Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-09-15
A GOOD FISH STORY.
Shark lows Boat for Miles After Be-
ina Speared.

ing Speared
Baltimore Americana the state
ment made by passenger on the
steamer Anne Arundel, of the Weems
line, which arrived from Washington
recently is true, lone fisherman off
North Point, who was observed from
the deck of the Weems steamer, had
most remarkable and hafr-raiSing eX-
perience. Harry Bond, an official of
the Weems steamboat company, to
whom the passenger contided the
strange story, said yesterday: Il don't
know the man who told me this yarn,
and of course, | cannot vouch for its
authenticity. But, lie or no lie, think
that the yarn is one of the strangest
to which ! ever listened. The fellow.
who was a comparatively young man,
and who said he lived in Washington,
stated to me that as the Anne Arundel
was passing North Point he observed
a fisherman about 800 yards off North
Point sailing like the wind down the
river In explanation of the scene the
fellow said that he was on the hurri-
cane deck, near the stern of the yes.
sci, and that no other passenger Occur
pied that portion of the steamer at
the time. In the mans own words,
the story he told is as follows
The fisherman to whom | refer
red the man began, was seated in
the center of an ordinary rowboat,
which was travelling at great speed
in the direction of the bay. The mans
actions at first attracted my attention,
as he was apparently paying but little
attention to the direction in which
his craft was travelling. The boat had
no sail, nor was the fisherman hand
ling the oars. | thought at first that
my eyes We're fooling me. Keeping
my eye on the little craft, which was
steadily drawing away from the steam
er on which | was, | was surprised to
see line of perhaps 20 feet in length
drawn taut as bow-string and attach
ed to the bow OF the boat This was
secured to a stick rising forth at
right angles from the water, about a
dozen yards in front of the boat.
From the position in which the row
boat was travelling and the speed it
was making, judged that the fisher
man had speared large fish of some
kind. and that it was hauling him
down the river.
Il told the fellow that perhaps it
was a shark" said Mr., Bond, "as
in these waters at this season of the
year" He said chat was what it was.
he supposed, but that he had never
thought any man had the nerve to
spear such beast. The fellow said
that the boat continued on its course
rocking and dancing at great speed
while the man continued to take
things very cody. Suddenly" he
said, without the least warnin., the
bow of the rowboat swung about as
the marine monster gave the line a
vicious yank and started into mid
stream, dragging the craft with it.
The shark, or whatever it was, had
evidently changed its mind, as 1t con
tinued to haul the craft farther and
farther from shore and into mid
stream. Within few moments the
rowboat and its occupant were about
800 or 400 yards in rear Of the Anne
Arundel, and ploughing across the
channel.
AT that moment the fisherman
arose from his sitting posture. and.
leaning over the bow Of the boat, gaz-
cd for a few moments at the swish
ing line and the vibrating stick pro
iecting from the water All the time
the craft was drawing farther and far