Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-24

Peculiar Ecle'!Dnnl' - OF the Walrus aoc
the Polar Dear.
"On the Same day that we killed two
polar bea,s on ST. Matthew'S island, In
Bering sea-. We hargcd walrus said
Captain G. y. Abbey II the revenue ma.
rine Tho CorWin lay at anchor above
Cape Cpught. The two big bear carcasses
had been hoi,tcd ou board and tho officers
and crow were examining their points and
comparing their size when several walrus
werc seen hauled up on the rocks "a milo
or two away, and il was determined to try
for some ivory.
a surfboat was Dispatched toward the
WARNS in charge of Pilot Douglass, with
SURGEON Brattou. Chief Engineer Kelley
and six men, armed with remington rifles
of heavy calibcr Upon nearing them II
was found that there were seven In the
group, averaging probably 1000 pounds
in weight They were hasking or resting
upon a largo flat ledge round which the
sea surgod and boiled, making landing
dangerous
Tho walrus, being very shy, is apt at
the slightest alarm TO flop and roll his
hugo and uuwieldy bulk overheard when
he disappears for long time. The utmost
caution and quiet arc necessary, therefore,
in approaching him Accurate judgment
and rapidity in firing arc required 20 Sc
euro shot that Will strike tho creature
near the head. The enormous thick hide
and heavy blubber of the walrus are al
most impenCtrable TO an ordinary rifle
ball, and unless struck in very yulner-
able part nothing short OF cannon shot
is sufficient 10 Kill one OF these enormous
pigs of the sea.
.'Whilo stiu a considerable distance
away the oars were taken in and the
noiscless paddles substituted. The fire.
men lay in the bow rs the boat was care
fully stored toward the walrus. The surf
of tho ocean washed nearly up To the huge
beasts and tossed the boat in dangerous
proximity 10 tho rocks Quick work was
necessary I'm every respect, and the situa
ton was fun Of danger. The only line of
escape for the walru- was toward and al
most upon the boat one blow of a flip
per or stroke of tusl. would crush the
frail craft and drown the crow. Even the
swash Of the waves when the big animals
should founder heavily into the sea would
nearly swamp the boat Orders and In
formation were given In whispers and
signs as the boat stole cautiously on, wind
ing in and out among the rocks and break
ors ais close as ], was safe 20 20. Pilot
Douglass, an old and experienced arctic
hunter, gave the orders:
Now, keen as st!ll "a you can. The
minute they see us they'll rush down the
rocks for the water, and your only chance
of getting one is in firing a. soon as they
como in sight Aim TO hit them in tho
back Of tie neck. IL ono is wounded and
stops on the rocks try 10 spring on shore
and finish him, but uind you keep out
Of range of his tusEs and tail He wont
fight but he'll be- likely to bluuucr ON top
of YOU or founder over you, and IL he does
thcrcll be nothing left where you stood
but a holo in tho ground
Slowly the bow of the boat came round
the last intervening ruck closa upon the
warus. Tho I,Gos were instantly raised,
as good aim taken as possible and vol
Icy poured in at such heads as were yisi-
bic.
Great Scott What rumpusn cried
Kelley as the huge masses thus sharply
awakened, hcayin-. topping and grunt
ing in their fli4ht. rolled, slid and tum
blod overheard, nearly swamping the boat
as they plunged into Tho watgr one huge
beast l,ll betWc.u The rocks and the boat,
causing such lurch as nearly 10 pitch the
crow into tho SOFA Another caWo mp just
outside the cuttor with the apparent inton-
tion Of trying Liscuormous tusks upon il.
Quick a. Thought Rratton put a ball into
him, when DE sank and was seen no more.
six escaped. but ONE was left on the
rocks. he was hard hit and had founder
ed into a cleft or Dc, too, would have got
away. Leapng upon the rocks, the hunt
crs gave him two or thrgo moro .hots and
he soon lay dead before them. Ho was 30
largo that six of tho bouts cgcY stood MI
ono time uroi. hls body His tusks were
30 inches long and inches I'm diameter
With AN AK the head was severed from tho
body, after which there being no hope OF
the reappearanCe Of the other walrus the
boat returned to the ship.
odd voyaggrs In Bering sea tell Of Il
strange association between tho walrus
and tho polar bear. Tho walrus furnishes
tho principal food OF tho great carnivore
which Is his dcodlicst foe in fact. yet e.
sec them together, as they frequently arc
encountered, one might think they were
boon companions Lying upon tho fold
of fec viii often boscon patches OF walrus
containing from aU 10 80, and with each Of
these groups Will be found the polar bear.
They all are apparently resting together
In the happest sort Of unity. Occasion
ally walrus liops into the water and sinks
leisurely into the depths, while others will
DO seen omcrEi-g theroirom and climbing
upon the ice
Tho bear becomes hungry and decides
hu viii diCo with the walrus that day. He
rise, TO his Launches and sways himself
heavily upon all fours. After a yawn and
a stretch he sauntors 20 the nearest walrus
and swings his powerful paw IN "a crush
ing blow upon its bead, instantly killing
the animal lie then proceeds leisurely to
make comfortable dinner of the unfor-
tunatc object Of lis selection This per
formancc apparently does not startlo the
others. They continue to bask unds
turbcd, seemingly indifferent 10 the fate
Of their comrade and awaiting their turn
like stoics. The female walrus with young
however, does not tolerate the presence Of
the bear. She regards him with merited
suspicion and promptly takes TO the water
with her offspring on his appearances
Too Sudden.
He-Dear Clara, will you be my wifeS
Sho-Ilarry, ! have tried every sort Of
way TO bring you to proposal / have