Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-22
CAUGHT BY SCHOOL OF FISH
Maine Fisherman UHrselI an Experience
That COlOred His Hair,
nATcHLEss YARN OF THE DEEP BLUE
Rode the Race Of his Life. bet MAN
aged TO Laad All RIEht with HAIR
Straight and white-Idstening
Group "a silenced.

houlnh haInlet IN NAME is a UNIQUE ptdctt
for there every evening, stormy or pleas
ant. gather the veteran fishermen and re-
tired shippers for a "pipe-smoke" and
evenings chat with their neighbors. and
usually some interesting and exciting yarns
are related by the oldest in the group.
The aged seamen are not particular as
TO seats, and the soap boxes, nail kegs
and dllapidated chairs that have been
whitfield for years past by every owner
Of a Jack knife that takes a seat. are al
ways in demand. for il is the company
present that holds the steady loafers until
the hour for closing arrives, and, while the
tobacco smoke rolls up to the low ceiling
in thick clouds and the big barrel" stove
is kept at fever heat the best story teller
is the center Of attraction.
The proprietor of the country store, who
is man of Importance in the small set
Element, usually keeps everything that
might be called for during the season, and
is usually the regular postmaster OF the
village and an authority on all subjects
that come up Tor discussion. He is always
respected by the villagers who pass The
time around his stove every night during
the winter and spring.
The usual crowd was present on the
evening in question the tobacco smoke was
thick from a dozen pipes going steadily,
while the smokers blew out the dense
smoke from their mouths, and among the
collection were seated several retired fish
ermen who had followed the coast fishing
for half a century in all kinds OF weather.
then had been obliged to quit for the
younger growth.
ProvOcRtIon for Gray Hairs.
Among the group was Captain jeremiah
MacDonagai. who had just made his APP
pearance and taken a seat after nodding
at his neighbors; his hair was as white as
the newly fallen snow, and he had retired
few years ago from active life on the
water, yet always was hand to Join
in the conversation, and, aside from his
lameness from rheumatism, was able TO-
get about with his stout cane.
Jeremiah" spoke up one of the men in
the circle, I'm a respecter of gray and
white hairs but I've noticed that for the
past twenty-five years your hair has been
white, and thought there might be some
reason for it, for, as l remember you in
my younger days, you had regular black
/ hair, and 1t seemed to change kinder sud
denly, as 1 noticed 1t when 1 got back
from long sea voyage. Was It anything
peculiar, IL might inquirer"
| We'll, captain, beings the questions
| been asked, an It amt anything very i'm
pertinent, as might say, don't mind tell
| ing youse how my hair got so changed
! from black to white, as l might add in
i single day-for such is the plain facts all
! right-and just settle down on your box
seat and let me tell yer little yarn that
might be new to the young uns on hand
tonight" replied jeremiah.
You all know me for a regular fisher
man-nothing else-always on the spot
when, there was anything to catch. always
| nm fhn for s.Ef.
days, an never so much to home as when
on the deck of fishing schooner trying to
yank EN- in on the hooks
! That's years ago, of course, but wait
an I'll tell youse all about how came to
lose the color of my hair, an take my
| word fer Tits all true-fer I'll never for
get that day while I'm alive--no, siree
''In them days it was every man for him
self. paddle your own canoe. as ! might
say, an we used to so it alone most of the
! time for our catches of fish along the
4 coast.
Started out one morning alone, as usual
an fell in with big school of fish that
seemed as greedy to get on the hooks as il
| they'd not been getting their regular meals
for some time past, so got kinder excited
as I began pulling 'em in as fast as I
could drop over the hooks on the trawl, an
boat, all looking for more feed an me with
only a, small bucket full at that time.
II caught some all right, then jest for fun
tossed over what I had left in the bucket
to see how they'd act with #, an they
certainly did have a fine time while the
bait held out, but It wasn't a morsel to
EN-, as they was so thick around my boat.
In for "a Ride.
| Got kinder excited watching their ca
pers. for they certainly seemed tame
enough to feed by hand an as friendly as
goldfish in a jar; when all OF sudden I
took a tumble forward, fell right into the
mess OF fish, most scared to death. pr
"Tried to grab the boat an get back
again, as 1 couldn't swim a stroke, an
didn't know but the fish might start on
me for choice eating, me with rubber boots
and oilskins on, but they didn't seem TO
bite into my clothes as I could notice.
Did they scamper when / dropped into
them? Wen, just little, but not the way
1 had expected, for jest as soon as lit in
the lot and was a trying 10 get TO the boat
they started to move away in another d.
rectien in double quick time. an me right
there on top of en- hardly getting wet,' as
they held me up out OF the water as II l
was on a feather bed.
| Oul 10 sea Nuey Scpoteos with me on
top as fine as you please. but scared sSfae
just then, and there was my boat disap-
pearing from my gaze, an ! knew Ihat y
holered II was a case of sink and get
drowned, so l kept quiet for time an
waited to see where them fish was a tax
ing mes an on they sped like a steamboat,
kicking up the foam in the rear.
II kept my eyes open as best I could, an
| was beginning TO think the mass OF hsh
was heading for Europe all right an me
with no return ticket, an a mighty poor
chance to get away safe, but wasn't very
wet, for they held me up out Of the water,
an kept right on for the open sea, making
fast time, an It must have been a great
sight TO have been there an seen me TAX
ing that trip all alone, an FISH all about
me for yards.
We'll, all Of a sudden. in the distance, ]
spied some fishermen in their boats, throw
Ing out their lines as unconcerned as II
nothing was going on, but the fish holding
me up seemed TO be heading for them boats
all right, so / held my peace and waited
20 see how Il would turn out.
Nearer and nearer we got. an as
looked up could see the men, then their
faces got palmer. but didn't seem to rec
ogniEe any OF 'em, 30 / kept kinder quiet
and waited as we moved right in their d.
rectlon as II seemed l was due to arrive
alongside their boats in short time, then
| had a chance fer nv life AGAIN