, 1890-08-14
RIDING THE TURTLE.

RIDING THE TURTLE.
Adventure of a Bird Nesting Party
! Away Down South.
We were In camp at an island
four or five miles away, says Il
writer in the New York Ledger,
1t found the bird-nesting party on
the sands again. The birds had be-
come quiet to certain extent, and
were resting on the sand, covering
their eggs or asleep, though some
were noisily darting about this way
and that through the air. The beach
surrounding the island was forty or
fifty feet wide, and on the edge near
the bush we stationed ourselves,
lying off In the clear moonlight, the
night being almost rs warm as the
day. Every few minutes two of the
party would start in opposite direc-
tons and go swiftly up the beach to
reconnoiter. This was accomplished
by running along the edge of the
water to see If any tracks led up.
Ilull u uOLtu vi tlcSc cNtuisA'ii'
had been made, when a loud halloo
came from almost behind us, on the
other side of the island. This meant
a turtle, and pell nell we started
through the bush, soaring up the
birds on all sides; now falling and
becoming entaugled in the branches,
struck in the face by escaping birds,
finally coming out upon the beach
to find one of our companions
struggling with an enormous log
gerhead turtle. He had lifted the
animal up on one side, and receiv-
ing a singing blow from the free
flipper, had dropped back, and was
bracing against the sand in tug-of-
war with the terrified creature. AS
we broke from the brush she had
carried him along at least ten feet
or more.
"Catch holdp he shouted, and at
the word several pairs of hands
brasped the side of the struggling
turtle. "Now, then, all togetherW
Two pulling aud one pushing, up
she went; then one received tell
ing blow from the swinging fiipper;
another's eyes were filled with sand.
The turtle Tapped wildly for mo-
ment, then fell back and began
afresh her scramble for the water
not very far away. Shouts of laugh
ter and derision came from the
party, as they again sprang to the
attack. One leaped upon the broad
back OF the animal, while others
seized her fiippers and endeavored
to hold her back; but the loggerhead
was evidently large enough to pull
three men, and the only hope lay in
turning her; 80 seizing u broken oar
that was lying on the beach, one
, man thrust it beneath the animal,
the other two gave quick lift, and,
with a cheer, the deed was done,
and the turtle lying upon her back
Tapping herself with her pondcrous
fiippers in impotent rage.
|: The turtle was the largest ever
caught there, and found almost too
, large to move. She was fastened
| flipper to iiipper and left until the
morning. During the night several
turtles were taken, occasioning
/ more or less sport in their capture.
: One came up Immediately in front
of the camping party. First her
,
then the cleaning body came slow
~ up until it reached spot above
, hlgh-water mark not twenty feet
J from the watchers. The digging
than began, accomplished by the
, hind flippers, the body being moved
, from side to side. When the hole
was foot and half deep the eggs
, were deposited. This accomplished,
- l..
making off by II different track to
the sea, and being turned on the
. way. The eggs, numbering over
, 100, were taken out but did not
prove the luXuries supposed, 1t be-
, ing almost impossible to cook them.
The immature eggs are the favorites
with the fishermen.
The young loggerheads are
, hatched out entirely by the sun,
and In sixty days break the shell
and dig their way up, making i'm
, mediately for the water. The in
stinct displayed at this time is re.
markable. A brood secured by the
writer was placed In room on the
edge of the water, one door of which
led into 1t. The little turtles inva-
rlably started for this door, no mat.
ter In what position they were
: pointed, showing that In some way
they realized the direction in which
their native element lay.
The power and strength of the
loggerhead and adult green turtle
are enormous. l have had them
tow my boat Mt q rapid rate oil
speed, and perhaps one of the
, most exciting sports was rid.
ing the turtles. The individuals
taken on this and subsequent
trips were carried to a turtle crawI
and there imprisoned, the craw
, being an enclosure on the reef, q
fenced in portion literally. When
, they were required for food 1t became
necessary to catch them--a process
attended by much sport aud excite,
! ment The huge turtles could be
seen lying upon the bottom, IN
strong relief against the sand, fast
; asleep. Then was our time. So
/ diving carefully, we would go down
} with eyer open, and quickly grasp q
big fellow by the shell back of the
| neck. This was all that was neces
sary, the turtle did the rest. Start
| tied from sound sleep, 1t would rise
, to the surface with several power
full strokes, take a quick breath, and
then dash away, dragging the rider