Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-30
THE ARCTIC WALRUS
THE HUGE CREATURES ARE NOT
 KILLED WITHOUT DANGER.

An Officer of the Revenue Marine De-
 scribes a Hunt In Which He Took Part.
 Peculiar Relationship of the walrus and
 the Polar Dear.
 "On tho same day that we killed two polar bears on St Matthew's island, in Boring sea, we baggod a walrus said Captain C. A. Abbey of the revenue ma rine, The Corwin lay at anchor above Cape Upright. Tho two big bear oarcasses had been hoistod on board, and the officers and crew wero examining their points and comparing thoir size when several walrus were seen hauled up on tho rocks milo or two away, and it was determined to try for some ivory.
 IA surfboat was dispatched toward tho walrus in charge of Pilot Douglass, with Surgeon Bratton, Chief Engineer Kelley and six men, armed with remington rifles of heavy caliber. Upon nearing them it was found that there were soyen in tho group, averaging probably 2,000 pounds in weight. They were basking or resting upon large fiat 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 bis huge and unwieldy bulk overheard, when he disappears for long time. The utmost caution and quiet are necessary, therefore, in approaching him. Accurate judgment and rapidity in firing are required to se- cure shotthat will strike tho creature near the heads The enormous thick hide and heavy blubber of the walrus are al- most impenetrable to an ordinary rifle ball, and unless struck in a very vulner- 1bo If n cbn is sufficient to kill one of these enormous pigs of the sea.
 "While still a considerable distance away the oars were taken in and the noiseless paddles substituted. Tho flre- men lay in the bow as tho boat was care fully steered toward the walrus. The surf of tho ocean washed nearly up to tho huge beasts and tossed tho boat in dangerous proximity to tho rocks. Quick work was necessary in every respect, and the situa- tion was full of danger. The only line of escape for the walrus was toward and all most upon the boat One blow of flip per 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 tho 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 CTS as close as it was safe to go Pilot Douglass, an old and experienced arctic 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 of getting one is in firing as soon as they come in sight Aim to hit them in the af ho ia n6Q Qd stops on the rocks try to spring on shore and finish him, but mind you keep out of range of his tusks and tail He won't fight, but he'll Do likely to blunder on top of you or founder over you, and if he does there'n be nothing left where you stood but hole in tho ground
 Slowly tho bow of the boat came round the last intervening rock close upon the walrus The rifles were instantly raised, as good aim taken as possible and vol ley poured in at such heads as were visi- !. ble.
 "a" Great Scottl What rumpus!' cried Kelley as the huge masses thus sharply awakened, heaving, Hopping and grunt- ing in their fright, rolled, slid and tum- bled overheard. nearly swamping the boat as they plunged into tho water One huge beast fell between the rocks and tho boat causing such lurch as nearly to pitch tho crew into tho sea. Another came up just outside the cutter with the apparent inten- tion of trying his enormous tusks upon It. Quick as thought Bratton put 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 founder cd into cleft, or he, too, would have got away Leaping upon the rocks, the hunt CTS 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 were 80 inches long and inches in diameter With an ax tho head was severed from the body, after which, there being no hope of the reappearance of the other walrus, the boat returned to the ship.
 "Old voyagers in Boring sea tell of a strange association between tho walrus and the polar bear. The walrus furnishes tho principal food of tho great carnivore, which is his deadliest foe, insfact, yet to see them together, as they frequently arc encountered, one might think they were boon companions. Lying upon the field of ice will often be seen patches of walrus containing from 30 to 50, and with each of these groups will be found the polar bear. They all are apparently resting together in the happiest sort of unity. Occasion ally walrus Hops into. the water and sinks 1eisurely into the depths, while others will be seen emerging therefrom and climbing upon the ice.
 "The bear becomes hungry and decides he will dine with the wal"us that day. He rises to his launches and sways himself heavily upon all fours After yawn and stretch he saunters to the nearest walrus and swings his powerful paw in a crush ing blow upon its head, instantly killing the animal He then proceeds leisurely to make comfortable dinner off the unfor- tunate object of his selection. This per- formance apparently does not startle the