Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-30
RIDES AND GUIDES A TURTLE
Modern Munchauseu Makes Good ON
One of His Tall
Tales.

OF all the extraordinary claims put forth
by Louis de Rougemont. the modern
Munchausen," the one which drew on his
head the most laughter and scorn was
that he had used turtles for marine eques-
trisn exercise. Time brings the explorer
his revenges Yesterday he retrieved part
OF his reputation by performing the feat
successfully in the Hippodrome lake.
A turtle Of 24O pounds weight was
brought to the Hippodrome in cart, and
attracted a large and wondering crowd. It
was lifted from the cart and placed on
a truck, whence It watched the proceed
ings with a mournful eye At last II was
placed at the side of the arena.
Then De Rougemont made impressive
mesmeric passes about the animals head
and neck. occasionally adding a little gem
tie massage The turtle responded with
series OF helpless snorts, like an ex-
hausted gas engine.
DO you know why I do that?" asked
De Rougemont THAT places the animal
entirely under my control. It is mesmer-
lied. All, I am greater at this than Mes
mer or Cagliostro. De Rougemont will be
famous yet. At Brisbane l once mesmer-
lied an old lame horse to win a race
And, strange as it may seem, It won"
adventurer Of three-score years and ten
to divest himself OF his clothes, De Rouge
mont appeared again. He wore a pair of
khaki ducks, rolled up until they as
sumed a semblance OF bathing drawers.
While the arena was being filled he ad-
dressed a few words to the dozen invited
guests.
He spologized for the turtle-it was too
small to carry a man OF lao pounds
weight, 1t had not eaten or drank for
weeks, and. worst OF all, It was a female.
without vitality or guile. He apoiogized
for the fresh water. which, he said, was
death to all self-respecting turtles
Il always regretted mentioning turtles
in my narrative" he remarked. Owing
to them I have had the greatest fall a
! traveller ever had. But Stanley tool,
twenty years to live down a reputation
1t will take De Rougemont 1000 years, fol
he will never know death"
After this the lake was filled. and the
white-haired. old man dragged the turtle
| to the water. and It Immediately beRar
! to sink. Quick as thought De Rougemont
was on its back and, gripping It's shell
! Just where the neck protruded. kent II,
| head well out of the water.
"Yah-tallah! Yah-alla-a-hr' he shouted
| slapping the water with his free hand
while the stupehed creature padded auto
matlcally toward the middle OF the water
| 'Tah-tallah! Yah-talla-a-h!' Certainl,
De Rougemont showed a complete mas
terry of the turtle and verified his dis
| counted stories of the past. Had he no
handled turtles before he never could hav,
made so splendid a show.
Suddenly the turtle essayed to sink
Grasping II by the neck, and keeping clea1
OF It's hippers. the agile old man turned /
over on its back. Before the bewilderec
turtle could gather its scattered thoughts
II was right-about-face again, with d,
Rougemont sitting straddle-legged across
IT, He proved his complete mastery up t,
| the hilt.
There was genuine applause as the turtI
! tanner left the arena. The turtle wa
again removed to the cart in order to b.
prepared for soup"
Il have ordered a turtle three times tn
size said De Rougemont "and will TAX
II and ride It in the sea to Margate
will prove the truth OF all have said fl
the past
Then this remarkable character prepare
himself for a moonlight walk to Bedford.
London CableEram.