Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-27

declared, we'll satisfied at this out
come of the misadventure. Then ne
fell to reviling the men who lad
caused it.
Don't waste your breath on them,'
Boyd advised. Were lucky enough as
it is. If that tug hadn't sheered on she
would have cut us down, sure"
THAT fellow done it a-purpose,
George swore. "Seamen amt that care
less. He tried to tell me he was rat
tied, but ratified him."
IF that's the case they may try II
again. said the younger man.
Huh! I'll pack 'thirty-thirty' from
now on, and bet they don't get with
in hailing distance without an IRON
clad"
The more Emerson regarded the IN
cident, the more he marvelled at tne
good-fortune that had saved him. we
had better wake up" he said. we
have been asleep SO far. II MARSH
planned this, he will plan something
more.''
Eyes, and if he puts one wallop over
we're done for, George agreed, pessl-
mistically. "Ill keep Waterman
aboard the scows hereafter. That's our
vital spot"
But the days sped past without FUR
Their interference, and the cohstfac'
ton of the plant progressed by leaps
and bounds, while The Bedford Castle
having discharged her cargo, steamed
away to return in August.
The middle of June brought the mrs.
king salmon, scouts sent on ahead Oh
the "sockeyes" but Boyd MADE no
effo1s, to take advantage OF this run,
laboring manfully to prepare for the
advance of the main army, that ter
rife horde that was soon to come
from the mysterious depths, either 10
make or ruin him. Once the run
proper started, there would be no more
opportunity for building or setting up
machinery. He must be ready anu
waiting by the first of July
For some time his tin-machlnes hau
been busy, turning out great heaps OF
cleaning cans, while the carpenters
and machinists completed their tasks.
The eillnetters were overhauling their
gear. the beach was lined with f1shlng
boats. On the dock great piles or
seines and drift-nets were being IN
spected. Three miles below Big George
with picked crew and plle-drlver,
was building the fish-trap. 1t consisted
Of half-mile 'leads,' or rows OF plllng,
capped with stringers, upon which net
ting was hung, and terminated IN q
ehearts Y "corr3lsi and "spiliers,
the intricate arrangements OF webbing
and timbers out of which the fish were
to be taken.
It was for the title to the ground
where his present operations were 60
inc forward that George had been so
cruelty disciplined by the interests;
and while he had held stubbornly TO
his rights for years in spite of the bit
terest persecution, he was now TOR
the first time able to utilize his site.
his exultation was ire
mendous.
AS for Boyd, the fever in his veins
mounted daily as he saw his dream
assuming concrete FORM The many
nroblems arising as the work advanced
afforded him unceasing activity; the
unforeseen obstacles which were en-.
countered hourly required swift and
certain Judgment, taxing his ingenu.
ity to the utmost. He became SO hiled
with it all, so stepped with the spirit
of his surroundings, that he thought
for nothing else. Every dawn marked
the beginning of a new battle, every
twilight heralded another council. HIS
duties swamped him; he was worried,
exultant, happy. Always he FOUND
Cherry at his shoulder, unobtrus1ve
and silent for the most part, yet IN
tensely observant and keenly alive TO
every action. She seemed to have the
faculty of divination, knowing when
to be silent and when to join her MOOD
with his, and she gave him valuable
helm. for she possessed practical
mind and masculine aptitude for De.
tails that surprised both him ana
George. But, rapidly as the work pro
crossed. it seemed that good-tortune
would never smile upon them for long
One day, when their preparations were
nearly completed. foreman came TO
Boyd and said, excitedly:
"Boss, I'd like you to look at the
Iron Chinks right away"
whats up?"
"I don't know, but something Is
wrong" A hurried examination
showed the machines to be cunningly
crippled: certain parts were entirely
missing, while others were broken.
"They were all right when we
brought them ashore" the man de-
clared. Somebody's been at them,
lately"
when? How" questioned Boyd.
1--WE have had watchmen on guard all
the time. Have any strangers been
about?"
Nobody seems to know. When we
got ready to set 'em just now, saw
this"
The Iron Chink, or mechanical clean
err is perhaps the most ingenious OF
the many labor-saving devices used IN
the salmon fisheries. 1t Is an awkward
looking, yet very effective contrivancs
of revolving knives and conveyors
which seizes the fish whole and deliv-
ers it cleaned, clipped, cut and ready
to he washed With superhuman dex-
terity it does the work of twenty
butchers. Without the
aid Of these Iron Chinks, Boyd knew
that his fish would spoil before they
could be handled. In a panic, he pur-
sued his investigation far enough to
n r. I. u