Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
RODE THE STURGEON.
gsrlin HaWkins'S Thrilling Experience
On James River, al Richmond.
,,,r MIC FISH OWED WITH MN.
rho sportsman'- Hands Being '"S'
,n The ellis Of the Sturgeon lie
5000 Ride That Threat
encd Hts Life.

~ writes the hcht'."'
,',,a,,,g jntcres;,ug letter containing
..,,,srences that VII be especially en-
- hv the older readers Of the DIS
patch: .,.. o., r,rar,sfor,
,.-i.ht and beautiful Roads
. ,bo skies were clear and a
- ll.w from the south sug-
,ost,vc OF spring. Ia social circles IN ana
-. the oh capital the Gay was
..c.,,, as being the nipety-hrst an
.....-s,-y Of the birthday OF our highly
., citizen. the venerable Or. }.
In Hawkins. widely and favoFably
-, I'm both Kentucky and Virginia.
,.,oi. PREPARATION for the event had
&c.. ,,ale hy his osiimable daughter
and granddaughter. and soodly num-
h.r OF guests were present Among
,r.se were several attorneys anf phssi-
o..re officers Of his church, with the
....or and members Of the family from
"a distance. The Doctor met his guests
,,t ou the ample grounds in front
and after cordial greetings, showed them
irf, the parlors We found him hale
and hearty and IN as fine spirits as ne
has been for many years. He entere'
chccrily into the discussion of all cur
r.rt events. and I'm an matters that re-
l.tol in any way 10 history he easily
took the lead. a finer memory cannot
,.-.ihlv be found. As 60 many ihihAH
,.rniaine 10 Virginia and Kentucky pom
Tics 70 forty or fifty years ago, or CON
coming many Of the oldest families, the
Doctor IS "A living encyclopaedia. NtltheF
nas he forgotten his Latin ana Greek,
which once he taught in the schools OF
virginia. hut could down most any OF
-. Younger fellows on classic reference
or a quotation from the Greek New Tesla
wfut
rOt-NpING OF RICHMOND COLLEGE.
cas- 90 his connection with the early
movements that resulted In the found
ir- az Richmond College. and of his ser
vices as cork Of the Kentucky Senate
10Y twenty-five years mention has al
ready been made boo these columns. But
,hcre are stil many other facts con-
n,ofel with his long life that Will be OF
Interest to the. historian. lie is n di-
rect descendant 81 Sir John Hawkins,
ahn was the leading African slave-dealer
r the reign Of Queen Elizabeth, and
Q.fh whom the Queen had interests I'm
n.ueht the first slaves TO America. John
Havkns. the grandfather Of our
Doctor came 20 America I'm about l1i2.
and. settled with his sisters I'm Hanover
-ugrty. Va. lie was commissary- general
NJ fhe United States army, being APP
pointed by Patrick Henry. then Gov
ernor OF Virginia, and 1t was by his
xerfiors that Washngton's army was
prevented from disbanding at Valley
Forge for want Of food.
Among the many incidents Of the
olden time that interest us now, the
Doctor tells OF one that happened in
James river AT the falls by Richmond.
an the year 1719 He assures us that
many Of the leading citizens Of Rich
mond at that time were eye-witnesses
to the fact. and that he had 1t straight
from them
RODE TIE STURGEON.
cot was concerning Martin Hawkins,
an uncle Of the Doctor. This uncle was
ga great hunter and fisherman. In those
d1ys James river was Well-stocked with
shai IN Nav they came UP from the
rc8. and hundreds Of people, fond Of the
sport would assemble on the rocks in
md-stream. along the falls. and with dip
nets would supply themselves with all
they. wanted. our hero was at his post
watching for catch. when along came
an immense sturgeon, and stopped 70
ruh his sides against the. rock. according
fn the habit Of surgeons when Mr..
Hawkins concluded that II he could only
ct his hands into the gills Of the mon
stcr he might succeed I'm landing him.
Accordingly. he crept 10 the side Of the
rock. stopped over. and began rubbing
ihc sides of the fish near the tail, and
proceeded quietly up towards the head.
until az last the Eills We're reached.
lWhlt bounties would be paid FOR the
thrill ~ such a moment in these days)
With "a sudden thrust the hands were
sent home 10 the very inner Jaws Of
tn- h.h. when 10 gave a lurch that ierked
fae fisherman from his rock He fell
aul- fhe fshs back. but his hands
were held as In "a wise. For a moment all
was surprise ana interest, then both fish
ana rider sank I'm the deep. roaring waters
Of fno food The spectators were aghast
with frrft They thought their friend
Ns .0t Nut. after few moments Ssh
ana fisherman came 20 the surface about
u" varl down the river. and remained
't ihr surface long enough 10 breathe,
fh'n sank again. a moment later they
i.s. again. and then again and again.
the waters rapidly bore them away.
hey rassed under MayO's bridge, half
rIe from The starting point
SIEURED FOR THE SANDBAR.
People along the shore became excited,
AMI gave chase as hest they could. In
t'e moan time the fish vas being exhaust
Cd AVID The rider had discovered il. and
-Hu t1 try 10 steer for sandbar then
little way below them. This he reached
slcoo ssfuly. And here. after a struggle
he dragged his trophy ashore on the
'hestcrhc.d side Of the river, and on
ID - "a fFn IN 90
n. Richmond was then small town,
ana I'm little time this strange adventure
was known 10 every inhabltant An oya-
t.n fe lowed. The fish, which measured
I'm feet and weighed 300 pounds, was
served up In a manner TO suit every
Taste and the r'-ht that followed this
Cpl ode was sp. In high glee, and the
o.tmguished nturer was ever after
NNitr known = Martin Hawkins. the
sturgeon Rider. This gentleman died, in
hs '9d year. az the residence of a friend.
l'Alid Burton. about. ten miles west or
i...im9nd lie had gone there on a
leli and was stricken with pneumonia.
Iiln which ne never recovered. At his
quest De- was buried I'm the family bury
fifound or the residence. known then.
now oy the name Of Springfield Coal
30 aiter sumptuous dinner and a
way or oehshtful conversation. the guests
cropped away. greatly refreshed
o." 'hAi gives character 10 fine social
e,T, '.'"Niw that N. good old man Is
...t ~ To be with as, and bearing.
. OF ut, an invitation 10 be present
- year H. go me goodness or the
amer ne shah bee spared 10 veicome
a. 9i-aAins o. the future. The venerable
, ,taH sssuie- us that his work ls done.
me- me- why ne iarrles So long here Is a