The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-27
SEA LION AT MILWAUKEE.

Big Ben, Chicago's escaped sea lion,
paid Milwaukee a short visit yesterday
morning. So inhospitable was his recep-
ton, however, that he left shortly after
noon for the open lake.
His first call after escaping the vigi-
lance of Capt. Ingar Olson of the life
saving station, was on George r. Smith
of the steamer Samuel Mitchell, which is
tied up near the south dock Of the Mil
waukee Drydcck Company. When the
latter sam him, however, he hurled
potato and a dishpan at him. and the wise
prowler ducked, to come up again at the
gate of the drydock, evidently for repairs.
Here, however, he found the big steamer
Colonel Of Detroit which still has about
a weeks repairs left, ahead of him, and
his visit at this point was only long
enough to arouse the frightened curiosity
of Otto Regnall, a derrickman who was
at work rigging a chain around two spars
near the gate. One glance at the sleek,
brown-coate1, long whiskered mead was
enough for him. Then Ben waved a grace
full hipper, and hastily blinked his eyes
as he saw Regnall almost fall into the slip
in his haste to get away.
90 captain" shouted the latter. ad-
dressing himself to Capt. F. B. Babbitt
of the Mitchell. who was a few yards
away, come quick there's a sea serpent.
or sea lion, or something, broke loose
here" Capt. Babbitt and Fred B. Mel
son. a carpenter. hurried to the scene just
in time TO see Ben try, for the last time,
to climb over the closed gate into the
dock slip back into the river, and then
plunge head first out or sieht. A minute
later. the willy fugitive was half block
out into the hinnickinnic again. with
two beat of Jones ashland fishermen
after him with all kinds of weapons. from
a garden rake to a lasso. trying to get
a the sea lion. The latter seemed to
enjoy the sport almost as much As they
did. for every time the boats would come
near where he foated, with his long head
and neck above the surface and tomato
can or a brick come flying in his direc-
ton. he would flip his fippers. and then
dive ont of sight The next glimpse they
would get of him would be a dozen rods
away in some unlocked for direction.
In the meantime Manager T. w. Smith
of the drydock company, who had seen
the strange visitor from window of his
Office had exciteily telephoned to the
west lock:
a sea lion tried to get into our dock
for repairs" he shouted. but our hands
are fun Look cut for him. When he
comes to the west dock give him what he
wants"
Big Ben however. seemed to have had
no intention Of Drawing tn dangers Of a
swim up the doubtful waters OF the Me-
nominee to set ct the west dock. for after
he had led the fishermen all over the
Kinniok,nnic and back again. he started
for the space between the peers. where
he almost coh6ed with the tug W II.
Meyer, which was towing big coal laden
steamer ". II. Wolf into port
Here he had a short froic with the crew
Of the Meye-. which threw al kinds OF
missiles at the unlimited guest but n
lodged them all, and even made matters
worse by persisting in following the tug
part way up stream again. knowing that
the crew hal no way OF getting rear him
without Stopping the prosress Ct the Wolf
He seemed 10 be enj wing himself i'm
merscly,' said Capt Insolvency. OF the
Meyer He would come 20 ths surface
every few minutes snd sport about
while. and then dive down and come up
several feet away"
No one followed the animal cut into the
lake. but IS the nearest drydock is located
at Nanitowoc. il IS supposed that Ben
has taken out clearance pape.s for that
pert. and will arrive there In short tine.
unless he again finds the doock gate
closed against hirn.-Milwaukee Sentinel
Confidential reports are hencefor'h 20
play an important part In British army
discipline. Exact reporting is = be rig
idly insisted upon. II the report, are ia
vorsbie. 4 promise OF accelerated promo
ton is h.ld out 10 the Offices: II the re-
verse. he will be Condemned 10 retire
from The profession from which he shows
himself unified or too carele.s 10 cual-
Ifs. Two adverse repor,s in succes sion
VIII bring up the question q rem oval
even 10 men Of lens staining; the juniors
of less than three years servica will be
incontinently dismissed If they do not
show up well
Germany has on an average 6S orchard
Eees 70 The square mile