The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-02
THE SEA LIONS HERE.
Four Fine Specimens Arrive
for Leschi Park.
LIVES LOST IN GETTING THEM
These Animals viii Be One of Attrac-
tions Today at Leschi Park
Their Trip.

Four sea lions arrived yesterday on the
steamer City of Puebla from San Francisco, and
were taken at once to Lesch: park, on Lake
Washington, followed by several hundred cur
ious-hunting people.
The animals are only year old, but are from
four to six feet long, the largest one weighing
about 300 pounds. All of them are in good con-
dition except one, which, by some accident,
broke its lower jaw on the trip. The lions were
caught on the island of Santa Rosa, in the santa
Barbara group, off the southern coast OF Califor-
MIA. From there they were shipped TO San Fran
cisco and transferred to the Puebla last
Sunday. On Wednesday the steamer
started for Seattle. In all they were
on the road nearly two weeks, all of which
time they were out OF the water. Their JOY
when they were released in the large tank at
Leschi park was evident from their excited
actions. The two coops containing the lions
were hauled out to the lake on nat car at
tached to Yesler avenue cable car. AT the
lake the coops were put on trucks and taken
down the steep Incline. and over to the tanks in
front of the pavilion amphitheater. Two
long planks were run down into the wafer and
the coops were slid down without opening.
man then got top and pried Off
couple OF boards one side. The seals
crowded out so quickly that the man could not
help showing that he would much rather be up
on dry land, where the 800 or 400 spectators were
watching the unloading. The next box was
handled in the same way, and the four animals
struck out at once to plore their new home.
The largest tank is 30xl00 feet in size and the
annex is 30x40 feet Two rockeries are built in
the center of the tanks, and an iron railing ali
around prevents the sea lions from escaping
Between each iron Stat is space about three
inches wide, so that the water will be constantly
changing.
They will be fed on salmon, sturgeon and
other salt water fish, and the management of the
park will appoint an hour for feeding every day.
AS very few people have seen sea lions at their
meals, this hour viii be one of great interest.
The ampitheater will hold 600 people.
The Leschi park managers ordered these sea
lions some three months ago, but on account of
the great difficulty of catching them there was
an unavoidable delay. At one time q party
which they had out was drowned, only one of
the four returning to tell the story. The follow
ing letter was received by the Leschf park man
agement about ten days ago, showing the ex-
IRENE hazard of undertaking to catch sea lions:
We have tried several times to catch the seals
that you ordered, without success. We have
had four men drowned in these trips. Captain
Hope is at the islands now. What success he
viii have is hard to tell. The seals have become
very wild and do not go the rocks. Ii you
will wait we will get the seals in time. When
our schooner went over to the islands we lost
one which ran overheard Three OF the men
trying to get onto the rocks capsized their boat
and were drowned, 80 you will see that We have
had hard time.
The accident referred to happened on Monday,
July 6, but was not known of on the mainland
until week later The Santa Barbara Press
prints the following details of the accident:
A party OF seal hunters had for some time
been camped on the western extremity of San
Miguel island for the purpose of securing some
seals Tor Leschi park, Seattle, Wash. The party
referred to consisted OF John Pico. Pablo
Valencia, his nephew, Eduardo Valencia
and negro boy named John, Amos,
They left camp at $50 a. m. on the fatal
day for their usual seal hunt. About $50
O'Clock, being ready to return to camp, John
Pico jumped into the boat, which was left in
charge OF Pablo Valencia and the boy. Simulta-
neously big took the boat quite close to
the rock. In mis- endeavor to push off Pablo lost
his oars, and q second and larger wave carried
the boat on to the rocks smashing in the stem and
side. Pico and Valencia were thrown into the
water, while Johnny Amos sprang into the air
and landed on the keel of the boat as she rolled
over
Pablo Valencia swan quite a distance, but in
endeavoring to remove a very heavy coat was
unable to extricate his hands and sank out of
sight His body was recovered late on Tuesday
afternoon.
John Pico caught small piece of board as it
Heated by and remained in sight some few mo-
ments, but suddenly went down. The negro
boy remained for short time clinging to the
keel OF the boat as it drifted toward the shore,
but from some unknown cause lost his hold and
sank Immediately.
The remaining man, Ed Valencia, from whom
the facts in detail were received, was discovered
alone on the rock at about 10 o'clock by Joseph
Pasquel one of the employees on the island Be
ing unable to launch the remaining boat alone
with the sea that was then running, he returned
with all speed to headquarters at the east end
had arrived in the sloop Liberty late that even
ing, Captain Waters, the owner of the island,
and Pasquei returned 10 the west end. A big
sea was and the wind blowing from the
northwest. Under the efficient command of
Captain Durietz they were enabled to come
quite close to the rock. line was thrown,
which Valencia caught, and he was soon carried
ashore, not much the worse for his experience.
Captain Buriis, a sailor of seventeen years
experience on the coast states that the landing
is always dangerous except at low tide 1t is
made between two lodges which at high water
are swept by the seas in a violent manner. This
rock has been Tor years famous as the best place
on the coast to find sea lions. The sea is very
heavy at the islands and in rough weather
breaks on the shores with terrific force
Some doubt is expressed as to whether the sea
lions will live in fresh water. The management
OF the park have looked into this point very
thoroughly and think that there viii be no
trouble from changing them to fresh water
MI w. A. Tochard, of the Seattle City railway
said yesterday that he had seen seal in Wood
wards gardens in San Francisco that had been
kept alive in fresh water for ten years Other
similar instances can be shown Sometimes the
sea lions go from month to six weeks without
taking food. Ii is thought that the one with the
injured jaw win be able TO keep alive until the
jaw is healed and it can eat
This is the first consignment of animals for
the park. Additions to be made and ZOO
logical garden will be kept up that will be the
finest in the Northwest Scouts are now out
hunting elk in the Olympic mountains ana
specimens OF cariboo, cougars, bears, panthers,
deer, etc. will follow
Today at the park the attractions besides the
sea lions, viii BE- the aerial rope-walking by
Professor Davidson and the concerts OF the First
Regiment band all the afternoon The big
casino, 10 longer under the management of
John Cort, will DO open all day for families or
parties, and in the evening the casino and the
grounds OF the park will be brilliantly lighted
by electricity. Everything is Free and doubt
less large number of people will avail them
selves of this opportunity to have an afternoon
OF amusement and recreation.