Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-08-26
AN Arctic Walrus Hunt.

An Arctic Walrus Hunt.
con the same day that we killed two
polar bears on st. Matthew's island in
Behring sea, we bagged walrus," said
Capt. G. A. Abbey of the revenue ma
rine "The Corwin lay at anchor above
Cape Upright. The two big bear car
casses had been hoisted on board and
officers and crew were examining their
points and comparing their size when
several walrus were seen hauled up on
the rocks a mile or two away, and it
was determined 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 caliber. Upon
nearing them it was found that there
were seven in the group, averaging
probably 1000 pounds in weight. They
ledge, round which the sea surged and
boiled, making landing dangerous.
1.-THE walrus being very shy is apt at
the slightest alarm to flop and roll his
huge and unwieldy bulk overheard,
when he disappears for a long time.
The utmost caution and quiet are neces-
sary, therefore, in approaching him.
Accurate judgment and rapidity in firing
are required to secure a shot that shall
strike the creature near the head. The
enormously thick hide and heavy blub-
Der of the walruS are almost lmpenetra-
BILE to an ordinary rifle ball, and unless
struck in a very vulnerable part, nothing
short of a cannon shot 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. The rife
men lay in the bow as the boat was care
fully steered toward the walrus. The
surf of 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 escape for the walrus was to-
ward and almost upon the boat. One
blow of a fiipper or stroke of a 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 cau>
tiouSly on, winding in and out among the
rocks and breakers as close as it was safe
to go. Pilot Douglass, an old and expe>
rienced 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
back of the neck. If one is wounded
and stops on the rocks, try to spring On
shore and finish him, but mind you, keep
out of the way 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 instantly
raised, as good aim taken as possible, and
a voley poured in at such heads as We're
visible.
"'Great Scott! What rumpusv cried
Kelley, as the huge masses, thus sharply
awakened, heaving, Topping and gruntnS
in their fright, rolled, slid and tumbleo
overheard, nearly swapping the boat,
as they plunged into the water. One huge
beast fell between the rocks and the boat,
causing such lurch as nearly to pitch
the crew into the sea. Another came up
Just outside the cutter with the apparent
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 found
cred 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
stood at one time upon his body. His
tusks were 80 inches long and 3 inches in
diameter. With an axe the head was sew
cred from his body, after which, there be
ing no hope of the temperance of the
other walrus, the boat returned to the
ship.
'FOld voyagers in Behring sea tell of a
strange association between the walrus
and the polar bear. The walruS furnishes
the principal food of this great carnivore,
which is his deadliest foe, in fact, yet
to see them together, as they frequently
are encountered, one might think they
were boon companions. Lying upon the
field ice will often be seen patches OF
walrus containing from thirty to fifty,
and with each of these groups will be
found the polar bear. They all are .ap-
parently resting together in the happlest
sort of unity. Occasionally walrus fops
into the water and sinks leisurely 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 walrus that day. he
rises to his launches and sways himself
heavily upon all tours. After a yawn
and a stretch he saunters to the nearest
walrus and swings his powerful paw in
a crushing blow upon its head, instantly
killing the animal He then proceeds
leisurely to make comfortable dinner of
the unfortunate object of his selection.
This performance, apparently, does not
startle the others. They continue to
basked undisturbed, seemingly Indifferent
to the fate of their comrade, and await
ing 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 off
spring on his appearance" New York
Sun.
Elephant Ways.
Nothing but a ride on an earthquake
could be compared with the sensation OF
being run away with by an elephant.