Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-01-21
A LITERAL DIVISION.
Dramatic Way In which Fishermen
Dissolved I'artnership.

/
Dissolved Partnership.
Gerelomo I'asqunucci and Giuscppi
paSSantino. SONS of Italy and fisher
men. recently dissolved partnership in
Il dramatic manner For years they had
sailed i'm the same boat. one demijohn
served To carry the vino that slaked
two thrsts. ana the last loaf of black
bread Gerelomo and Giuseppi divided.
crumb and crust alike. Mesh for mesh.
each had an equal share in the two nets
with which they fishcd. and for every
strand in the incidental gear that Giu-
eeppi owned Gerelomo owned strand.
Equal owners in everything and share
and share alike i'm toll. har,lships and
profits had been the rule under which
the partnership flourished. \ few days
ago they quarreled. For twenty four
hours neither would speak tn the other.
Gerelomo sent by neutral hand an offer
to buy out Giuseppe Giuseppe replied
with an offer To buy out Gerelomo. An
other twenty-four hours of silence. 4
meeting was arranged. and 1T the APP
pointed time the estranged partners
met.
After eleven hours of violent discus
sion plan of settlement was agreed
upon. They would spread the assets
of the firm on fiShermcns wharf and
with knife. ax and saw make Il literal
division of the property owned i'm COM
mon. Every discngagcl Greek and Ital-
ian fisherman of the local colony gath
cred on the wharf TO witness the cere-
monv of dissolving partnership 4 com
mittee was appointed TO see fair play.
First came the nets. There are two
nets. Better take one apiece sug-
gested one of the committee This did
not suit the dissolving partners. One
net might be II little better than the
other. and the one drawing the better
net would have more than his share.
The commit &c stepped back and allow
ell Giuseppe and Gerelom0 To carry out
the ceremony in their own way. The
nets were spread on the wharf. and
with sharp knife Gerelono divided
one lengtlways. making fair div-
sion. but rendering each half useless.
Giuseppe performed Il similar operation
on the other net The ropes. lying in
neat coils. were then divided by sever
ing the coils in half. The oars were
split down the center. one silver going
on Giuseppi's junk pile and the other
on Gerclomo's heap. The division of
the boat hook presented problem that
was solved by throwing that article of
equipment into the bay The boat,
drawn up on the ways. was then at
tackled with Il crosScut saw.
AS they watched this destruction of
precious property the assembled fish
ermen had worked themselves into a
frenzy, which reached white heat when
they realized that boat, stout, saucy
and of good reputation, was about to be
sacrificed. At the second stroke of
the saw the partners were seized. drag
ged TO Il nearby resort and persuaded
that the community fully realized the
contempt in which each held the other.
but that the destruction of the boat
would not be permitted. The boat was
offered for sale. the purchaser paid the
price to the committee. and Giuseppe
and Gerelomo received each one-half.
They accepted whole coins. The crowd
dispersed. and the dissolved partners
walked slowly To the street. Face to
face they stood for moment Each
made Il half turn. Giuseppe walked
away on northerly course Gerelomo
when last seen was headed due south.
San Francisco Call.