Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-03-02
GALILEE FISHERMEN
BEATEN TO FRAGILE
IaleWeIllteS Now in Florida Doing Wonders
With The HOek and uns--Many Amusing
Incidents and Thrilling Experiences.

The week after my last years letter
on f1shing had been published, old man
McCorkle inserted an article in the pa
per calling in question the statements I
made, with the friendly suggestion that
either stop telling fish tales or quit
preaching. as these voca lions would not
go together. McCorkle landed in Flori-
da few days ago and has been con-
vinced that the half had not been told.
80 now take courage to write that long
promised letter on fishing.
After arriving in Tavares. Mr.. Geo.
W. Gillespie and l built us a partner
ship row boat, painted it green. and
three large letters in red show that it
has been named for Bob" nv twelve
year old boy, whose whereabouts on
these lakes has caused US no little anx-
iety several times since he landed in
Florida While many enjoyable DAYS
have been spent on the lake in this boat.
yet some have mot been so enjoyable.
1t has good days and bad days.
A short while after Newt arrived
Robert took him fishing, and they Drop
PED anchor about a mile from shore.
Newt fished from the stern of the boat
standing, while Robert took a seat in
the prov and cast his line in the oppo-
site direction. Robert had been eau
toned by his older brother not to move.
but when his cork went under he forgot
instructions and jumped to his feet.
This tilted the boat, Newt fell head
long into the lake and went clear out of
sight. In about twenty minutes both
boys showed up at home all out of hu-
NOR. Newt blamed Robert for being
restless and thoughtless, while Robert
blamed Newt for being awkward.
A few days later Mr. Gillespie and
Newt decided to go by themselves and
break the fishing record. Mr.. Joe Nc
Cormick hooked up their boat TO his
gasoline launch and towed them out
about two miles to good fishing grounds.
Here they dropped anchor, and Mr..
Mccormick left them, with the under
standing that they would row home in q
few hours. Mr. Gillespie, with an ex-
perienced swing, cast his cork Just at
the right place. 1t disappeared at once.
The music of the reel told that a fish of
no ordinary size was doing business at
the end of the line. Then came the tug
OF war; but there was no use for this
four pound bass to rear and plunge. be-
cause its fate was sealed. In a few
moments it landed in the bottom of the
boat to the complete satisfaction of all
concerned Except the bass They
were meeting with such good success
that they paid little attention to the
rising of the wind and the increasing
size of the waves. They had deter
mined to fill a coffee sack with blael,
bass before turning their boat home
ward. Finally the east wind began to
blow q gale and the boat commenced to
battle with the waves, with the best of
the fight in favor of the waves. They
soon realized they could not reach home.
so they turned their boat in the oppo-
site direction and succeeded in Bleaching
it on smaller island than the one on
which Robinson Crusoe was stranded.
They disembarked, holding on to the
rope, laid down on the little spot of
ground and looked wistfd1ly for help.
Feeling somewhat uneasy about the
little boat and its crew we went to the
dock and asked Captain Sanders if he
would take his launch and go search for
the fishermen. He took his marine
glass and tried to locate the stranded
boat, but failed to find it. He shook
his head as he looked across the white
caps and said: ''It's pretty rough ont
there" However, he stepped into mis-
splendid gasoline launch, "Vixen." and
headed for the middle of the lake. Bv
means of his marine glass he discovered
our fishermen on the little island. and in
a short time his launch was alongside
their boat. The stranded fishermen
greeted him with broad smiles and warm
words of welcome. They came aboard
the Vixen" and the boat ''Bob'' was
tied to the launch by means of a rome
DCa
and they started towards home.
large wave broke the rope, filled the
little boat with water and down it went
to the bottom of the lake, together with
two steel rods valued at $500 each. the
sack of fish, two minnow buckets and
other fishing tackle. However. the
Vixen" reached home safely with all
on board. Next day we had a boat
raising. "Bob" was brought to the
top with all the contents. The coffee
sack had one fish in it. The number
that got away has not yet been definite
ly settled.
Time and space forbid my telling all
the fishing incidents that have occurred
since our sojourn here, and besides l
might injure my reputation for truth
and veracity. However, shall tell
two more incidents and quit.
DIR. Kleiser, of Kentucky, was on the
lake fishing with two hooks on the same