Caffery.
| Then he asked after a pause, 'but you say
the boat was forty feet long?"
Yes, but of course, the fish only jumped
across 1t.
Il see. said Mr. Caffery.
well said Mr.. Villas that's true story,
assure you, for l saw soon after a man who
had eaten a part of the tarpon."
Just then trusted messenger brought in
word that the Secretary could see them, and
the fish stories passed into history.
The next caller was Senator Harris As he
came through the corridors OF the Treasury
he had received the salutations of all the
prettiest Treasury clerks and the low salaams
of all the colored messengers. He quietly
walked in and sat down.
well. Senator, how are we using you up
here?" asked a clerk. The venerable Tenn
aessee Senator had evidently come for some
appointments.
4 don't know yet," replied Mr. Harris
thoughtfully. You talk all right, but |
don't see that l am getting the appointments
! can't tell you how I've been treated until
these are settled" Then the Senator dropped
his voice and talked in a low tone of voice
for a while
Pretty soon, apparently getting tired of
waiting. he raised his voice to his Senate
pitch and said, II say is Carlisle too busy to
see a fellow to-dav?" ''Oh, he'll see YOU in a
minute;" which the Secretary speedily did,
and then the Tennessee Senator, with very
satisfied smile, went out to take one of
his usual drives behind 'old Bob his Ten
nessee PAGER, no doubt to enjoy himself for
the rest of the day by chasing the insolent
bicyclers who get in his way and harass and
impede his progress