Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-04
From wild Sports Of the West.
The Blind Seal.

There is curious story told of one of these ami
mals-I believe the leading incidents of the MARIA
tive to be perfectly authentc-and it is a memora-
bic record of enduring attachment in the animal,
and exquisite barbarity in the man. The tale runs
thus
''About forty years ago, young seal was taken
in Clew Bay. and domesticated in the kitchen of
gentleman whose house situated on the seasbore
1t grew apace. became familiar with the servants,
and attached to the house and family; its habits
were innocent and gentle, it played with the chill
dren, came at its masters call, and, as the old man
described him to me, was fond as dog, and play
full Kitten
Daily the seal went out to fish, and after provi-
ding for his own wants. frequently brought in sal
mon or turbot to his master His delight In sum-
mer was to bask in the sum- and in winter to lie be-
fore the fire, or if permitted, creep into the large
oven, which at that time formed the regular appen-
dage of an Irish kitchen.
For four years the seal had been thus domestca-
ted when, unfortunately, disease, called in this
country the cripparn-a kind of paralytlc affection
of the limbs which generally ends fatal
some black cattle belonging to the master of the
house; some died, others became infected, and the
customary produced by changing them to drier
pasture failed wise woman was consulted, and
the bag assured the credulous owner that the NOR
tality among his COWS occasioned by his retain
ing an unclean beast about his habitation--the
harmless and amusing seal. 1t must be made away
with directly, or the crippawn would continue, and
her charms be unequal to avert the malady. The
supersttious wretch consented to the hag's prOpo-
sal the seal was put on board boat, carried out
beyond Clare Island, and there committed to the
deep, to manage for himself as best he could. The
boat returned, the family retired to rest, and next
morning servant awakened her master to tell him
that the seal quietly sleeping in the oven The
poor animal over night came back to his beloved
home, crept through an open window, and took pos
session OF his tavorite resting place.
Next morning another COW was reported to be
unwell. The cause must now be finally removed a
INnI1p HSh1 h1o&
return home, and the master undertook to carry off
the seal, and not put him overheard until he had
gone leagues beyond lnnis Bofin. 1t was done-a
day and night passed the second evening closed
the servant was raking the fire for the nght-som
thing scratched gently at the door-it of course
the house-dog-s opened it, and in came the seal
Wearied with his long and unusual voyage, he tes-
titled by peculiar cry: expressive Of pleasure, his
his delight to find himself at home then stretching
himself before the glowing embers of the hearth he
fell into deep sleep.
The master of the house was Immediately ap-
priced of this unexpected and unwelcome visit In
the exigency, the beldame awakened and con-
suited she ayerred that it always unlucky to
kill SEAL but suggested that the animal should be
deprived of sight, and third time carried out to
sea. To this helsh proposition the besotted wretch
who owned the house consented and the affection |
ate and conhdlng creature was cruelty robbed of
sight, on that hearth for which he had resigned his
native element! Next morning. writhing i'll agony, |
the mutlated seal was embarked, taken outside |
Clare Island, and for the last time committed to the
waves.
"A week passed over, and things became worse
instead of BETTER the cattle of the trucuent wretch
lied fast. and the Internal bag gave him the pleas
urabe tdings that her arts were useless, that the
visitation upon his cattle exceeded her
skill and cure.
''On the eighth night after the seal had been de-
Toted to the Atlantic it blew tremendously In the
oauses of the storm wailing noise at times was
aintly heard at the door the servants who slept in
the kitchen, concluded that the Banshee came to
orewarn them of an approaching DEATH and buried
their heads in the bed-coverings When morning
broke the door was opened-the seal there lying
lead upon the thresholds
Stop, Julius u exclaimed, ''give moments
time to curse all concerned in this barbarism."
Be patient, Frank said my cousin, the finale
will probably save you that trouble. The skeleton
Of the once plump animalfor poor beast, it perish
ed from hunger, being incapactated from blindness
to procure its customary food-was buried in sand
hill, and from that moment misfortune followed the
abettors and perpetrators of this inhuman deed
The dete5table hag who had denounced the molten
sive seal, was within a twelve month, hanged for
the illegitmate offspring of her own
daughter. Everything about this devoted house
melted away-sheep rotted, cattle died. and blight
ed the corn Of several children none reached
maturity, and the savage proprietor survived every
thing he loved cared for. He died blind and mis-
cradle.
There is not stone of that accursed building
standing upon another The property has passed to
a family of different name and the series of inces-
SAINT calamity which pursued all concerned in this
cruel deed is AS romantic true
1t midnight laid down my pine, took
candle from the sideboard, wished my cousin
good night: and went to bed, full of pity for the
gentle and affectonate seal