The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-11-16

the fawl and lmpaleB the Harpooner
Chief Employment OF the Odd DenIzens
OF Block Island.
Some 10 miles off the Rhode Island
shore and almost directly south of
stormy Point Judith is the ragged coast
of Block island, where each resident ia
farmer and fisherman.
AS quaint and old fashioned an ocean
resort as the American coast affords is
Block island. 1t is a miniature world.
in which the customs and habits are
those of $50 years ago Every knoll is
capped with small, one story farm.
house, whose shingled walls are thickly
coated with whitewash, the only wash
that will Withstand the intensely yapor-
GUS, salty air, which melts the contents
Of tho salt cellars on the family tables
into thick, lumpy mass. Some of these
dwellings are $50 years old, and the
"old windmill" was built of lumber
from trees that grew on the island early
in the last century.
Completely isolated in winter from
the rest of the world. they take but lit
tie interest in any except their own con-
Germs A Bible. few books of sea sto-
ries, a weekly newspaper and Daboll's
ancient almanac furnish all the reading
they wish, and stories of hobgobins and
sea wraiths are the gossip of fireside and
forecastle.
Far out on the bowsprit Of each fish
ing schooner there is q little iron band
ed pulpit, where stands the harpoon-
err, harpoon in hand, riding up to his
fearless game. A swift and accurate
whirl into the monsters side. and away
he bounds, furious with rage and pain,
with floating keg attached to the iron
dart by fathoms of rope. The vessel sails
after him like tireless hound on the
trail of a fox, and the marine hunters
have only to keep sight of him until he
has exhausted himself with his mad
rushes through the sea.
When the time comes, however-it
may be in half an hour, and it may be
double that time-for the plucky spears
man to deal tho finishing stroke to the
doughty warrior. then, if ever, hunter
and game meet on fairly even terms.
The harpooner quits tho vessel in
yawl, armed with an ak, spear and club
and pulls his frail craft over the rough
waves to tho side of the dying fish. 1t
, may be that the moribund giant is
breathless and really exhausted. If So
the harpooner has only TO draw up
where is measured his bulky length up
, on the surface of the ocean, plunge his
, sharp spear into heart or brain or deal
T a crushing blow upon the head.
Buff the big fellow be only feinting
there is likely to be trouble. Sulkily and
warily, but motionless, he notes the
: harpooner's advance, and when the lat
ter has driven his boat to point not
t half dozen rods away suddenly the
> great fish arouses himself, shakes the
I lethargy out of his bones and the brine
/ ont of his glimmering eyes, measures
the place of his foe for an instant, and
Q then rushes on him like a whirlwind.
' Rarely does he miss his drive, and the
4 luckless fisherman is impotent to evade
Y it. The fish cleaves the waves with the
speed and fury of warhorse. A sud-
@ den dip beneath the waves. and, lol he
f has gone.
b But the next instant the oarsman,
. leaping into the stern of his boat, hears
d the rush of waters, as of q submarine
f volcano beneath him, and with the sound
Of ripping timbers, long, slender,
g black, hairy rapier is driven through
, the boat from side to side, rs if the lance
y Of galloping Cossack had cleft 1t.
Il Lucky it is, too for the boatman if he
z be not in line with the irresistible
r straight thrust If he is. the sharp bone
v Will pierce him as swiftly and easily as
@ a cook skewers a chicken.
: An exciting encounter with a wound
y ed and maddened swordfish was that OF
Henry Chesebro. He had harpooned the
t big fish from the deck of his sailing YES
is sci, and after waiting the usual length
IT Of time got into his yawl to deal fin
l. ishing blow to the apparently dying fish
d As soon as he approached his captive,
le however, and commenced hauling III his
j. line, the fish suddenly awoke and began
d operations by diving so as to spear the
little craft Missing his aim. the armed
leviathan went under the surface for q
second attack
et 1t was too late for Chesebro to retreat,
"a and utterly defenseless he awaited the
ie onslaught. In a moment the fish shoi
l out of the water, and with deadly ain
e drove his sword completely through th'
W boat 1t entered the craft about three
D. feet from the bow, on the port side, anC
er came out through the thin plank ON the
II starboard side. Chesebro had retreatet
+ TO the stern of the yawl in the nick o.
OF time, and thus escaped being transfixed
lie bis plight was seen from the schooner
; and the vessel headed for the scene. b,
constant bailing Chesebro kept his dis
or aoled boat afioat until succor arrived
v A blow on the head then finished th'
N nsh, which weighed 33S pounds.
at Even moro perilous was the expert
y ence of Captain l.. r. Stadman Of thu
q. smack Bessie Fish. He had speared I
III large fish and went out in his small
as boat to secure the prize While bringing
y him to the surface Stadman was turne.
Do upon like flash by the swordfish, WHIT
IN drove his saber completely through tn
nc bottom Of the dory, it projecting int
III the craft about foot.
s~f ~,