54 fishermen's memorial and record book. 



On Georges in the Terrible Gale of February 24th, 



1862. The experience of one who was there 



for the first and the last time. 



[Among the crew of one of the Georgesmen which escaped the ter- 

 rible perils of the gale of February 24th, 1862, was. a young man 

 from one of our inland cities, who had made several trips mackereling, 

 in the summer months, where he had heard the " veterans " talk of 

 the perils of the Georges fishery. These stories, told with the gusto 

 of tirst-class yarn spinners, kindled within him a strong desire to go 

 on one of these trips, which he did, and as it happened, he got an 

 experience which will last him a life-time. We gleaned from him the 

 following narrative of that terrible event, which we publish almost 

 verbatim.] 



The winter of 1862 found me out of employment, and I determined 

 to gratify my long pent-up inclination of going to Georges. It was 

 early in February. The weather had been extremely mild, for the 

 season, and there were busy times at the wharves in Gloucester, fit- 

 ting away the vessels, some of which had already sailed, and many 

 were nearly ready. 



Upon going to the fitting-out store of Messrs. , I was cor- 

 dially received. Thej' were surprised to learn that I wanted to go to 

 Georges, and endeavored to dissuade me from my purpose ; but all of 

 no avail, and as they had a vessel which would be ready to sail in a 

 day or two, told me I could have a chance in her. Procuring the 

 necessary additions to my outfit, I entei-ed heartily into the work of 

 getting our craft in readiness. The ice-house in the hold was filled 

 with the crystal blocks, the cable and anchors overhauled, gurry-pens 

 placed in position, bate of fresh herring packed in the ice, provisions 

 taken care of, and the vessel put in a taut and strong condition. 



On the morning of February 14th, we started, and, in a glorious 

 run of twenty-four hours, sighted the fleet on the Banks — nearly a 

 hundred sail, riding at their anchors, half a mile, and in some instan- 

 ces, a mile apart. It was a pretty sight, and the fine, clear weather, 

 rendered it highly enjoyable. We could distinctly see the men at 



