Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-03-19
pssu-s OF BANK, FISHERMEN.

Dory Are Lost from the ships.
The present season, owing TO the
prevalence of fogs on the Great Bahhs
or fishing lodges, the sentinel OF tne
Newfoundland coast. has been remark
able for more driftaway fishermen
than any year during the past decaae.
The shipping records OF the colohy
show a atotalof 94 of these men lanaeu
in colonial ports up to July 81 inc
first three months OF the tlshlnS pc
riod. They are always in pairs TWO
men to dory, fiat bottomed, hght
riding boat especially built to breast
the surges on the Banks.
This represents Al boats, and that
Is roughly one for every two days Oh
the fishing. Besides these there Is the
great number who never are hearu OIL
again, their dories being swampeu'
This is the chief disaster which threat
ems them, and it leaves them no saliva
ton. A. dory never swamps when sne
is light, that is, empty; when she Is
heavy Qaden with fish q comber VIII
strike her and boat and men Will go
down like stones. Sometimes, how
ever, the boat is merely capsized, ana
then the occupants, if they can, clam 4
ber on the bottom and remain there
till rescued, or till the relentless sea
claims them for its own.
A remarkable case was reported re-
Gently. William Johnson and David
Hawkins of the schooner Mems had
their dory capsized and got on her bot
tom. There they remained all evening
and night, but next morning HAWKINS
was stricken and slid into the water.
1t is a dangerous business to get on
and off these boats in mid ocean, but
Johnson contrived to place Hawkins
once more in comparative safety. But
it was only for a short time. Within
an hour the poor fellow rolleo OIL
again, crying Save me-" His mate
saw he was beyond saving, for he died
almost as he was swept into the sea-
but he determined to save the BODY. he
fastened it to the boats headrope and
there it remained until he was res
cued at eventide by boat from an
other vessel, when he insisted thal the
body be taken with him, where 1t war
preserved with ice and salt until the
shin reached land and he could give 1t
burial.
These bankmen are most daring ana
venture north into Belle Isle strait al
most before the winter ice floes are
broken up. Two other fishers. Henry
Davis and Joseph Carroll or the
schooner Petunia, fishing in that To-
cality were brought to shore a fort
night ago, having been five days adrlft
without food or water. They were at
tending to their travis or lines some
distance from their ship when they
got enmeshed in the foes. Fog also
enveloped them, and the decomposing
ice masses caused greater danger than
the seas. For their frail craft would
be helpless against blow from the
Jagged, unruly fragments tossing about
and in the icy tumble of seas lay no
hope of safety.
They drew their little boat onto the
surface OF the largest mass within
reach, and on this they floated about
for three days. They had not NOR
sci to eat, and the ice was so saturated
with salt spray that they dared not
use it to cool their thirst. They
gnawed their leather belts, and on the
fourth day, being carried toward the
land launched the boat again and
tried to reach it. They did get part
way, but the wind fell, their sail was
worthless, and they were too weak to
row. The fourth day they lay help
less and almost dying in the bottom of
the boat, but during the afternoon were
deserted and rescued by a passing yes
sci bound for Labrador which landed
them at the most convenient harbor
as she passed by.
Two others, Daily and Clarens from
the schooner Niagara, losing their ves-
sci in a storm on the outer edge of the
Banks, and knowing that she was driv-
en- south beyond their reach, resolute-
ly determined to make for the shore.
Having no sail they had to row the
whole distance, 120 miles. They spent
three days and nights doing 1t, during
which time they had nothing to eat but
a few fresh fish lying in the boats
bottom, their only drink being a quart
of water in two bottles.
Many other cases like this could be
cited, but the most hazardous ventures
with the sea are merely daily routine
with these people.-Chicago Record
| Herald.