The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-09-30
THE IsHMAELITE.
How nm Atlantic Coast Fishing
Schooner Got IA bad Reputn-
ton and kent IL.


She had large crew, <abnormally
large hawse pipes, and bad reputa-
tion--the last attribute born of the
first. Registered as the Rosebud, this
innocent name was painted on her
stern and on her 16 dories; but she
was known among the fishing feet as
the Ishmaelite, and the name fitted her.
Secretive and unfriendly, she fished
alone. avoiding company, answered
few halls, and, seldom filing her hold.
disposed of her catch as her needs re-
quired, in out-of-the-way ports, often
as far south as Charleston. And she
usually left behind her such bitter
memories OF her visit as placed the
last port at the bottom Of her list of
markets.
No ship chandler or provision dealer
ever showed her receipted bills, and not
few of them openly averred that csr-
tain burglaries of their goods had
plausible connection with her presence
in port. BE that as ii may, the fact
stood that farmers on the coast who
saw her high bow and unmistakable
hawse pipes when she ran in for bait,
invariably double-locked their barns
and chicken coops, and turned loose all
tied dogs when night descended, often
to find dogs and chickens gone in the
morning.
Once, too, three small schoorers had
come home with empty holds, and COM
planned of the appearance, while an
chored in the fog, OF fotlla Of dories
manned by masked men, who overpow-
cred and locked all hands in cabin or
forecastle, and then removed the car
goes OF fish 10 their own craft, hidden
in the fog. Shortly after this the Ish-
maelite disposed of n large catch in
Baltimore, and piracy was believed OF
her, but never proved.
Her luck at finding things was re-
markabe. Drifting dories, spars, oars
and trawl-tubs sought her unsavory
company, as though impelled by the in
animate perversity which had sent
them drifting. They were sold in port
or returned 10 their owners, when paid
for. In the early part of her career she
had towed whistling buoy into Bos-
ton, and claimed salvage of the govern
ment, showing her log-book to prove
that she had picked it up far at sea.
The salvage was paid; but as her repu-
tation spread, there were those who de-
cayed that she had sent il adrift her
self
AS poets and sailors believe that ships
have souls, ii may be that she gloried
in her shame, like other fallen crea-
&c, Io,.o eli
hawse pipes and boot-top stripe gave a
fine oriental sheer to her face-like bow,
and there was slur and insult TO re-
sI.cctable craft in the lazy dignity with
which she would swash through the
fleet on the port tack, compelling YES
sells on the starboard tack to give up
their right OF way or be rammed; for
she was a large craft, and there was
menace in her solid bowspritb boom, as
thick as an ordinary mainmast. An
outward-bound coasting schooner, re-
senting this lawlessness on one occa-
sion, attempted To assert her rights,
and being on the lawful starboard tack,
bore steadily down on the lshmaelite,
| who budged not n quarter-point, and
/ losing heart at the last moment luffed
/ up all shaking in just the position TO al
/ low the ring of her port anchor 10 catch
on the bill of the Ishmaelte's star
board anchor. AS her ring-stopper and
/ shank-painter were weak, the patent
windlass unlocked, and the end Of the
cable not secured in the chain-locker,
the Ishmaeute walked calmly away
( with the anchor and hundred fathoms
OF chain, which, at the next port, she
sold as Legitimate spoil Of the sea-
Morgan Robertson. in Century.