Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-09-27
sECRET or THE SEA.
How The Widow Wadman Got REQ.
ord Fsre Of Goldfish.

How The Widow wsdman Got Rec
ord. Fare Of Codnsh.
From the Bangor NsssS.I
Capt. william Grindls, Of Bucksport,
famous Grand Bank skipper, hunter, trap
per and widely known for his truthful
tales Of the 80, furnishes more entertain.
ment ct the Sailors Snug Harbor home
than three-ringed circus. When things
are getting slow, Cap'n Bill starts some
thing with q tale OF the SEQ that makes
even the toughest old sea-dog, hauled up
there, sit up and listen. The Cap'n never
departs from the path Of truth, although
some folks who never went to sea, might
doubt some Of his rather startling tales of
the mighty deep.
Capt. Prentiss Bugbee 10 great admirer
of Cap'n Bills vast fund OF sea lore. He
says:
'Capt. Billy Grindle, as we call him, has
at last told us the secret OF the wonderful
fare OF the Grand Banker Widow Wad-
man, the schooner that brought in the
biggest Goldfish which ever were landed at
Bucksport OF them from five to six
feet long, after being split.
"Where Capt. Billy and Capt. Sparrow
got such fish was the talk Of the town,
but no one would tell, and it has never
been told until now. According to Cap'n
Billy, the Widow Wadman sailed from
Bucksport and went on her way all right
until, becalmed OF Sable island, they saw
quite near them floating cask that was
full OF something. They quickly lowered
their foresail and with the halliards
hooked on to the cask and soon had it on
deck. To find out what it contained took
but short time, as all hands had try at
it. 1t was unanimously agreed that it was
the very best Of West India rum. But to
make sure they kept trying, and OF course
they were all ready for business when the
wind breezed up which was in q short
time.
'sAbout this time there was great excite
ment about finding the North Pole, 30
they all concluded, IS the wind was fair,
they would try to find the North Pole in
stead OF going fishing. Capt. Sparrow
said he knew 9 way through the Straits
and they would make short cut and save
time.
GAS 1t was very large cask, the rum held
out well. They sailed on toward the north
and soon began to fall in with ice. They
tried the rum some more and had more
ice; finally they got so much ice that they
could get no farther. They rested awhil,
tried the rum some more, and found them
selves hopelessly frozen In.
"Cap'n Billy thought he would sound
and see how much water there was. He
baited cod line, several shots put to-
gether, so as to be sure and have enough,
and went ABBOTT half mile on the ice from
the vessel. He cut hole in the ice, 80 he
saws, and dropped the bait in it, but it did
not 20 far, for the Goldfish were so thick
that the sinker could not get through
them. Cap'n Billy commenced pulling
them out and there was not q fish less than
four feet and some six feet long. They
went to work and soon had fish piled high
on the Ice around them.
"In the meantime, some one who had
not tried the rum SO much glued hair
across the field glass Of the telescope they
had with them. Capt. Sparrow tried the
rum again and took look, and sure
enough he saw the pole. The rest took q
look. too, and sure enough they all
decided it was the pole and there was no
use of trying to get any further.
sSome Esquimaux came to them on the
ice and they hired them to carry the hsh
To the vessel for biscuit barrel. All
hands went to dressing down and soon
had the Widow Wadman full. About this
time many serious problems we're coming
mn before them. The cask OF rum was
getting low, and how to get back home
again was the question, for there was nc
certainty Of finding another cask to help
them out.
"But there was good fortune after them
A seventy foot sperm whale hit the hole
thew had made in the ice and he was go
;np 40 fast that he ran clear out on the ice
All they had to do was to shoot few red
hot spikes in him and he was theirs. He
served them good turn in many ways
Thew sold the CARCASS to the Esquimaux
for large sum, and in coming through the
hole he broke the ice so that 1t gave them
. wav to get out and get safe home again
.srhe Widow Wsdnnan was loaded
.scuppers under, and they sold the fish
for . large sum, but they never told the
secret Of how and where they got saon
fare OF such big fish, and to-day II 10 q
much Of secret in Bucksport a. ever"