Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-03-14

the noise they made was deafening.
| Their first move was to help their
victims in the traps. They attempt
ed to pull them out by main force,
and when this failed they got stones
and clubs and tried to break the
traps. They had neither the strength
nor ingenuity to secure revenge ON
us. We had been expecting the
move and were ready for it, or
thought we were We had tour guns
on the rail, had covered the cabin
skylight with boards ana the decks
were clear Tor action. The tide was
yet running in, and although we
could almost look into the flashing
eyes of theapes, we knew they dread
ed water and would hesitate to swim
out to US.
don't know whose fault it was
that the yawl's painter, which was
made fast to the starboard rail
amidships was not securely fastened.
No one had given it any thought I'M
TIL we suddenly saw the yawl drive
4 to the mango bushes stern first.
\ Thela was no surf in that little bay,
and the tide would have held her
there if the apes had taken no action.
/ The boat no sooner within leaping
distance than fifty of the animals
sprang into it, and as it reached the
bushes it was held there. The
Il screams and yells OF the apes for the
next five minutes prevented speech.
/ Then, at given signal, all but one
leaped out OF the boat. A second
signal all those in sight on shore dis
appeared, leaving only the victims
OF the traps. These had ceased their
complaints and become quiet, and
now a great stiffness fell upon the
island. | asked the captain what
new move he thought the beasts in
tended to make and he replied:
Il think l shall have great trouble
with them. Ii there was breeze
enough to stem this tide should be
in favor of getting out as soon as
possible. They viii board us in the
yawl as soon as the tide turns"
4 Ipointad to the fact that there
was only one ape in the boat, and
that could put bullet through his
head where he sat. ii one OF the men
would slip over the rail he could
swim to the boat and secure it.
This was looked upon as good
deal One Of the Borneo men got
quietly into the water and swan for
the boat, and when he was close up
on it fired and killed the ape in
charge. His dying yell was answered
from thousand throats, and in ten
seconds the boat was filed with
apes. The sailor had to return
empty handed. 1t was no use to
fire upon the beasts, as their mum
bers were so great, and we therefore
renewed our preparations for defense.
The crew proper told US in so many
words that they would not lift d
hand except to defend themselves, as
they considered it crime to kill ar
ape. Ii the schooner was boarded
then they would be justified in night
ing.
After a few minutes all the apes
but one again left the boat. TIT
body of the one | had killed was eur
J ried ashore. The tide would not
, turn until ) O'Clock. and we haC
nothing to do but wait and watch.
/ made a shell out of tin can filled
with powder and bullets, and the
fuse of this was to be lighted By
, Thomas when he could heave it into
the boat. We had three loaded guns
and a revolver apiece, and believed
the two of us alone could prevent
3 boarding.. The schooner swung bow
! ing to the shore as soon as the tide
! turned, and was now further away
} by her length. We did not hear &
r sound from the beasts after they re
tired. There we're scores of then
I watching US from the bushes, nc
{ doubt, but they did not show them
, selves. When the tide began tC
| draw the yawl off shore the ape LEFT
: in charge took a turn with his tai
) around bush and thus held it.
At shutdown there was LITTLE
t breeze, and we could have left, but
} wanted the apes in the traps anC
r the captain wanted his yawl. As il
: grew dark all the crew went below
r saying it was none OF their fight
r md one Of the BoTneo sailors de
/. clared with great vigor and mucl
e grief that he had recognized an un
= Gle in the ape had killed Another
) had seen his brother, and the cool
: fairly cried mt the thought that his
1 tavOrite son, who had been deaC
| about five years, might nave turned
{ into an ape and be waiting to de
Y stroy his affectionate father, Thorn
t as and ! remained on deck to watch
e and at 8 o'clock we heard enough tt
i prove that the apes were moving il
!. concert and in large body. / triet
> to get the crew up, hut they refused
D to come. i had double barrelet
D shotgun. and Thomas was to throw
the shell it they came near enough
; The shore was in such darkness tina
{ we couldn't see what our enemie
4 were up to until the boat was sud
: denly seen floating along our por
e bow. fired into the black mass
!. and Thomas lighted the fuse ant
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