The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-06-17
DRAGGED ny A CATFISH.
A Delaware River .'Carty, Nearly Causes
the Denth OF Tishorman.

We clip the following article from the
Weekly State OF Richmond Va:
Dwight Corfon, of Walkerville. Md,
had lively tusse with monster catfish
in the Delaware River. noar Morris Island,
last Friday.
"Corson is crank on fishing, and. when
not at work. may be found In his boat on
the Delaware angling for anything that
happens to take shine to hi5 bait.
About sundown last Friday he was
fishing with what is called bottom
grab" which means q line so long that the
bait may go to the bottom OF the river.
He hadn't had much sport. The fish ne
was after didn't appear to be hungry. and,
fixing the hlb loop at the end of the line
over his head. Corson sat down on tine
bottom OF the boat and prepared to take
1t easy.
He had a email bottle In hls inside poclt.
ct and no took alp or two from 1t. which
had the effect of making him drowsy,
and he fell asleep How long his nap
lasted Corson doesn't know. He was
suddenly awakened by yank at the line
which might have come from whale.
The line looped around his neck, cut into
the flesh, and had tho side of the boat not
prevented, Corson would have been
dragged overheard ...--
lie grabbed the line and began to pull
on 1t, but there was no give to 1t. On tue
contrary the tension on 1t was Increased.
and to the tisherman's amazement, the
lively rate.
Coison didn't know what sort OF crea.
ture he had hooked but he was cuflous
to find out, and made up his mind that he
would stay through the game II IL lasted
all summer.
With this resolution he laid hold OF the
line with both hands. and bracing his feet,
sci back In the boat. The boat kent on
aud the line was fairly Kissing through
| the water.
Jake Kite and Eph Chapman were on
the shore and trolling for pickerel. Cor.
| son saw them and shouted for help. The
| men saw something was wrong. and, get
ting into boatput chase to Curson. Row
| as hard rs they might, they were unable
| to gam on the flying boat.
The situation was getting serious, for
the power that was hauling Cor5on's
| boat headed straight for the falls, and 1t
was an easy bet that, il the craft got into
thnt water, 1t would be smashed on the
rocks.
Corson saw that he was getting into dam
ger. and he tried 10 slip the loop over his
head. but he was unable to slacken the
| line enough to do so. Ills knife. which
he had used In cutting the bait he stuck
| In the rail OF the boat In the commotion
| II had been knocked overheard.
The falls are broad. swift and ehaliow
| Only the most expert is able TO pass them
safely and Corson knew IT. He howled
at the two men to hurry up and they did.
but they couldn't catch up with Corson
and to saws themselves from the falls they
were obliged 20 give up the chase.
CorsoD's craft through the combined
| power Of the thing on the line ard the
current soon was going ct railway speed
| aud II WAS not long before he dashed into
the rapids. Tho boat hadn't gone more
than half dozen times Its length. wnen
| IL struck q rock and went over.
Corson would probably have been
drowned had affairs not taken the turn
they did. Near the spot where tho boat
capsi2eu were two boulders. and sudden.
Iy II huge black body sbot between them
ard became firmly lodged there.
IL was All imlnensA catfish, and 1t lashed
the water wildly In Its efforts to get away.
The fish mad Corsons hook In Its mouth
and by holding fast TO the line the fisher.
mar was able to haul himself out OIL a
rock. from which he WAS hauled ashore
by rope let down to him from point
upstream.
The catfish was captured. and 1t weigh.
ed ons hundred and sixty pounds-the
largest ever caught In the Delaware
River, IL Is said.