Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-09
CATCHING sEA-L1oNs.
Thrilling Experience Of Paul Boy
ton on the Pacific Coast.


Capt. Paul Boyton passed through
Tacoma, Washington, a few weeks ago
on his way 10 the coast to capture sea-
lions and seals for Lincoln Park, in Chi
cago, and for his own use, for he has sew
eral troupes of performing seals. He was
in Tacoma for short time and was seen
by Neaos representative. The captain $
adventurous life has so Injured him to
hardships that he thinks lightly of expe-
riences which would cause the hearts of
less adventurous man to quail, and yet
even the stout, hearty Captain Boyton,
on his recent trip passed through dan
gers which he viii not attempt to cope
with again. After leaving Tacoma he
went first to Portland and then to Asto-
ria, where he made his headquarters.
/ There he procured dingy, and with an
assistant, went to Elk Greek, wild,
lonely place inhabited by one man.
From Elk Creek trail led over the
mountains to Tillamook Head, where
the captain had been told he could find
sea lions in abundance. The trail was
taken, and though it was but seven
miles in length, it required about the
same number of hours to cross it. Long
before the party crossed the mountains
or emerged from the timber they could
hear the sea-ions believing upon the
rocks. The sight as the hunters emerg-
ed from the timber upon the bleak and
lonely summit of the head, was soul-in-
spring. In front the broad expanse
of the restless Pacific, clashing with a
nevor-ceasing roar upon the rocks three
hundred feet below; TO the right and
left the uneven, jagged coast line, fad
ing away in softer and softer outlines,
and finally blending with the blue of the
sky into indistinguishable form. Di-
rectly below the party was a sight never
beheld save by the few venturesome spir-
its who undertake untold toll and labor
to witness it. There, upon the shelves
and lodges Of the rocks, lay the sea-lions,
basking in the sun, not by dozens nor by
scores but by hundreds and thousands
Grun ling and believing, and even fight
ing for choice resting places, a rare
sight they presented.
A trail down the cliff was found, and
the captain, quietly ensconsing himself
in his suit, slipped into the water at
some distance from the lions and took
his net with him. As explained in the
Meas at the time of the captains first
visit to Tacoma, he thought he would
approach the animals very readily, as in
his suit he resembled them, and he be-
lieved they would soon become aecus-
toned to his presence. So it proved.
Laying on his back in the water the
captain noiselessly padded up to an
easy landing-place. Slowly he crawled
up the rocks, and to his delight the
lions paid very little attention, seeming
to regard him as a quiet and inofiensive
member Of their own family As the
captain rolled up the rocks, following
the example of the animals themselves,
he crowded against several of the lions,
and they gave way for him without stop
ping to quarrel about the matter. After
taking his choice of the herd the captain
made preparations to capture young
lion about year old He edged up
near him, and ut a favorable moment !
threw his net over him. The lion made |
a plunge for the water, but as he did so
the captain gave the net dexterous |
swing and completely incloscd the lion |
by pulling the running string tight. He /
anchored the lion to the |
rocks, and the animal was rs helpless as |
though in a cage.
The party stayed there long enough to 1
capture four as fine lions as were ever /
seen, and then began to consider how /
they should get them back over the trail. |
They tried first packing one each side OF |
a mule and climbing up tho trail, but |
this was found impossible. Then, spy /
ing iutting Gag 800 feet above them,
the captain climbed up and lowered
half-inch cotton line to the rocks below. |
A lion was incloscd in the net and made |
fast to the rope. The order was given
Co pull away, and mp rose the lion,
with all his might and main
against the imprisoning meshes. The
experiment seemed in a fair way Of sue
cessful accomplishment, when, as the
struggling lion had reached height Of
about 200 feet, he gave an extra vicious
struggle, swaycd the rope against a
sharp rock, cut the rope, and downward
the poor animal, flattening into
a shapeless pulp OF flesh when he struck
the rocks.
Various plans were tried to get the !
thee other lions back to Elk Greek, but |
the great storms came ON, and to save
their own lives the captain and his party
had to let the lions go and follow the
trail back to Elk Creek. Here they
were imprisoned by the storm two or
three days, and after it had QUOTED
down they tried the trail again. but it
was filed with fallen trees, and the
journey required from daylight to dark
to accomplish it. Subsequently the
captain made an effort to capture more
lions, but was unsuccessful, and,
further, was caught in a storm, which
nearly swamped him.
At present Captain Boyton has four
or five seals captive at Astoria, but he
believes he viii be able to catch car
load Of them with great ease.