July 1902
Drowned by Swordfish
Big Fish Hauls Isadore Bouchee From
Dory
Road Line Had Hard Turn Around His Leg
Sch. W. B. Keep, Capt.
John McKinnon, engaged in swordfishing, arrived form George's this
morning with her flag at half-mast for the loss of Isadore Bouchee, one
of her crew. The sad accident happened at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. A big
swordfish had been harpooned from the pulpit and Bouchee put off in a
dory to pick up the buoy and haul in on the road line. The fish came in easy, and Bouchee
had the road line all in but eight fathoms, when those on the schooner saw the line pull
tight and, to their horror, noticed Bouchee go over the rail and
disappear beneath the surface. The line had caught around one of his legs and when
the fish darted off he had pulled the unfortunate man, who was unable to clear himself,
overboard, and under water with the road line.
In less than four minutes another dory from
the vessel was on the scene and two men were hauling as hard as they knew how on the line,
but could not gain an inch. After a while the fish played out, and there, eight
fathoms from the 400-pound swordfish, was Bouchee caught securely by the
road line around the leg and evidently dead. He was taken on board the vessel and
all efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, so the vessel headed for home to bring
in his body.
Bouchee was 48 years old and
leaves a widow at No. 12 Taylor street, Gloucester. |
