The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-07
sTRUGGLE WITH 4 BIG TtRPON.
A Rare story, In which Woman Boy Tar
non. and Porpoise Figure.

Nrs Richard Talbot had an experience
with a tarpon in the Gulf, near this town.
lac, week., such as rarely falls to the iot
Of a woman. In company with her nus
ia and son. Willie a lad or tweiVe
years. she was on the peach al 1ei va -,
eqgs ana after securing quantity OF
,bor, sbe and Willie sat down on the
sa',1 a. r.stch a school OF porpoises IN the
bre.kers and await tho return OF MI
Talbot Who had gone further up the
beach. .oa..~
Noticing the fish were coming nearer
the shore and creating An unusual eoul-
motion I'm the water, they became 500 800
,vha+ excited when 10 their astoiiSn-
nent a wave larger than the others lahu-
Ell a monster tarpon on the sahd' anu
receding, left a. there with hotnine
its tail in tho water. on TINS a nus ~,
poise was chewing and trying 70 haui -
back. a.. Enc
Mrs. Talbot. having a hoe, ran TOT 'ie
FISH and landed n blow on the porpoise
head which caused it 10 let 80 JUS hol1 anu
take to the water.
Refnn in the poultry business ana Know
Ing the value Of such a tarpon Tor chleh-
en- food. Mrs. Talbot went at once ABOUT
securing H. as its tired and bruised con-
dition showed that sc was nearly dead.
Sending Willie 10 the boat for a rope,
Mrs. Talbot. after looking over the sllu-
alton. concluded that another wave might
carry IL off again. She decided 10 take
il BIZ the tail and IL possible turn IL
around, thus getting it higher on the
beach.
she remembers distinctly taking hold
Of tie nsh's tail. Tho next she knew
she was I'm the Gulf with several por-
~ IA. NfTIlfk her FOOT
JIM its effort TO seize her Luckily Tor
Mrs Talbot who cannot swim, d big
wave came on al that time and landed
her on the beach beside the tarl en-.
The lad having by this time arrived
with the rope. they tied one end securely
around the tarpon's tail and attempted
TO haul IL up. but as 10 was too heavy
for them 10 move in that way. Mrs. Tai
bot told Willie TO take the rope about mid
way and pull. and she would give the
end OF IL a hitch or two around her arm.
so as not TO let il go. while she would
try again 10 turn 80 by taking IL by the
tail. The program me up TO that point
was carried out 10 the letter. But just
as they thought they were about 10 move
the fish 10 gave "a sudden founce and into
the Gulf Mrs Talbot went second time
and the tap0n with her she al one end
Of the rope ana a iafpon Nrslhhs lo'
pounds at the other end. with a hoy
twelve years old holding the middle OF
the rope on shore.
once in the water the fish seemed 10
take on new life. and would have proha-
bly, carried Mrs Talbot 10 sea but for
the fortunate arrival OF Mr.. Talbot on
the scene, just as The lad was about 10
Jet go the rope.
They both bv the add q a heavy swell.
succeeded In landing the pair again. The
farpon was a fine specimen, but was
badly bitten and bruised by the porpoises.
Tho TalbOts came to this place last
winter from Wisconsin. and have often
expressed "a wish to catch tarpon for
the sport and fun OF 10. and also 10 get
the fine scales 20 send North 10 friends.
Mrs. Talbot says tsrpon catching IS cxcit-
ing but just where the Fun comes I'm she
fails to see.-Jacksonville Nla.) Times
Union.