New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
DATES ON TURTLES BACKS.
ROMANCEs GROWING OUT OF THEM
GREAT AGE ATTAINED


Indianapolis, July % (SpeciaD.-The great age to
which the turtle may attain has recently led to
considerable discussion in the Indiana counties ly-
ing along the Ohio River, and the interest has been
heightened and longevity of the turtle con-
hrmed by find which has just been reported from
the neighborhood of Vevay, Switzerland County.
J. D. Froman and {. Z. Kelso. both men of
veracity, were walking along the river one even
ing and found turtle which carried on the back
the inscription &C f. s., Lamb. 1865" They threw
the wanderer into the river and began an investi-
cation, with the result that they learned the
initials stood for c. Z. Simpson. who remembered
cutting the letters the animal when he was
quite young man. A few days later some now
ers on the Dugdale farm. Vevay found the
same turtle, it having wandered inland a distance
of nearly ten miles
Another story which comes from the same re-
gion contains a suggestion of a romance. A turtle
was captured by Miss Mary Conn, and had on its
shell the letters and figures IN. a. B.,
1860" Miss Conn reported the find to her father
George w. Conn, Of Charlestown, and he recalled
the circumstances under which the terrapin
marked more than forty years ago. He said that
he and Mary A. Bryer walking along the
river bank one night in 1860 He had just proposed
her and had been accepted, when he espied the
turtle in the sand Picking it up. he cut Miss
Buyers initials and the date upon its back, and
turned it loose. Mr.. Conn ard Miss Bryer
married, their daughter born, the mother died.
and the daughter. grown to womanhood found the
turtle. Inc turtle was found within three miles
o. the spot .Where II was picked up 1orty years
DeI3Ie, p4t that is the only time that 1t IS known
to have been seen. Mr. Conn made effort to
Keep the wanderer, but II made its escape from
te pen winch he constructed, and 1t is again car
Tylng the romance up and down the Ohio.
Quite the opposite of this little is a story
that mas received general credence along the river
jackson caught turtle in the sand and cut her
initials on its back, together with the date Time
wore on, and the incident passed entirely out of
her mind She was a handsome woman. remark,
ably VlVaclous, and not above the weakness of
coquetTy. But the years went by and she
missed missed chance after chance to marry sha decided
thirty. Indeed, she did not look day older than
1t was under such conditions that a young man
came to the town and opened store. He not
over twenty-five and It not long before he
OF MISS JackSonIs accomplishments. Rumor had 1t
that they We're about TO be married One evening
late in the spring they were walking along the
river bank, and turtle with the dat
and initials obruded itself in their way The lover
saw the coincidence between the initials of his
affianced and those on the back OF the turtle. but
she haG represented. His suspicious aroused
and with them came back the old sarcasm which
know how old she when she cut her initials
on the turtles back Then there a quarrel.
ana then the young merchant ceased his atten-
tions, and the two became as strangers
The theory that the turtle lives be one hun
dred years old does not appear to be unreasonable
in the light OF n find which was made by Lee car
mony, farmer. of Madison County a short time
ago. He was ploughing in his field. when he dis
1884" inscribed upon It's back. The marking had
been greatly dimmed by growth but the fl,ires
could be traced with ease. There people still
living along the Ohio River who declare they have
seen turtles which had been marked by the soldiers
or General George Rodgers Clarke when he was
noldlng out on oId Corn Island preparatory 10
Vincennes, and al least OF the terrapn carried
on his back the date OF 17sl.