Evening star., 1898-11-09
SEA LIONS ARE COWARDLY.
Fact Demonstrated by u Svimmer in
SAN FrnnciscO Harbor.

'ts" HaFDOf.
From the New York Times
SID Cavlll, an Australian swimmer now
visiting San Francisco, has settled the ques-
tlon as to the alleged pugnacity of the sea
lions that have since the city was founded
been the objects of interest to the inbabit-
ants and visitors from all parts of the
world. The seal rocks are Just outside the
entrance to Golden Gate and about ZU) yards
from the Cliff House. While watching a
herd from Sutro baths CavilI offered the
opinion TO some companions that the below
ing, tusky brutes basking on the rocks were
coyotes when it came to a fight and offered
10 wager an eagle he could put the entire
herd to flight. The wager was made, and
Cavill arranged for a swim
Just before the start was made for the
rocks Cavill said he intended to provoke, a
night If he found anything like turbulence 10
sur up A few ioungers on the Cliff House
balcony glanced listlessly down at the little
group on the sands Five minutes later
their hstleSsness was gone. They were
eagerly gazing seaward and enjoying a
spectacle never excelled in novelty in this
city. AS Cavill clambered over the rocks
that jut about 100 yards from The rear of
the bath house he shivering When he
reached the point of the natural pier
heaVy swell was breaking upon it's base and
showers of spray were hurled upward
drenchlng the man and occasionally hidiny
MN entirely from the people on the beach.
waiting until an exceptionally high roller
was within leaping distance. he raised his
clasped hands and sprang out and upward
and disappeared beneath the foaming wave
He dived clear through the breaker. and
reappearing in comparatively smooth water
swan swiftly toward seal rocks In three
minutes and five seconds he began scram-
bling upon the small reef barely distin-
gulshable at high tide, that lies fairly among
the seal group. All the large rocks We're
SWarmlnp with lions There uac
easy movement among the monsters as the
swimmer neared them.
The polygamous sires raised their heads
and craned their necks to stare at the ap-
preaching intruder, and then turned TO their
several wives and numerous progeny to tell
them something that elected dangerous re-
sponse. But that conversation was gentle
murmur in comparison with the noise made
when the strange thing climbed from the
water and walked toward them. Then be-
gan very babel and most unceremonous
retreat. The sires snorted diScordantlv and
beloved like bulls. while the wives and
mothers bleated disconsolateIy, the Juveniles
emitted dismal whinnies, and all fled heIter-
skelter pell-mell, shuftiing and crawling
toward the cliff and tumbed over it as If
they were so many Jumps of inanimate
blubber Such an uproar was never heard
nor was such stampede ever witnessed
since that barren rock became a seal roost
In one minute from the time of Cavilrs
landing he was monarch of all he surveyed
and had not been touched by a seal.
An expression OF mingled satisfaction and
contempt illumined the face of the returned
explorer as monster billow bundled him
upon the beach at the feet of his admiring
friends. Il knew the blooming beasts would
not wait for an interview, much less attack
d man., he said. They are like a lot of
scared sheep. Call them sea lions! Sea
lambs would be a better fitting name Bur
IN not yet satisfied. I'll go back and clean
off that fiat rock" And he did.
AS he neared the rock there was repeti-
ton of the sounds and scenes that had her
aided his approach to its loftieSt neighbor
only this time the noise and Shuffiing were
enhanced in proportion to the numerical
strength of the population. So thickly was
the crag studded with seals they could not
get away to sea without tedious waiting or
scrambling over each other, and they unan-
imouSly adopted the latter alternative A
regular cataract of seals poured over three
sides of the rock, but Cavill had not ad-
Vanced half a dozen steps inshore when he
found himself and one large brown animal
which was lying upon an Outspur the only
inhabitants of Adamant Island The beast
was motionless, and the man stood stock
still a minute or so and looked at it. Then
he cautiously crept out TO where ii lay and
delivered straight right punch in its boggy
side. The result was startling. With roar
of alarm the brute sprang forward and am
bled overheard.