Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-08-01
SOMEWHAT FIsHY.

not at all astonished.
----------.-.-s----.--.----
SOMEWHAT ElsHY.
The Remarkable Adventures Of q Da-
k0ta Turtle-A Messenger fora DyiRg
soldier.
Kimbsll (Dsk.l correspondence Sioux
City Journal: One OF the esrangest
cases Of longevity In the turtle has come
to light in Kimball. The writer is per-
sonaliy acquainted with all the parties
in this article. and to further
satisfy himself he went to she spot
where the story originated. OF course
turtles are always found wherever there
ls living water, and the laker and rivers
of Dakota abound With them, but they.
are always small, seldom measuring over
a foot in diameter. When your GORE
spenaent heard of the capture OF one
which measured three feet two inches
and o half from head to tail he thought
is worth travelling half mile to see.
Upon arrival at the spot we saw nothing
but the headless body OF an enormcu
turtle, such eB had never been seen be-
fore in this section. While using O tape
measure to verify its length we made an
astonishing discovery. A piece OF bright
metal seemed imbedded in the shell,
about foot from the edge. With the
aid Of q pocket knife. VIC. scrsped of the
:aoss and slime, disclosing the end of a
piece OF copper wire. We then went to
work vigorously and were we'll repaid for
our trouble. Three more wires we're
discovered, all similarly fastened, and
sll leading to central point over the
back. Underneath these closely drawn
wires was fiat package, carefully coy
cred with piece of a rubber blanket.
We took off the covering, wondering
what could be the contents, prepared
for almost anything, for at this stags
OF the proceeding nothing would have
autonished us. IL was only letter
which We opened fearlessly, since by
right Of discovery it belonged TO us. Il
was written in q large, bold hand, and
wonderfully. we'll preserved, for the
head line bore the date OF August 4 17th,
1868. thread 90 follows:
To whoever Providence may direct this
humble messenger: I cannot hope to over
again sec the face OF human. ] left Fort
Thompson the FIRST day OF August, bear
ing orders from commanding officer to
troops supposed to be stationed some
where IN this section. The first day ont
/ lost my saddle bags containing
my rasiona while Z swimming
q creek. Since then have been
wanderings around in she vain hope of
fnaipg the troops or some place where 1
might getisomething 40 eat. My horse
gave ont seven days ago snd since then
hsye travelled on by foot bat with mo-
headway for here / find the same litfle,
water hole where / lefs his dead body.a
week since. and endeAvored to quenoh
my thirst by drink OF the brackish
water, and while il. the act discovered
turtle. Remembering a piece OF wire
which hold ons Htirrup OF ray saddle
conceived the idea OF fastening mes
sago on its back by o piece Of thin wire,
knowing IL would soon travel on, as the
water is fast drying up. My name is
John B. Oabfar, company e, fourth
Iowa cavalry. write this with no hope
OF it ever bringing me help, bat know it
is the only possible chance OF my fate
ever being known. a ringing in my
ears, drowsy head, and horrible pains
that infect every part OF my body warn
me that have not long to live. For
humanity's sake let he who finds this
missive carry the news to my mates, for
they are the only friends have on esIth.
With the close OF this lie down 20 die,
praying the father that IL may be o.
painless and speedy as possible.
The turtle that bore this remarkable
epiBtle was discovered by James Byrne,
proprietor of meat market in this city.
He was out driving on Tuesday evening
last, and while on grade between two
lakes, just north Of the residence OF Mr..
G. ). Maynard, his team shied at some
thing in ths road. :. After passing the
object he stopped and went back along
the road to see what it was. II proved
to be q turtle, and on account OF its aize
he determined to secure IL, SO turned it
on its back, while he hastened TO town,
returned TO the spot and severed its head
with an ax. His report OF the affair
induced US to 60 and see it. and with the
result as reported above. The mail OF
this poor soldier was written on closely
lined paper, probably torn from So note
book. II any one who was stationed al
Fort Thompson IN 1868 may read this
the failure TO return Of John B. Cables
will have beeu explained.