The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-28

XZ412fEI1 lorna coast lies Tn
Xi5hEEI lone island of Guada
fNNG ~ lupe. Guadalupe j!
f/NyS! one Of the twelve o.
fS twenty names which
for centuries the Spaniards have beer
applying to the various geographical
divisions of the earth's surface
Whitney talked of the plentifulness Of
sea elephant on the Guadalupe beaches
l presume the sea elephant is identical
with the sea lion. They resemble lion
about as much as an elephant. So the
PROV of the Henry was turned toward
Guadalupe. While on this trip, one
morning before daylight 1 heard at in,
tervals strange noise, something be-
tween below and a creak l thought
it at first the creaking of something
aloft, but as it grew lighter l saw a
strange looking head emerge moment
arily from the water. 1t gave forth
the same cry, dove and came up on the
other side Of the vessel 1t was a seal
pup, which the sailors said had lost its
mother and followed the vessel, mistak-
ing the hull for its maternal parent.
l presume that seals have no recog-
nized fathers to look after them. The
poor thing, uttering its plaintive but dis
cordant cry, must have followed US to
sea forty or fifty miles. l know not
whether the sailors explanation of its
conduct be correct. Anyway it makes
the occurrence more pathetic, and were
utterly unprincipled should make an
entire chapter describing how this pup
seal followed the Henry during the voy-
age like dog, being regularly fed, and
as it grew up came on board and was
taught a number of accomplishments,
among the rest that Of supplying us with
fish. Ills thus that a rigid adherence to
veracity spoils many an interesting and
thrilling tale, and brings to him who
practices it more poverty than pence.
Guadalupe on the third day came in
slght-a lone, wave washed, wind swept
isle about forty miles in length. It
seemed the very embodiment of loneli-
ness. Some would also say of desola-
ton, as man Is ever disposed to call any
place he does not inhabit. But though
Guadalupe contained not single repre-
sentative of the most intelligent animal
on the planet, it sustained great herds of
goats, sea birds and a little black and
white land bird, SO tame and trustful as
to perch and eat from Miller's and Whit
ney's tin plates during their former visit
to the island.
1t was our business to murder all the
mother sea lions who had established
their nurseries at Guadalupe. A boat
full of murderers was quickly sent on
shore. We did not see boat or crew
again for three days. Most of that De-
risi was spent by us in looking for the
boat, and by the boats crew in locking
at u.s. They landed on the first day,
found no seal, put off at dusk, lost us in
fog, went ashore, swore at the Hen
rvs people for not sighting them, hauled
their boat well up on the beach at the
mouth of deep canyon, supped on hard
bread and water, and turning their craft
bottom up, crawled under it for bed
guilt and went to sleep on the sand.
During the night a seni-hurricane. |
called In those ATTITUDES villa wah." |
came tearing and bowling down the |
canyon. Striking the boat, it rolled it
over and over among the rocks, smashed |
the frail sides and rendered it unsea-
worthy. For two days the crew roamed |
mp and down the island, living on she'll
fish and the fresh water left standing in
pools, and trying TO signal us by fires
pulIt on the mountains. The captain
was IN state of great perplexity at this
disappearance. But, having left a por-
ton OF the crew at ST Bartholomew's
bay, ne had not hands enough TO send
another boat ashore and work the YES
sci. Then he dare not come nearer the
island than three miles, fearing sunl1en
rocks and currents setting inshore.
On the third night one of their fires
was seen from the Henry. Standing in
for 1t, by daylight the missing men were
seen making for us in an old yawl. Be-
hind, full of water, was lowed the shat
tered whale boat. The yawl had been
found on the beach, probably left there
by former sealers. BY stufing all the
clothes they could spare in its sun
warped cracks and constant bailing they
managed to keep adoat long enough to
reach US.
They crawled on board pale. bag
gare, famished lot-and was kept very
busy for a time ministering to their
wants They ate steadily for an hour.
Even with this rescue a greater catas-
trophe than all came near happening.
Becalmed and by means of a treacherous
current we were being rapidly carried
toward an enormous rock which tow
cred sentinel-ike alone mile or more
from the north end of the island. 1t
reached full 500 feet toward the clouds.
Its perpendicular sides seemed built I'D
in artificial layers. Toward this the
Henry seemed helplessly drifting. and
the "Old Man." under the influence of
eSmbined anger and despair, jumped up
and down in his tracks and howled on
the quarter deck as he saw the VOYAGE |
such an unfortunate termi- /,
nation. Fortunately a providential or I
occidental breeze came off the land Just
in time TO give Us Storage way.
We trlfied no more with Guadalupe.
but sailed straight away. {
PRENTSR MILFORD. {