The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-10
HARDING FIGHTS
TARP0N AN HOUR
BUT FISH WINS
Senator Robbed of Success
by Line Being Caught
in Piling.
EXHAUSTED BY EFFORT
piscatorial Expedition to
Teyas's Most Southern
Isle Is Thrilling.
ELKINS GETS HIS QUARRY
Hale Is Not So Fortunate, but
Good Fish Stories Give
Compensation.
ELKINs GETS HIS QUARRY

SrscIdI Despatch 70 1iiE NEW Soak llkkALp
PorNT ISABEL, Tex, Nov. s.--Senator
Harding attained pink sunburn and
a new conception of the art Of fishing
to-day AS dawn came up in laGuna
Madre he was taken out to Padre ISL
and, the lastapost Of the United States
in southern waters, in an ancient
launch. manned by Mexicans. Disem-
barking at the coast guard station
that stands on stills near the surf OF
the Gulf of Mexico, he was placed in
the stern Of a skifr and taken out for
one OF the best days sport that can
befall man OF piscatorial ambition.
Other members OF the party, includ-
ing Senator Hale, Senator Elkins and
Jess Smith, We're put In other boats
and rowed into the channel by the
Mexican coast guards.
In the swift channel which connects
The lagoon with the sea the leapinS tar
pom and sharks come in to feed on the
smaller FISH that run with the tides.
This Is a little late in the season for
tarpon fisi,.ng but Senator Ha'e's boat
he'd not been out ten minutes before
strike came.
Hattie With Tarpon.
From that siSne on the fun was fast
srG exhausting. until noon. After Sen
stcr Harding had battied for mora than
an hour with n six foot tarpon. only TO
:ose han, close TO shore. he went ashore,
dripping with perspiration, trembling
with exhaustion OF physical effort. TO
rest a while on cot n the life station.
A fair sized Eve naullet is used for
tarpon bait. and tackle Is a heavy split
bamboo rod. about four feet long, with
a big reel and 500 yards at least OF fine
tested siii line. The fish however. cften
sefga more tasn 200 poynas Tl.e'- src
canay snd It taxes all ti7s patience and
zeal Of the best angling art TO land
them. =
Senator Harding sat in the skiff. his
head protected from the burning sun by
O sonibrero. The breeze was fresh and
warm Off tho gulf. The SURF was a sooth-
ing monotone. The lonely coast. dec
Grated by salt grass and dTfftwood,
called TO the mind the castaway stories
OF Stevenson or Verne. Three Wild
burros came TO gaze at him, ana that
Was all.
hts boatmon nanocuvred sSilfully es
the battle began, rowing with the ash at
times. at other times away in taking
up line or if the run was toward tho
boat tho man at thc oars contributed
no small part 70 the sport. Having spent
his life along the coast. he could have
handled tho rod better than Mr.. Har-
ding. but he betrayed a pleasing ap-
probation of the Senator's method,
which probably sounded sweeter 20 the
next President than any chant of ad-
nnirers ashore.
Interference Encountered.
You good fisherman" said the boat
man. as the Senator turned the course
Of tho fsh ana began TO take in his far
flung line.
There was a leap and fash or silver
and the great body of tho fsh sprang
several feet out of water. The tarpon
shook his head viciously. seeking to rid
himself OF the hook In his mouth. The
royal battle was on. Time and again the
Ash leaped savage,y. but there was 10
break and the hook held securely.
AS the Ash tires II is the task OF the
angler to try 20 drown 80 by dragging IL
with mead just showing on tfe SURFACE,
mouth open. taking in air. This the SEN
ator did while the boatnan was work.
ing in toward shore. II looked as Il the
monster would be landed. but a few feet
from shore a line OF pillng interfered.
Tho great FISH, with a last gasp OF
strength and a knowledge almost human.
swan round one OF the piles and tangled
up the line. Seeing The danger a guard
on shore dived into the water with his
clothes on and tried to disentangle the
line before II was broken. But it was
too late The fsh had gone
Senator ESiikins landed a good fish.
Senator Hale lost his He said II war
the hardest Tabor he ever did. Senator
Harding became so enanored of the
sport that he gave Up goii 60 continue