The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-02-08
Florida Letter.

DEAR GRAPHIC-The tourists from
Kansas made Yesterday their largest
catch of fish. They went in the morn
ing down to the pass, nine of them on
the sharpe. [ went in the afternoon
with the Pelican, Jr., to bring part of
them home. They scorned my cour-
tesy, l hailed them, do any of you
want to go home with me?" Reply,
How many fish do you suppose we
have got?" l thought 1 would set
them up little so answered fifty. :"
The answer came back, 1--WE will 90
you ten better, and we are going home
in our own boat" They had sixty
fish, thirty of them blue fish, some
trout, two good sized red fish. III lbs,
jack fish, ETC., but they are getting
they catch-stutfed and baked the red
fish for dinner.
The next day after The big fish catch
Capt. Mac with Merrinan. Barker and
Vince er for IA crew, started for the
head of the bay after duck: wind NJ
w. blowing hard. The ladies con-
cluded to stay at home. After laying
Ii supplies the captain and crew got
Oh board the sharpe. Among other
t MS t e! took on b. ,ard blue flame
stOve-mOre abou. that stove later
Oh.
They started with Teefed foresail but
pulled in under Red Fish Point and
put another reef in foresail and reefed
the main sail. From Red Fish point
it was a straight beat up for ten miles,
blowing hard and sea lively.
They carefully set the blue flame
stove on the floor. When they left the
house they had filled it full of oil.
About u mile above Red Fish Point
the boat caught a heavy puff of wind:
LET go that fore sheet" yelled
Capt. Mack.
Il amt touching your Sheet" hol-
Tered BARKER.
Down went the boat on its side.
Water poured into the cabin windows
and the oil stove, kicking its heels in
glee, rolled over and over on the cab
in floor. That gallon of oil on which
their meals depended was short.
The sharpe is q lively little craft,
and getting to her feet again went
tearing along, riding the seas like a
duck, occasionally one breaking on
her bow, sending a salt water shower
bath over the boat. Capt. Ma :, old
salt rs he is, setting at the helm had
Merryman and Wheeler in trout of
him sheltering him from the breaking
seas. The captain saw three heavy
rollers coming and sent her head first
into them to give the boys good one.
But they were no monopolists and
were willing to give a fair divide, SO
both ducking at the same time, they
let the captain have his
share, and all were as wet as water
could make them.
A little further up the bay, the water
being some smoother, Merryman got
out into the small boat that they were
towing to bale it out. Another flaw
struck the sharpe and down she went
ON her side. Overheard went the
water barrel. Luckily Merryman in
the small boat behind caught it aud
took it in. The only trouble was that
night when they made coffee it was
pretty salt.
Getting up to the head of the bay in !
sheltered water they put out decoys |
aud got four duck, enough for supper,
and now the oil stove came into play.
and played the most of the game.
They did not think of It's roll over
early in the day and lit it up. TWAS
n great success. They no sooner
touched a match to it than it was a |,
mass of fs me. Like the rat, tat. tat
ut drum they called in unison.
.'Tarow itoverboard. ..Catch y blan-
ket. Pull . coverlid.'' Combined
effort finally put it out, aud with b.. ir.