Killed by a Swordfish.

Evening Star, Issue 7331, 1 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Killed by a Swordfish.

In the last 'Bulletin' of the United States Fish Commission, W. A. Wilcox, in a letter to Professor Baird, relates a curious accident that befell Captain Langsford, as follows:—"The schooner, Venus is a small vessel of about twelve tons, owned and commanded by Franklin D. Langsford, of Lanesville (Mass.), with, a crew of three men, engaged in the general fisheries off the coast of Massachusetts. On Monday morning, 9th. August, 1886, Captain Langsford Bailed from home in pursuit of swordfish. About 11 a.m., when about north-east from Hallibut Point, in Ipswich Bay, a fish was seen. The captain, with one man, taking a dory, gave chase, and soon harpooned the fish, throwing over a buoy with a line attached to the harpoon, after which the fish was left and they returned to the vessel for dinner. About an hour later the captain, with one man, again took his dory and went oat to secure the fish. Picking up the buoy, Captain Langsford took hold of the line, pulling bis boat towards the swordfish, which was quite large and not badly wounded. The line was taut as the.boat slowly neared the fish, which the captain intended to lance, and thus kill it. When near the fish, but too far away to reach it with the lance, it quickly turned and rushed at and under the boat, thrusting its sword up through the bottom of the boat 23in. As the fish turned and rushed towards the boat the line was suddenly slackened, causing the captain to turn over on his back; and while he was in the act of rising, the sword came piercing through the boat and into his At this time another swordfish was in sight near by, and the captain, excited and anxious to secure both, raised himself up,. not knowing that he, was wounded. Seeing the sword, he seized it, exclaiming: ' We've .go.t hini,' any way ! '• He lay in the bottom of the dory, holding fast to the sword until his vessel came alongside, while the fish, being under the boat, could not be reached. Soon the captain said: ' I think I am hurt,; and quite badly.' When the vessel arrived he went on board, took a few Bteps, and fell, never; rising again. The boat and fish were Boon hoisted on boards when the sword was chopped off to free the boat, and the fish was killed on the deck of the vessel.. The fish weighed 24blb after its head and tail were cut off and the viscera removed. When alive it weighed something over 8001b. Captain Langsford survived the injury about three days, dying on Thursday, 12th August, of peritonitis. The certificate of £>r Garland, written oh 16th August, is appended, giving some farther particulars; and the Bword nas been deposited in the United States National Museum."— * Scientific American.'