Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-12
An Educated Crab.

a number of the passengers on the
2 o'clock Oakland boat yesterday wit
messed an interesting and curious eXhi-
bition. A man, having every appear
ance of being a sailor, stood on the low
er forward deck beside large pail,
which was filled with sea-water. In
this pail was q crab of enormous size,
and, to Judge by the punches of barna-
Giles upon his back, of considerable age.
The sailor was a genial fellow, and APP
peared to be proud of his pet. He first
informed the surrounding passengers
that the crab was the humble posseSsor
of the name of ':Ned," and that, in ad-
dltlon to owning q name, he would
answer to that name. This was receiY-
ed with incredulous smiles on the part
of the onlookers. The crab could be
observed lying motionless at the bot
tom of the pail, as apparently content
ed with his position as though he was
delving in the mud at the bottom of the
bay. The sailor kneeled beside the
pail, gave a subdued whistle, and the
muttered Med, Ned" twice. Instant
~ there was a commOtion in the water
as tho crab wriggled its joints and
bobbed around like a spider impaled on
the point of a needle. This motion
was kept up until it succeeded in get
ting two claws over the edge of the
pail. 1t then tried to draw itself up
The sailor suddenly ceased whistIing,
whereupon ''Ned' dropped into his
mOtionless attitude, only to rouse UP
again upon repetition of the whistle
and the calling of his name. At last
he got q grip upon the pail with one of
his claws, and drew himself up almost
clear Of the water. His master came
to his relief and laid him out upon the
deck. Here he strutted around in his
awkward fashion to the infinite amuse-
ment of every one. He was apparently
delighted, and, when his master
stretched out a hand to him, he Stroked
it with his claws and even pretended to
nip it as kittens ''play bite" but it
was noticeable that he did not close on
it. When any of the passengers APP
preached he appeared sensible of the
difference between them and his mas
ter, and, drawing up his extremities,
lay sullenly in one place. Upon being
asked whether Ned" could do any
more wonderful things, the sailor re-
piled that he could. He dropped '.Ned''
into his pail, to his crabship's satisfac-
ton.
Then the pleased owner drew from
his pocket piece of thin rope. This
he stretched between two of the deck
posts, about three feet from the deck.
The crowd of spectators, which was
now swelled by many from the upper
deck who had heard that something
extraordinary was going on, pressed
around, eager to see what the next act
was on the programme. The sailor
plucked 'tNed' out of his natural ele-
ment once more, and hung him to the
rope-his crabship clutching the line
tightly with one of his nippers. His
master then began q low, monotonous
whistle and ''Ned' put himself in mo-
ton. He evidently knew just what
was expected of him, and reaching out
his spare nipper got hold of the rope q
short space along. Then wriggling his
claws he released his first hold and
caught the rope again close to his Sec
ond ''nipper." In this fashion he
worked himself along to about the
middle of the rope, when he stopped.
His master held his hands beneath him,
and he dropped into them exhausted.
The sailor explained that Ned became
weak after he was out of the water
very long. Ned's achievement was
hailed with delight by the passengers,
and many ladies pressed forward to
look at him as he lay in the bottom of
the pail.-San Francisco Call.