Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-01-21
A LITERAL DIVISION.
Dramatic Way In which Fishermen
dissolved Partncrship.


Dissolved Partnership.
Gereiomo Pssquinuoci and Giuseppe
Passantino. sons Of Italy and Usher
men. recently dissolved partnership In
n dramatic manner. For years they had
sailed In the same boat. One demi1ohn
served to carry the vino that siaked
two thirsts, and 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 hshed. and for every
strand In the incidental gear that GU
seppi owned Gerelomo owned a strand
Eoua, owners In everything and share
and share alike In toll. hardships and
profits had been the rule under which
the partnership nourished. A few days
ago they quarreled. For twenty'four
hours neither would speak to the other.
Gerelomo sent by neutral hand an oher
to buy out Giuseppi. Giuseppe replied
With an offer to buy out Gerelomo. An
other twenty-four hours OF silence A
meeting was arranged, and at the APP
noiuted time the estranged 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 ana
with knife, az and saw make a literal
division of the property owned In COM
mon. Every disengaged Greek and ltai-
ian fisherman of the local colony gath
cred on the wharf to witness the cere-
mony OF dlssolving partnership. A 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 a 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 Giuseppe and Gerelomo to carry out
the ceremony In their own way. The
nets were spread on the wharf, and
with a sharp knife Gerelomo divided
one lengthways, making a fair divi'
sion. but rendering each half useless
Giuseppe performed 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 Gerelomos heap. The division Of
the boat hook presented problem thai
was solved by throwing that article Of
equipment into the bay. The boat
drawn up on the ways, was then at
tackled with crosscut saw.
As they watched this destruction OF
precious property the assembled fish
ermen had worked themselves into
frenzy. which reached white heat wher
they realized that boat stout, saucJ
and Of good reputation, was about to o'
sacrificed. At the second stroke o.
the saw the partners were seized. drag
ged to nearby resort and persuaded
I that the community fully realized TIT
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 th'
price TO the committee, and Giusepp
and Gerelomo received each one-half
They accepted whole coins. The Grove
dispersed, and the dissolved partner
walked slowly to the street. Face Z
face they stood for a moment Fac
made a half turn. Giuseppi wakes
away on a northerly course. Gerelom
when last seen was headed due south