Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-12-14

Strength Of the Turtle.-A party went OH
shore one night for the purpose of catching
turtle, description of which may not be
embarrassing. We left the ship at sunset,
and reached the shore about dark, then
hauled the boat from the beach, and wlfn
this was done, formed ourselves into two
distinct parties, and Dispersed to different
parts along the beach. Having reached
the place where we thought it likely the
turtle would land, we lay down. keeping a
sharp look out, and making as little noise
IS possible. The moon had risen some
time, and was shedding his silvery rays on
these desolate regions the opposite coast
in the distance. which is very mountainous,
and the ship riding at anchor, had together
beautiful effect; the sea was perfectly
calm, and every thing appeared to be sleep.
ing in the Stiffness of night, and not
whisper being heard among the party, the
surf dashing against the rocks, alone break
ing the silence of the scene. We were
thus ali IN expectation of the appearance OF
a turtle, and six bells had just gone on
board-that is, it was ii O'Clock, p. NJ.
when We saw the first, to our great de-
light, coming on shore just opposite us. 1t
looked like black rock moving slowly out
OF the water.
We did not interrupt his progress until
it had got some distance upon the beach,
when rush was made towards it, and it
was Immediately turned over on its back
without giving it time either to defend it,
self or blind It's assailants by throwing sand
with its fppers or fins, which they do with
such force that it is almost dangerous TO
come near them. 1t took six men thus to
turn the largest that was caught; and the
| following incident will further show the i'm.
mense strength of these animals.
One OF our men, the gunner, wandered
away by himself to the further end of the
beach, where he thought TO have all the
sport to himself, not doubling for moment
that he would be able to turn any turtle
which he found but on the contrary to his
surprise, not being absent long, before cs-
plying large one making towards the
beach, he allowed it to come up some wav,
and then ran over it and attempted to turn
| 1t. All his endeavors were however fruit
less; and by some means he got his hand
between the shell and the neck, which the
animal, by drawing in its head, jammed,
and held there so tight, that he could not
withdraw it. The turtle began to crawl
towards the sea, dragging the man with it;
and he was in imminent danger of being
carried oil, when he began to call for as
sistance. Our party was somewhat alar-
med at the cries, thinking that some seri-
Gus accident had happened and immediate
ly ran towards the place from whence the
sounds proceeded, where we arrived Just in
time to save the poor fellow from a watery
grave. The turtle was close to the edge
of the sea, and was carrying him off as i
he were nothing; nor was it without somC
difficulty that we released him from hi
perilous situation, dragging the turtle abov,
high water mark, and turning it over
The man got Off with only few bruises
but was much frightened, and we all had
good laugh at him for his adventure
Kempthorne's Memoirs on the Eastern shore
Of tic Persian Gulf.