The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-01
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SEA LIONS ARE COWARDLY.
Demonstrated by Swimmer at the
Seal Rocks iR san Francisco Har-


Dor.
From the New York Times
Sid Cavill. an Australian swimmer. now
visiting San Francisco has eetted the
question as to the alleged pugnacity of The
sea lions that have since the city was
founded been the objects of interest to the
inhabitants and visitors from all parts Of
the world. The seal rocks are just cut
side the entrance to Golden Gate and about
200 yards from the Gin House. While
watching a herd from Sutro baths Gavin
offered the opinion to some companions
that the believing, tusky brutes basking
on the rocks were coyotes when it came
to a fight, and offered to wager ain 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 fight if he found anything like trucu-
lence TO stir up. A few loungerS on the
Cliff House balcony glanced down at the
little group on the sands. Five minutes
later their listlessness was gone. They
We're eagerly gazing seward, and enjoy
ing a spectacle never excelled in novelty
in this city. As Gavin clambered over
the rocks that jut about 100 yards from
the rear OF the DtIH-HOusS ne was SlliN-
ering. When he reached the point OF the
natural pier a heavy swell was breaking
upon its base; and showers of spray were
hurled upward, drenching the man and
occasionally hiding him entirely from the
people on the beach. Waiting until an
exceptionally high roller was within leap
ing distance he raised his clasped hands
and sprang out and upward, and dis
appeared beneath the~foaming wave.
He dived clear through the breaker, ana
reappeared in comparatively smooth water,
swan swiftly toward Seal rocks. In three
minutes and five seconds he began
scranabling upon the small reef. barely
distinguishable at high tide, that lies fair
ly among the seal group All the large
rocks were swarming with sea lions. There
was an uneasy movement among the mon
sters as the swimmer neared them.
The polygamous sires raised their heads
and craned their necks to stare at the APP
preaching intruder, and then turned to
their several wives and numerous progeny
20 tell them something that ELECTED clam
orous response But that conversation was
a gentle murmur in comparison with the
noise made when the strange thing climb
ed from the water and walked toward
them. Then began very babel and most
uncerimonous retreat. The siTes snorted
discordanyly the Juveniles emitted dismal
whlnes, and ali fled helter-skelter, pell-
NELL shutting and crawling toward the
cliff and tumbled over it as If they were
so many Jumps of inanmate blubber. Such
an uproar was never heard, nor was
such a stampede ever witnessed since that
barren rock became a seal roost In one
minute from the time of CavilPs landing
he was monarch of all he surveyed, and
he had not been touched by seal.
An expression of mingled satisfaction
and contempt iHumlned the face of the re-
turned explorer as monster billow bum
died him upon the beach at the feet of his
admiring friends. 81 knew the blooming
beasts would not walt for an interview,
much less attack a man." he said they
| are like lot of scared sheep. Call them
sea lionsl Sea lambs would be a better
| fitting name. But I'm not yet satisfied.
| I'll go back and clean off that fiat rock"
And he did.
As he neared the rock there was a repe-
| tition of The sounds and scenes that had
| heralded his approach to It's loftiest neigh
| Dor, only this time the noise and shut
| fling were enhanced in the 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 unanimously adopted the
| latter alternative. A regular cataract OF
! seal poured over three side Of the rock,
! but Cavin had not advanced half a dozen
steps inshore when he found himself and
one large brown animal, which was lying
upon an outspur, the only inhabitants of
| Adamsnt Island. The beast was motion
less, and the man stood stock still a
minute or so and booked at It, Then he
cautiously crept out TO where ii lay and
delivered a straight right punch in its
| Doggy side The result was startling. With
a roar of alarm, the brute sprang forward
| and ambled overheard
|