Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-08-13
JAKE LURvEy's ESCAPE.
story OF a Grand Banks Fisherman
A Hard and Dangerous Life.

Story offs Grand Banks Ftsherman-
A Hard and Dangerous Life.
"No, SIR" said Jake Larvey, OF Colts
island, who was Ia Bangor this week tor
the first time In twonty-three years, TO
Bangor Se,es man; "no, sir, there's no
man sfioat as has such bard time OF IL as
those " no go to the Grand Banks after
nsh. I've sailed in everything from a
four nnasted coal schooner to sarcine
sloop, I've made eight trips TO the banks,
and claim TO know something sbut II.
"It aln't that man lives poorer or gets
treated any worse; It's the work itself,
and the danger OF it. l contend there
amt any more dangerous occupation
connected with the sea than going to the
banks, and 1 guess the record OF the
schooners lost in the past twenty i've
years, With all on board, viii bear me out.
There aln't hardly q home along the coast
but what has lost one or more CT its men
folks up on the banks.
Years ago. when the crew used to go
shares With the captain and owners on
the profits of the voyage, there used to
| be some money in the business for the
common sailor, and many man has
earned enough to buy little house and
settle down comfortable like out OF the
proceed. OF few lucky trip,.
'It's all different nov, though. Now
adays The etex Is shipped for 80 much Tor
the trip. IL don't make any difference
whether they come back TO port with a
hold full, or With only few hundred
weight. They get their wages just the
same-and not hing more. The seaman
no has an idea Of going to the banks
and making good thing out OF 1t these
times had better stay ashore. He'll earn
more money, and his chances OF living to
enjoy IL are better, too.
My last trip to the banks cured me
| OF ever wanting to go again, and the very
sight OF a banker makes me almost sick
now. We'd been up there for about
two weeks and was almost ready to start
back for Gioaeester when We were run
down In the fog one night by some big
liner. / never found out her name, for
she didn't even slow her engines down
for an instant, but kept right on as
though she hadn't just sent eight men
and a stauneh q little schooner as sailed
to kingdom come.
The whole thing happened so quickly
that there wasn't any chance to warn the
| men below. They were drowned like rats
| i'm a trap. Only me and another man at
the W heel with me got awsy. We hap
pened to come to the surface near one OF
the dorles, " hich was floating top side up,
and we managed TO crawl aboard, more
dead than alive, for our heavy rubber
boots and oil skins nearly dragged us
down.
1.-THE next four days were the most
awful that ever spent, bat Others just
like 'em stare the bank fishermen In the
face every day Of their lives. The fog was
thick enough to chop with an axe the
night our schooner went down, and
when morning came it seemed to shut
in even thicker. We found seven sea
biscuit and about two quarts OF warm
brackish water In jug In the dory, and
that was all we had TO eat and drink for
four blessed days.
aAlong about O'Clock on the afternoon
| OF the fourth day we were picked up by
honneward bound banker and taken 70
| Gloucester.
ssThat was my last trip to the banks.
swore then I'D never take another and
haven't" -
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