The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-05-26

Cocoanuts with Their Claws.
When the naturalists Of California
have completed their collection OF
sharks and sea-serpents, British CO.
lumbia has curiosity to present for
inspection which they will find fully
as worthy of their Semitic attention.
The specimen, or specimens, for there
are two Of them, is still alive, and
although not yet Injured to the chill
OF northern ATTITUDES, enjoying fair
measure Of good health. 'It" Is a
giant member OF the crab family,
dark green in color, and measuring
upward OF four feet in diameter, the
largest crab that ever crossed "A torrid
sand or climbed n cocoanut tree, and
rejoicing in number OF names, OF
which the "robber crab is the most
familiar and lirgos ldtro the scientific.
Strange to say, neither the specimens
secured nor any or their kind have
ever been known to enter the water.
They belong to the purely land
or tree-climbing family, no worthy
representative of which has yet found
its way into the British Museum, and
which are SO rare that that institu-
tion has entered heavy bid for one
or both OF those captured. The mu-
scum authorities will send man
all the way from London to take pos
session IL the present owners decide
to sell.
The crabs were brought here by
the schooner Norma, cocoanut laden
from Tanning aud Washington
islands, which Is now discharging her
cargo. They were secured on Pal
myra Islands, in the South Pacific,
and rs yet have developed no dan
gerous propensities, though quite
willing to give exhibitions Of their
strength, breaking broom-handles
and such toys as IL they were pipe
stems. 1t would be the simplest
thing in the world for them to crush
n mans leg or arm in similar way,
but, fortunately they are slow TO
anger or TO action, and take life sc
lazily that any one can get out OF
harms way on seeing danger ahead.
One cocoanut day serves IA n meal,
the nut being cracked ns lift were an
egg, and the kernel slowly devoured.
In appearance the crabs remind one
OF nothing so much as ovcrgrown and
exaggerated spiders with abnormally
developed bodies and n wonderful
wealth Of legs. Captain +. ID. Walker
and his sons are very proud OF their
captives, which they assert are rare as
birds Of paradise.
Five years ago, he Captain Walker,
with his wife and family and seven
or eight others, were shipwrecked on
u small sand island belonging to the
Midway group, where they subsisted
for fourteen months on sea birds,
eggs, and fish. They had started out
from Honolulu on the bark Wander
ing Minstrel on a shark hunting ex-
pedition, and, after passing through
the various islands to the south Of
the Hawaiian group, sought protec-
tion from typhoon near Midway
Island. Their ship dragged her
anchor and ran on the reef. The crew,
numbering twenty-nine all told, es-
capped In the boats TO the land five
miles distant. The bark was broken
up 40 badly that nothing was saved
from her, and as the island was un-
inhabited and away out Of the path
Of shipping, their position was the
reverse OF enviablc. Six Of tho party,
after being several months in this fix.
left i'm small boat to seek help, and
have never since been heard OF. Half
OF those remaining succumbed be-
fore chance brought the Norma
along 10 rescue the survivors. On the
passage to Yokohama with the ship
wrecked party the skipper Of the
Norma died, and when port was
reached Captain Walker purchased
the vessel.
The record OF the adventures OF the
Walker family on their desert island
would read NJ second edition of
Robinson Crusoe." The total area
OF their domain was not more than
thousand acres il contained no tree,
no eatable fruit or vegetable-noth-
ing but n spring OF water, few
stunted bushes, and sand. There
was at the highest point rude hut
which United States surveyors had
Mt one time erected, aud, which, re-
paired with ropes and wreckage,
formed the homestead. The staple
and, in fact, only reliable article Of
diet was seabird-the "goonie" or
sea fowl OF the Pacific. This was
served in every style known TO Del
monico and n few more. Once or
twice turtles sought the shore, and it
may safely be said they were well
come visitors. Twice did the ship
wrecked ones attempt to build them
selves frail vessels OF drftwood, with
which they hoped to return TO civili-
zation, but just as they were COM
pleted sudden storms made wreck OF
the weary labor OF months San
Francisco Examiner.