Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-03-21
A WaIrus Hunt.

two polar bears on st. Matthews ISL
and, in Behring Sea, we bagged a
walrus," said Captain c. A. Abbey,
of the revenue marine. "The Corwin
lay at anchor above Cape Upright.
The two big bear carcasses had been
hoisted on board and officers and crew
were examining their points and COM
pairing their size when several wairus
were seen hauled up on the rocks
mile or two away, and it was deter
mined to try for some ivory.
"a surfboat was dispatched toward
the walrus in charge of Pilot Douglass,
with Surgeon Bratton, Chief Engineer
Kelley, and six men, armed with Rem
ington rifles of heavy calibre. Upon
nearing them it was found that there
were seven in the group, averaging
probably 1000 pounds in weight,
They were basking or resting upon a
large fat ledge, round which the sea
surged and boiled, making landing
dangerous.
The walrus being very shy is apt
at the slightest alarm to flop and roll
his huge and unwieldly bulk over
board, when he disappears for a long
time. The utmost caution and quiet
are necessary, therefore, in approach
ing him. Accurate judgment and
rapidity in firing are required to Sc
cure a shot that shall strike the crea-
ture near the head The enormously
thick hide and heavy blubber of the
walrus are almost impenetrable to an
ordinary rifle ball, and unless struck
in very vulnerable part, nothing
short of a cannon shot is sufficient to
kill one of these enormous pigs Of the
sea.
while still considerable distance
away the oars were taken in and the
noiseless paddles substituted. The
riAemen lay in the bow as the boat
was carefully steered toward the wal
rus. The surf on the ocean washed
nearly up to the huge beasts and tossed
the boat in dangerous proximity to
the rocks. Quick work was necessary
in every respect, and the situation was
full Of danger The only line of es-
cape for the walrus was toward and
almost upon the boat. One blow Of a
ripper or stroke of tusk would crush
the frail craft and drown the crew
Even the swash of the waves when the
big ANIMALS should founder heavily
into the sea would nearly swamp the
boat. Orders and information were
given in whispers and signs as the
boat stole cautiously on, winding in
and out among the rocks and breakers
as close as it was safe to 60. Pilot
Douglass, an old and experienced Arc
tic hunter, gave the orders:
"'Now, keep as still as you can.
The minute they see us they'll rush
down the rocks for the water, and your
only chance for getting one is in firing
as soon as they come in sight. Aim
to hit them in the back of the neck,
If one is wounded and stops on the
rocks, try to spring on shore and fin
ish him, but mind you keep out of
range Of his tusks and tail. He won't
fight, but he'll be likely to blunder on
top of you or founder over you, and
if he does there'll be nothing left where
you stood but a hole in the ground
Slowly the bow of the boat came
round the last intervening rock close
upon the walrus. The rifles were in
stantly raised, as good aim taken as
possible, and volley poured in at
such heads as were visible.
"Great Scott What rumpus!
cried Kelley, as the huge masses thus
sharply awakened, heaving, Topping
and grunting in their fright, rolled,
slid and tumbled overheard, nearly
swapping the boat as they plunged
into the water. One huge beast fell
between the rocks and the boat, caus-
ing such a lurch as nearly to pitch the
crew into the sea. Another came up
Just outside the cutter with the appar
ent intention of trying his enormous
tusks upon it. Quick as thought
Bratton put a ball into him, when he
sank and was seen no more.
"Six escaped, but one was left on
the rocks. He was hard hit, and had |
houndered into a cleft, or he, too,
would have got away. Leaping upon
the rocks, the hunters gave him two
or three more shots, and he soon lay
dead before them. He was so large
that six of the boats crew stood at
one time upon his body. His tusks
We're thirty inches long and three
inches in diameter. With an axe the