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Si. oo a Year, In Advance. . , FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH Single Copy, 5 CeaU.
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v W. PLYMOUTH, N, C., FRIDAY, DKCEMBER 9. '1904. NO. 38. "
"V
I CAPT. JIM MCMILLAN'S TAME WHALeI
AN UNUSUAL FISH STORY.
Qj ID you ever Lear of Cap-
taiu Jim McMillan's tamo
o TYa whale?" asked one of the
ft J J; old-tiniers recently In a
QXf down east town, with a
party of seamen discussing
the particulars of the Chinese difli-
Without waiting for an invitation,
the speaker opened up with his story
as follows: "Captain Jim McMillan
was a retired sea captain who moved, j
with his family, to a mall island;
Mown the bay, near Deer Island, N.
U and under, the. protection of the
Canadian (lap;. The island had a
. waiall harbor in which was a used-up
weir .that in former years had gath
ered up herring and other salt water j
llsh sq common in Passainaquoddy
r flay. With a few weeks of repairing ,
4he htmh enclosure. Captain Jim had
ihe weir in good condition again for
the jfirsti-cattli xof fisb. ;IIe, arranged
the gate for the high run of tides and
went home to await returns. .
"They were not long in coming, for
the next day, : when the. veteran . Went
fl fl! to investigate his. newly-repaired
weir, he was very much surprised and
delighted to find an immense school of
fat-looking herring , leisurely swim
ming around the insWte and evidently
enjoying the place. . The fish were un
able to get out as the gate was closed,
and there was considerable satisfac
tion in his .first catch; since the fish
3ad been rather scare in the different
iweirs near and the herring were in
-owners at the neighboring places.
'Here -was a lucky catch, indeed, as
he could quicklyfind a ready market
for these large-sized herring at East
tort, where they would- later find a
place iu one of the big smoke-houses
or be used as, mustard sardines.
. "The captaiu made a visit to East
liort a few hours later, told of his
upply of herring alive in the weir and
soon was offered a fair price; in fact,
looked upon the Jot of herring as
tworth $100.
"When Captain McMillan returned to
3his Canadian homo down the bay a
ffliv Imiirs ln'tiM' li tvfls hnnnv unrl
Jiis hopes ra high.
I" 'We'll have plenty to eat when I
t$cll this lot of herring,' said he to his
wife, who met him on the beach, 'and
Til buy you a new dress before I come
'fiack from Eastport, sure.' A short
'. time later In the day ho got into his
lioat anjj pulled into the weir, when
liis half stood on ends as he saw a
ery large and black-looking object
rating on the water in the narrow en
" . -closure.
1 Tt looked like the body or a big
jjnake and the aged seaman thought it
:might be the fiilned mythical sea ser
pent be had so often read about.but
had never seen before. Before he
-' could leave the interior the big fish
ibcgaji swimming around th enclosure
io a circle and it did not" take Captain
(1 Jim long to get oil the outside and
V ; drop tlie IS gate in place. Ills weir
A; : lull of herring a few hours before bad
4jpen eaten up or gone through the
everal small breaks in the side of
iJbe enclosure, made by the . fish, and
this was enough to cause the captain
to utter a few oaths,' since no one was
near at the time.
'He, watched the big fellow a few
minutes in silence, then said slowly,
that critter cost m $100 sure, and ho
may be worth that amount if I . can
get him dead or alive, but the 'latter
if possible.'. IIo was not long in find-
ins out that the lish he had captured
iwas a very yQuu whale, and since it
. was one of unusual length and very
-nY.m, might be taken for a b'g snake
a distance as the parts of the body
,V?an:e into view. It was not an easy
Mfcattor to capture the fish alive wit 11
Vuit assistance; a'nd determining to
make thev best of his recent misior--ie,
Captain McMillan-set out for his
$ftne hi inform his wife of the whale's
visit"? nnd v.'hat had become of their
cnivliot Iia-ring.
"Itr.v; a big disappointment,, but
fclie clieered him up with the remark
iliat evon a dead whale Avas- worth
Bomethiu,;.' The skipper went across
to n. neighboring island for help, later
iv'tnrnins with two atmen and a
long coil of rope with which they ex
" ''ected to capture the whale alive. Re
pcaied attempts were made to get the
iope under ihe mammoth ;flsh as it
jfwam around inside the ivelr, but it
was impossible to get near enough and
finally the men had to give up the at
tempt. , . ;
"'There is only one way to get the
whale landed safely on the beach, that
I know of,' said one of the men, 'and
that's to build on to your weir.' A lit
tle explanation followed, and it was
decided to estend one corner of the
weir like the two fences of a lane, up
on the beach to high water mark,
then drive the big fish on shore where
it could be captured when aground and
helpless.
"Work on the extension began that
day and continued for three days, then
the lane was completed all but one
thing. How to make an opening for
the whale to find a false escape up
the beach was a question for the fisher
men to solve, and it looked like an
impossibility. One of the boatmen
finally hit on a plan of lowering
down a gate at the end, after
removing enough of the? brush weir
at that place, and then to hoist it out
of the water again. It required sev
eral, hours of hard work to construct
a suitable gate and sink it into place
before the weir could bo cut in the
desired place, but this was finally
done, and at the signal the false gate
was arranged in position, then raised.
Hardly had it reached the top of the
water than the whale seeing what
looked like a sure opening and escape
in view darted up the narrow enclosure
at a rapid rate of speed.
"The big fish could not turn, and in
less time than it takes to tell you the
story was high and dry on the smooth
beach. How that whale churned up
tbe. water with; its, tail when the tide
began turning for the ebb, but; in a
few minutes the mammoth fish was
as helpless as a baby. Captain McMil
lan .measured the critfer on the beach
and found it more than forty-five feet
from nose to tail, but unusually thin
for a whale.
"He. did not want to kill his new
found prize and was at a loss how to
hold it when the tide came in again,
but concluded to build, a small inclos
ure around the whale on the beach and
at a "future time expected to securely
fasten a big hawser about the tail of
the fish which would hold. He set to
work and soon had the captive secure
ly fenced in on all sides so that escape
was almost impossible, and when the
salt water of the Bay of Fundy again
reached the young whalo there was
some fun for a short time. Next day
the captain came to Eastport and from
a blacksmith secured a stout iron band
to fit securely around the outer end of
the whale's tail, just back of the outer
fin.
' "In tha band was an 'eye' to fasten
on a light, chain, and with his newly
made collar he -soon returned home,
and after some difficulty, at low tide,
had the iron band fastened around bis
victim 011 the beach. Wh-en the tide
again came in part of the fence was
removed, and the chain .was securely
fastened on both euds, one being in the
eye of the band, the sea monster was a
prisoner, ,
"Captain. McMillan concluded to al
low his captive into deeper water than
his cove afforded, so that the fish
might be able to look after its supply
of food during the day when he was
not around. For a few days the cap
tive wbale made a lively time of it and
tried to break away from the chain,
but finally wras obliged to submit, and
after a short time devoured O. quantity
of food brought near tho weir by the
owner. Many of the island residents
came from the neighboring places to
see the captive whale on the chain, and
Captain McMillan was asked why he
did not exhibit his prize at the large
cities across tho border and along tho
Maine coast. '
"That would.have been easily enough
done bad the fish been, dead, or small
enough to carry about 'in a boat, but
how could I13 get a forty-five-foot
whale out of the harbor in safety?
"It was not 'long before the big fisli
began to show signs of becoming tame,
and on the approach of meal time was
always found ready to devour the food
provided.
"In several weeks Jims baby whalo
had Increased 'somewhat in length and
also became quite tame, so that when
the veteran seaman came near it in his
boat his captive would jilay alongside.
After two months had passed and the
fish had increased ia size to be noticed,
Jim thought he had better secure a
stouter chain to hold his pet, and again
made a visit to Eastport for a longer
and heavier piece of chain. This he
soon secured and returned to his Cana
dian home to make the change when
he was much surprised and disappoint
ed when he was told, that the whale
had broken the chain and disappeared
into the deeper water of the Bay of
Fundy. It was quite a shock to Cap
tain Jim to find tho broken chain and
lose hia whale after so much expense
and trouble, but be returned to his
house and talked over the loss with his
wife.
"'Never mind, Jim, perhaps the big
fish will come back for his dinner as
usual, as I've heard of such things,
and, you know, that wasn't no ordi
nary whale, neither. That whale was
tame when it left these waters, and
mark me when I . say that you'll see the
fish back when it's time for the grub to
be served.'
"The husband allowed that the whale
was certainly tame, but how was he to
again capture the big fellow if he
shouldn't return to the cove for the
customary noon meal.
" 'I'd better shoot the critter and be
sure of the carcass this time; what do
you say, wifey?'
"'Don't you be too hasty, Jim, but
wait for developments, as the whale
will return often if it comes. back once,
you can bet."' Only wait and see.'
"At the appointed hour for feeding
his former pet Captain McMillan went
down to the ledge where he had stood
so of ten on recent days and tossed the
food into the bay to his friend, the
whale
"He threw the bucket of food to the
water and watched it sink below the
surfafce, btit before the las"t particle
had disappeared the dark form of a
long, -slender fish came to View, and
when 4hetail was exposed 'there was
the telltale- iron ring and hanging to it
a.small piece of chain.
"'That's my whale!' exclaimed Jim,
as the big fish swam leisurely about
the cove and did not seem to want to
leave the small harbor when the food
was gone.
"The old seaman remained on tho
rocks for a long time, and was then
convinced that his wife was right
about the fish which had come back to
stay, evidently. Next day, and as fast
as meal time came, there was the tame
whale, and soon the islanders heard of
Jim's lucky find. When Jim went out
to gather up his lobster traps or haul
in his fishing lines and nets the whale
accompanied him, and always was re
warded by receiving a newly caught
cod or pollock off the hooks. One day
Captain McMillan started out on a fish
ing trip down the baj and not far
from Grand Manan, N. B., a fierce gale
arose and a blustering snowstorm set
in, wrhlch promised to last for several
days.
"Mrs. McMillan and her children
gathered on the beach near their home
and watched closely through the storm
for the husband and father, but noth
ing could bo soon in the distance ex
cepting the high waves in which no
small boat could live.
"If Jim was out on that storm, he
had little chance to escape," she
thought, and as the day was nearly
gone and no signs of her husband, she
began to feel a little uneasy.
"The storm seemed to increase in
fury, piling the waves high up on the
beach, and it began 10 look as if an
other seaman was to be reported
among tae missing.
"But, what was that long, low ob
ject she saw coming up the bay like
a fast moving steamboat half buried
in the water? The more she looked
at it the more she woUdered, and as
the object came nearer she was able
to make out the form of a snake-like
fish of a very large size, the head high
up out of the. water.
"Could it be her husband's tame
whale back for its dinner at this late
hour, she thought, as she supposed the
lish had gone away early in the day.
As it came close to the point of land
on which she stood she saw that there
was some object on its back that re
sembled a luman being, and as the
whale came into the small harbor with
tho speed of a steamboat under all
steam, the form of her husband could
be plainly seen. He lay across the
whale's back, near the neck, with his
arms over the side of the fish, holding
on with a firm grip and in another min
ute Capt. -Tim's form arose from the
surf and was quickly clasped in his
wife's arms. He followed her into the
house and after a complete change of
clothing followed by a warm tlrink, he
told her how he had been saved from
a watery grave by his faithful whale,
which seemed to know considerable.
'When tho storm broke this morn
Ing, said .TIc we were well down the
bay and before I could get prepared
for the storu my mast broke off by
the fierce wind. What followed I am
unable to say, excepting that I struck
in the icy water and was sinking when
I felt something "soft like, coming up
under my hands, and you can bet I
grabbed it. When I came to the sur
face I saw it was my tame whale, and
then 1 felt safer than I had a minute
before, although I was at a loss to
know just what the big fish would do
and where it would take me. I talked
to the faithful whale as I would to a
person, as I had done so often during
the meal hour, and promised him extra
rations if he landed me safely on our
beach.
'You know the rest, continued the
captain to his wife, 'and here I am safe
and sound after a ride of fully twenty
miles oh the back of a real whale, but
a good one, I can assure you."
"Captain McMillan turned the fish to
good use later, when he went out on
his fishing trips, as he would fasten
a stout rope to the iron band in the
whale's tail and would be towed home
faster than by sailing, or even steam,
as the fish always came into the little
cove. All went well for about a year
and many tempting offers were made
for tho wonderful fish, but Jim would
not part with his silent friend for any
amount, as to the fish he owed his life.
He was just beginning to teach the
whale to tow his boat to different
neighboring towns in Passamaquoddy
Bay. when the long fish took sick and
died.
"That was a sad. blow' to Captain
McMillan, geptlemen. 'as well as his
family, and it was a long time before
they ; fully recovered ifrom the shack
.and the loss of their pet. '
"Captain McMillan didn't know just
what' to do with the body, but finally
decided to give it a burial In the bay
near his home and mark the spot with
a gravestone.in the form of a big buoy
above the dead whale.
"This he carried out to the letter and
the unique funeral services were held
on the beach the following dayaijd
were attended by quite a iarge gather
ing of Canadian friends from the isl
ands near. .
"That ended Captain McMillan's
tame a bale, gentl?man," said the
speaker, "and I will now bid you all
good-night," saving which, he gathered
up his bundli aud started for him
home. Lewiston Jourral.
Awed by SIsW of Wealth.
'A Southed i rlai.ler employed a m.tn
to work some of hi3 land during ii:e
past year on shares. On account of
tho high price of cotton the employe's
half of tho proceeds amounted to 1000.
The planter knew that it would ruin
any such man to get such a sum of
money, and decided that half of it
would bo enough. Upon further reflec
tion the conviction grew upon hi in
that $S00 would ruin any such man
in the world, so he cut the sum in
half again, and, piling up 400 shining
silver dollars on his desk, sent for the
negro and brothei, and said that he
was ready to settle. The man came in
and fairly gasped at the amount of
wealth in sight.
"Land, boss," he said, "is that money
all ours?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, divide it in two piles
and -you take your half aud I'll take
mine' Minneapolis Tribune.
A Brazen Booster,
Into the presence of about 2001 peo
ple stalked two roosters, a flock of
chattering chickens and a few anxious
mother ' birds yesterday afternoon at
the City Fark during a concert by
Brown's Tark Band, and in the course
of a rendition of Meyerbeer's "Coro
nation" march, one rooster had the
temerity to crow exultantly. Perhaps
he imagined that his clarion notes
couTd drown those of the cornet sec
tion, but after a few attempts he gave
up the endeavor in despair. For the
remainder of the afternoon, iike a
sensible fowl, he contented himself
with hanging around the children who
had lunch baskets. Portland Oregon
iau. Had 4000 Uod Fathers.
Probably no person in the world Imd
as many godfathers as did rrin.'r.-s
Ireno of Prussia, wife of lrince
Henry. When she was born her fath
er requested the members of the Hes
sian regiments forming a portion of his
cavalry brigade to be sponsors for the
baby. When she was christened about
4000 soldiers stood for her as sponsors.
S.xAKcSTONE A MYlri.
Supposed Medicinal Value as a Folsov
Antidote is False.
South Africans, as a rule, trouble
Jhemselves but little about snakes, al
thought iyis .well known that a few va
rieties are partfcutaTly' deadly. Among
the natives the properties of the
"snakestone" have for many genera
tions formed a centre of half super
stitious credulity, and, even by people
who might be expected to know better,
have been supposed to effect the most
surprising cures of snake bite. . Ad.
investigation of. ..its properties by the
government bacteriologists of Natal,
who submitted an Indian snakestone
to the test of applying it to animals
infected with snake venom, has shown
conclusively that its prppertie 9 are
quite mythical and that it does nothing
that Is claimed for it. According to
tradition - the ' snakestone, which has
absorbent qualities, and which there
is some reason to believe is frequently
artificially prepared, is placed on the
wound inflicted by a snake bite. There
I it is believed to suck out the poison,
and it has been said that if afterward
placed in a bowl of milk the venom
will exude aud the milk turn btne.
In certain experiments narrated in the
British Medical Journal all these di
rections wen? followed. To the two
rabbits injected' respectively with the
venom of a black mamba, a very dead
ly South African cnlubimo. and with
puff adder venom, the snakes ne was
at once applied. The stone, by virtue
of its absorbent nature, adhered to the
wound, bufhere its adherence to tra
dition ended! Both rabbits diedj and
what, "was more disappointing. ' two
other rabbits, used as. a ."control ex-
, periment," which were,injceted with
the same amount of venom, recovered.
: Nor when the stone was placed in milk
did the milk change .color, though .a
small quantity of it was absorbed.
The amount of absorption that the
stone could possibly erect would be. no
more in hours than ordinary suction by
the lips could achieve in a few min
utes; and its only possible usefulness
might be that of improving the phys
ical jjopdition of the patient, by, im
pressing him with the belief tbar-'a
valuable remedy was being applied.
South Africa.
A Chinese Lad's Views on It'ta Race.
Seldom, indeed, are the political and
sociological views of a seventeen-year-old
schoolboy worth corsideration or
even mention. Exceptional, if not
unique, was the valedictory address
delivered. June S. on his graduation"
from the Atlantic City High School
by Wu Chao-chu, the son of Wu Ting
fang, long and favorably known as the
Minister of ih.j Chinese Empire to the
United States. Although th youth la
bored under l he grave disability of ac
quiring knowledge tbrorglt the medi
um of a language radically different
from his own, his averages, we are
told, Wirre the highest in every depart
nient; and bis address, which appropri
ately had for its subject the conserva
tism of the Far East, was marked by
a rare maturity of thought. Young
Wu began by admitting xhac the Jap
anese are-relatively progressive, where
as the Chinese are justly looked upon
as typical of Oriental conservatism.
He recognized that a people whose
conservatism is not ingrained may
change easily from its ancient customsr
and manners to new. Ho pointed out,
however, that what can be changed
easily once may probably bo changed
just as easily again. A volatile and
mutable ration that flickers with
1 every wind may return to its old ways.
' and its very relish for. novelties .may,
prove an arch enemy to progress.
Ilariicr's Weekly.
A Danish Gun.
The Danes have a new field gun
which can f.re 200 rounds a minute,
wcigus loss thau fifteen pounds, and
has great range. Every Danish cav
alry regiment has a gun detachment
now. One man carries the gun in a
leather case attached to his saddle, an
other carries ammunition and a horse
is loaded with a reserve supply. -
The Marriage Tartuership.
Marriage is a partnership, and as
one partner in a business bouse is not
grateful to the otter partner for pay
ing him his portion, so a wife should
ot be expected to be grateful to her
husband. And if she has a right to her
money she has a right to her own life,
which is the gift of God. Everybody's
Magazine. '
J. Wessalay Hoffman, cotton expert
for the King of England, ia making" a.
tour of this country. j