Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-28
ONE THAT'LL MAKE YOUR HAIR
STAND ON END.
A MOMENT WHEN HISTORY WAS
MADE FAST.
Wild Leap OF a Giant Tarpon
Squarely Through a Jib Sail-How
the Monster Outgeneraled his Ad-
~versaries and Fouled Their Tiller-
A Thrilling Escape.

ing Wisconsin 1 had made a VOW to
capture a tarpon during this winters
soJourn or perish in the attempt, and
so wife and / started out in OUT little
sloop, with a fair east wind from the
ocean, while the tide was ebbing.
Scarcely a cloud was in sight-an
ideal Florida day, with the sky so
blue the sea water fairly turned green
with envy. / remarked: To-day we
conquer!" We had a good, strong hand
line, baited with a twO-pound live
mullet. We Saliled down the river
some distance and back by the inlet
u had started ON a return trip when
the line commenced to run out. My
wife was holding it, but as the end
was securely fastened to a hook near
the bow she d~iscreetly let go her
hold. l was fearful we had hooked "a
shark, as there is just hog enough
about their natures to enjoy the labors
OF others, but in a few minutes our
captive gave a quick turn and jumped
lear out of the water, it's %glistening
sides proving THAT we had a tarpon.
Such leaping and spurts of speed;
only those who have been an eye
witness to the capture of one of these
justly-named silver kings can fully
realize the wonderful power displayed
by the fish. Our ifteen-foot boat was
actually being flowed by the creature.
What fun we were having! visions of
all those bright scales to distribute
81 ,nu,~ .A,1, f,;l ,,hI ,1, -,a..1I 1t.---
it mounted so we could prove it's size.
AS it is going up the river l come-about
and enjoy the race-not for long, as the
restraint is too much for it's indie
pendent nature-darting first to the
left, now to the right, straight ahead
once mOre-taking all our alertness to
keep up with its m~anoeuvres. My wife
divides her time looking after the jib
and d~isentangling the line as his royal
highness cavoorts about, while with
one hand on the tiller and the other
holding the sheet, 1 bring up the pro-
cessiOn. Suddenly our captive wheeled
about and came directly toward US.
We let off the jib and stand breath
leSSly waiting, When-great Scott! just
before reaching our BOAT the fish gave
a mighty leap and went Through our
jib-sail, cutting the heavy canvas like
SO much paper. The shock nearly
keeled us over, but we found the only
loss was the jib. The mainsail being
all right we followed our avant-coureur
down the river. The proper thing to
have done would be to hang back and
tire the creature out, but history
was being made too fast to think just
then.
Our shining steed proceeded quite
pCaceably Until opposite the inlet,
when it stops, making a complete circle
around our boat, winding the fish line
so tightly about the rudder that it
made me quickly realize our helpless
ness, for now the fish is heading di-
rectly down the channel in the inlet.
We had often been warned by people
living here that it was dangerous to
ALLOW a small boat to go too near the
inlet during the return tide. "a the sea
backs up the water in the river at least
forty miles, and as it comes sweeping
back through the marrow space again
the channel resembles Niagara below
the FALLS. We had sailed past the
inlet many times without experiencing
any trouble, but now, without a .Jib
and the rudder fast, we commenced
to realize our position. The tide
seemed to be at it's worst and it took
all my strength and tact trying to keep
the boat from swamping. No more
,t11ttnpsI1llor y1jSiODS nyr lph1ys only
thought being II escape falling victims
to this fSh's maneuvres.
AS | stood for a moment daZed, there
occurred one of those rare cases of
courage and presence of mind that go
to prove the ''weaker SEX to be a
misnomer-that they are on the con-
trary our superiors by a long way in
all that's brave and good. What does
that brave little wife of mine do but
slip her hand i'm my pocket, pull out
my knife, hang Over the stern of the
boat n after repeated efforts cut
away the line that was binding the
rIldder. Her nerve cause me to think
the letting up of the steady pull from
the fish, and, quickly bringing the boat
around / filled the sail, but saw the
help of the jib would be necessary to
combat the strong current, al
though a heavy wind was blowing in
our favor. Again my more than bet
ter half graSped the situation and came
to the rescue. Slipping off her skirt
She crept out on the bOwsprit, and
in less time that I'm telling it, patched
up the jib, sliding back with the rope
in her hand, and as the jib filled, the
two sails commenced to move the boat
inland. If the wind would only con-
tinue we could regain the river. Dur
hope was short-ived, however, for the
heavy gale combating the strong cur
rent was too much for our mast and it
snapped just below the gaff, leaving
us powerleSS, with no hope of holding
our own. l grabbed the anchor and
heaved it over. Great heavens. the
thing had no mor effect than so much
! cork. We We're being swept irresistably
out to sea, and as we neared the
mouth of the inlet deeper and swifter
became the waters. My brave little
companion, who had done her part 50
robly, sank down on the seat and
looked appealingly to know what else
could be done. Above the o a of the
breakers l could hear my heart beat,
and to add to our fears monster man.
eating sharks. fifteen TO twenty feet