The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-11
AMERICAN TUG RIDDLED
Thirty Shots Hit Fishing Craft Out
of Bounds in Lake Erie.
The Barnhurst. Abandoning Net, Escapes
Canadian Gunboat aud
beaches Port.

Erie, Americans never surreu-
der" shouted Captain Nels Easel, of
the fishing tug Harry G. Barnhurst, to
the commander of the Canadian gun
boat Vigilant, in middle Lake Erie, in
response to signal to stop OIL the boat
would be fired upon.
His reply was answered by shots
from the gunDoat, and thereupon start
ed chase that:iasted almost an hour
before the Rarnhurst, the largest and.
best built tug in the fishing business
out Of this port, crossed the line and
made off home with cargo and crew.
One man tainted. in the excitement
and two OF three are said to have had
blood streaming down their faces from
flying splinters. Thirty shots struck
the BarnhurSt in the chase and the
Canadians worked desperately to over
haul the boat, but failed. The upper
part of the BarnhurSt was shot away,
and fifteen shots left unmistakable
signs Of great damage. The men con-
slider themselves fortunate in making
their escape without any greater bod
lily harm, for after the first two rounds
from the. Vigilant they say they heard
shouts of "Kill them" "Sink the Yam
kees," coming from the Canadian.
Capt. Easel says he was aware that
he was close to the line, but could not
have been more than four or five miles
out in the Canadian water when the
Vigilant appeared. His position be-
came apparent also, and he started to
run. The Canadians then made sig
nails forhim to stop or they would fire.
he refused to obey, and the fishermen
in the crew cut their lines and nets to
save the boat.
Every man on the boat was ordered
to keep under. cover when the firing
began, but two men who stuck their
heads above the sides Of the tug re-
ceived splinters in the face. The
Canadians were shooting to damage
the tug as much as they could, and
managed to tear off almost all of the
upper part of the boat. When the
Barnhurst reached port the boat was
heavily listed and will have to undergo
extensive repairs.
This makes the fourth American ves-
sci fired upon within week by the
Vigilant.' The Bertha" Cockrell was
captured and taken to Port Dover; the
W. J. McCarter was fired upon twice,
but escaped with large hole knocked
in her, side, and the F. G. Oggel. Of the
keystone Fish Company's feet. was
captured and taken to Port Dover.
where she is being held pending set
tlement. The Grace NJ. was fired upon
two months ago by the Vigilant while
fishing in Canadian waters.
For five or six years the fishermen
of Erie have been engaged in a game
of hide and seek, which, on one or two
occasions, has developed into actual
warfare with the Canadian authorities.
Erie is the centre Of the fishing indus
try on Lake Erie. From that port
about a score of steam fishing vessels
and as many sailboats so out daily for
whitefish and herring.
Because of the wholesale methods
pursued, the whitefsh, most valuable
of lake fishes, has become compara-
lively scarce in recent years, especially
on the American side of the lake. Ef-
forts of the Pennsylvania Fish Com
yearly release of millions Of spawn
have met with poor success. Conse-
quently the Erie fishermen frequently
take long chances in following the OBJ
iects of their daily pursuit into forbid
den waters. ....
Usually when a fisherman is cap
tured there is an immediate appeal to
Washington, D. c. Never yet has it
been effective, for obvious reasons, al
though Oh one occasion, at least, the
Canadian courts released the captured
tug on the ground that it was taken
in American waters.
Several years ago fish tug in COM
mand of one Chris Schau, a daring
skipper, fell afoul of the Canadian>pa-
troll, and a real naval battle followed.
in which the Canadian used his little
cannon freely and Schau's brave men
replied hotly for twenty minutes or
ore with shotguns. The fishermen
escaped. ..