The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-31
TURTLE ASA WATCHDOG.
One Acts in This Capacity For Hon
Olulu Family.
lSan FranclscO -


Stray turtles measuring four or five
feet in length do not often wander IN
molested through the streets Of q thick
~ populated city. But not long ago
a well known family in Honolulu, Ha-
Waiian islands, received a visitor OF
5his kind. Nobody knows where the
great beast came from; ne simply ap-
peared one day at the garden gate, and,
forcing an entrance, proceeded to make
himself at home on the premises He
was promptly expelled by the aston
ished family. TO wander once more on
the city streets-fOr they did not know
what else TO do with him. The turtle
had different ideas. however: he had
found q comfortable home and meant to
stay in IL. he had very likely led a
life Of hardship, and intended to end his
days in peace and security, so he re
turned, but was again turned GU upon
the cruel world. The turtle had will
Of his own and was determined TO live
In that particular spot, so he crawled
In again the next time the doom was
open. The family gave up in despair
and allowed the unlimited guest to re-
main a few days before they turned
him out again. But he returned once
more. This performance was repeated
gate on him he would rear up on his
hind legs and put his fore feet on the
top like a great dog.
It was necessary TO accept the inev-
liable. The people 10 whom he wished
10 attach himself began to feel a GER
tam superstition, and allowed him to
take possession of the garden which
he had so long coveted as his abode.
There he CTaWls about in the daytime
and sleeps at night. and is given his
three good meals q day of bran and
water and scraps from the table. He is
a perfectly harmless OLD fellow, and the
children have great sport with him
two or three at a time riding on his
back. 1t is only dangerous to place a
hand on the side of his neck, for as
he contracts his neck quickly within
his shell il is likely to be drawn IN and
injured. But his funniest characters
Tic developed after he had been fairly
accepted into the family circle; in re-
turn Tor the kindness layished upon him
ne took upon himself the functions of
q watch dog. The poor beast issnOt able
20 bark, but when a stranger enters the
gate he gives forth such loud and for
mldaole Kisses as to brighten the most
courageous until they discover that his
MSS is worse than his bite.
Il N estimated that this great turtle
u very old. While not of a rare species
ne mas grown 10 an unusual size. His
neck Is beginning 10 shriveI and take
upon itself the drawn look of extreme
age II Is thought by some that he IS
INC FAMOUS turtle that belonged Ga
Aamenameha L. He was the greatest
ccnqCeror and king Of the Hawaiian
ISLANDS, and lived over 100 years ago
The animal remained for genera rions.f-
the custody of the royal family and
lssI belonged 90 the queen d5waeer
haplolani Who died on June q. Some
tiIhe before The queens death the uIr-
ne disappear d. But whether this ouae-
o-d beast, with its almost human intel
hSenee. has such q romantic history 11
NOT, IL IS today one of the most inter.
esuhg slgh-s Of Honolulu. though few
visitors know of It's existence.