Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-02-18

! Bouc hfOuuu aid oCN uu w ufC intO tii'
herd from behind. and had thus ere
ated the stampede. He didn't know
any better. so couldn't say much.
"The bottom OF the canyon was
about full Of dead aud wounded buffa.
. loea never saw such sight before
and never want to again. Perhaps" "
concluded the old hunter. 'you have
been under the fall at Niagara Well,
just imagine the water living buffaloes
and you can imagine my situation.
My horse never saw again. Whether
he went into the canyon or not DON t
know"
Many animals ara subject to stam-
pede. but especially those that are &C
customed TO herd. When they are
large and powerful the most frightful
results may follow. 1t sometimes oc.
ours among elephants. when entire
plantations are wrecked and fences
and houses are ruined.
In the sea-lion rookeries OF the
Alaska coast some curious stampedes
and exciting incidents are often seen.
At certain seasons OF the year the
Aleuts have a drive OF .seevitchie,"
as the lions are called. 1t is gener-
ally begun In September or October
The largest and strongest Aleuts are
selected for the purpose, who, with
provisions, repair TO the vicinity OF
the rookery. At night when the sea-
lions are lying in the sand above high
water mark, they make their first at
tempt Armed with sticks. guns and
clapplng bones. they creep down to
the waters edge. and finally, with
much skill and maneuvering, place
themselves between the sea-lions and
the water, and. at given signal, rush
with yells AMI screams at their vic
Tins The sea-lions awake. and hear
ing the terrible noise. dash away in a
stampede. euch one rushing In the di- |
rection in which he happened to be
sleeping. In this way half may go |
inland, while the rest head for the
men. In the latter case thero is some
danger, but, as n rule. the Alcuts es-
cape injury. The sea-lions come hop
ping. foundering along, making mar
velous speed for such huge ere atures
and care nothing for the men In their
blind rush.
The stampede OF the sea-lions euds
disasterously TO the most OF them.
They founder inland, and are then
followed and driven to the houses OF
the men by shouts and cries. There
stakes are placed In the ground about
them. forming rude corral. To the
posts streamers OF cloth are attached.
aud their Tutoring in the wind pre-
vents the foolish sea-lions from escap-
ing. Other catches are added until
aually two or three hundred sea-lions
are corralled, when the final march is
taken up. The sea-lions are liberated
and headed In the direction OF the
Aleut village, ten or twelve miles
away, and driven there, the journey
taking from one to two weeks.
Among wild horses the stampede Is
IN exciting spectacle, the animals lit
,rally running away in body. 1t is t
he custom among Indians to create a
stamped among horses and cattle
when they wish to appropriate some
" them, and. In the confusion that re-
'ults, not few are driven of and Sc
~ ed
. II was once my good fortune TO
witness stampede OF eels. A certain
bond on the Maine coast was fed by
,rook, but at high water the ocean .
lowed In, so that 1t might be said to
10 salt at high tide, and fresh or
'rackish at low tide The conditions
eemed to be particularly favorable
or the propagation OF cells, and the A
muddy bottom was fairly alive with
hem. many Of them Of largo size. As
he tidee ebbed, many eols went into a
alt water p
One evening ! had occasion to cross
he creek with friend just Mt night e
all. The little brook had dwindled
own to n mere stream, foot or SO
ride. and Us we stepped over IL was m
cen TO be black with eels. My COM W
anion inadvertently stepped In among
-SA's "hA ~ hho Aubttint tuo living l,
liver broke and remarkable STAN U
'ede occurred. Hundreds OF forms, u
angling from two to three or moro
Get in length. broke away and dashed :
ver the dry but slippery beach. COW :,
ring 1t in every direction with a v
mass OF eel life. The terri
ed animals dashed up towards the " y
hore and in every direction, though ~ !,
ltimately turning and making for Il !,
he distant water. Some Of them y :,
raversed. to reach IL, over thrco -
undred feet Of dry land.
Among all animals the feeling OF
larm and sudden terror Is liable to A
ave the same result-a wild break. IL
ushing this way and that; even among
len 1t Is not uncommon. In every ~,
ar sudden surprises have resulted in q,
stampede, where hundreds OF men, V,
brave, have rushed head IL
'ng to escape tho supposed o actual al
anger, stampcded just us they mig " az
they were sea-lions or buffalo. |. at
Holder, In Youth Comppr ION IN