Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-01-19
A LITERAL DIVISION.
Dramatic Way In Which Fishermen
Dissolved Partncrshin.

''SSVINeU
Ccrclomo Pasquinucci and Giuseppi
Passantino. sons of Italy and fisher
men. recently dissolved partnership in
dramatic manner. For years they had
sailed in the same boat. One demijohn
served TO carry the vino that slaked
two thirsts. and the last loaf of black
bread Gerclomo and Giuscppi divided,
crumb and crust alike. Mesh for mcsh
each had an equal share in tho two nets
with which they fishcd. and for every
strand in the incidental gear that Giu-
scppi owned Gcrclomo owned "A strand
Equal owners in everything and share
and share alike in toll. hardships and
profits had been the rule under which
the partnership hourshcd. \ few days
ago they quarrclcd. For twenty -four
hours neither would speak to the other.
GcrclOmo sent 10y neutral hand an offer
TO buy out Giusepp. Giuseppe replied
with an offer to buy out Gerclono An
other twenty four hours of silence. A
meeting was arranged, and at the ap.
pointed time the estrangcd partners
met
After eleven hours Of violent discus
sion a plan of settlement was agreed
upon They would spread the assets
Of the firm on fishermen's wharf and
with knife, ax and saw make literal
division Of the property owned in com
mon. Every discnSagcd Greek and Ital
ian fisherman Of the local colony gath
cred on the wharf to witness the cere
monv of dissolving partnership. A com
mittcc was appointed to see fair play.
First came the nets. There are two
nets Better take one apiece sug
gcstcd one Of the committee. This did
not suit the dissolving partners. One
net might be n little better than the
other, and the one drawing the better
net would have more than his share.
The committee stepped back and allow
ed Giliseppi and Gerclomo to carry ont
the ceremony in their own way. The
nets were spread Oh the wharf, and
with a sharp knife Gerciomo divided
one lcngthways, making n fair divi-
sion. but rendering each half useless.
C;useppi performed a 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 Giuscppis junk pile and the other
on Gcrelomos 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 al
tackled with 4 crosscut saw
As they watched this destruction OF
precious property tho assembled fish
crmcn had worked themselves into Il
frenzy. which reached white heat wher
they realized that boat, stout. suucy
sacrificed. AT the second stroke OF
the saw the partners were seized. drag
ged to nearby resort and persuaded
that the community fully realized the
contempt in which each held the other
but that the destruction of the boa
would not be permitted The boat wa.
offered for sale. the purchaser paid the
price to the committee. and Giusepp
and Gcrclomo received each one-half
They accepted whole coins ''hc Grove
dispersed. and the dissolved partners
walked slowly to the street. Face Il
face they stood for moment Eacl
made n half turn. ';iuscppi walked
away ON northcriy course. '.crclomc
when last seen was headed due south
San Francisco Call.