Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-04-10

thickly congested. Our eyes, becom.
ing accustomed to the twilight, now
began to make out dimly the individ-
ual bodies of the seals and the general
conffguration of the rocks. One big
bowlder lay directly in our path, like
an island in the shale of the caves
door. Perdosa stepped to the top Of,
1t for better look. The men attempt
ed to communicate their ideas of what
was to be done, but could not make
themselves heard above the uproar.
could see their faces comforting with
the fury Of being baffled. A big bull
made dash to get by. All the herd
fippered after him. If he had Won
past, they would have followed as
obstinately as sheep and nothing could
have stopped them, but the big bull
went down beneath the clubs. Thrac-
kles hit the animal two vindictive
blows after 1t had succumbed.
This settled the revolt, and we stood
as before. Pull and Handy Solomon
tried to converse by signs, but evident
ly failed, for their faces showed angry
in the twilight. Perdosa, on his rock,
rolled and lit cigarette. Thrackles
paced to and fro, and the niger lean.
ed on his club farther down the cave.
They had been left at the entrance,
but now in lack of results had joined
their companions.
Now Thrackles approached and
screamed himself black trying to i'm
part some plan. He failed, but stoop-
ed and picked up stone and threw 1t
into the mass Of seals. The others I'M
derstood. A shower of stones follow
ed. The animals milled like cattle,
beloved the louder. but would not
face their tormentors. Finally an old
COW Topped by in panic. l thought
they would have let her go, but she
died little beyond the bull. No more
stones as fast and as hard us they
were able. Their faces were livid with
anger, like that of an evil tempered
man with an obstinate horse.
Suddenly Handy Solomon put his
head down and with roar distinctly
audible even above the din that filled
the cave charged directly into the herd.
l saw the beasts cringe before him.
saw his club rising and falling indis-
criminately, and then the whole back
Of the cave seemed to rise and come
at us.
This was no chance Of sport now,
but struggle for very life. We real
lied that once down there would be
no hope, for while the seals were more
anxious to escape than to fight we
knew that their jaws were powerful.
There was no time to pick and choose
We hit out with all the strength and
quickness we possessed. 1t was like
a bad dream, like struggling with an
elusive hydra headed monster, knee
high, invulnerable. We hit, but with
out apparent effect. New heads rose,
the press behind increased. We gave
ground. We staggered. struggling des-
perately to keep our feet.
How long this lasted cannot tell
1t seemed hours. know my arms be-
came leaden from swinging my club.
My eyes were full of sweat. My breath
gasped. A sharp pain In my knee
nearly doubled me to the ground, and
yet l remember clamping to the
thought that I must keep my feet,
keep my feet at any cost. Then all at
once l recalled the fact that / was
armed. l jerked out the short bar
relied revolver and turned 1t loose in
their faces.
Whether the fash and detonation
frightened them, whether Perdosa,
still clinging to his rock, managed to
turn their attention by his fanking eff
forts or whether, quite simply, the
wall of dead. finally turned them back
I do not know, but with one accord
they gave over the attempt.
l looked at once for Handy Solomon
and was surprised to see him still
alive, standing upright on ledge the
other side of the herd. His clothing
was literally torn to shreds, and he
was covered with blood. But in this
plight he was not alone. for when l
turned toward my companions they,
too, were tattered, torn and CORY. We
We're a dreadful crew, standing there
in the half light, our chests heaving,
our rags dripping red.
For perhaps ten seconds no one
moved. Then with yell of demoniac
rage my companions clambered over
the rampant of dead seals and attacked
the herd.
The seals were now cowed and de-
fenseless. 1t was slaughter, and the
most debauching and brutal / have
ever known. had hit out with the
rest when 1t had been question Of
defense, but from this turned aside
In sick loathing. The men seemed
possessed of devils and of their unnat-
ural energy. Perdosa cast aside the
club and took to his natural weapon,
the knife. can see him yet rolling
over and over and embracing big
cow. his head damned in an ecstacy Of
ferocity between the animals front
flippers, his legs clasped to hold her
body, only his right hand rising and
falling as he plunged his knife again
and again. She struggled, turning him
over and under, wept great tears and
fairly whined with terror and pain.
Finally she was still, and Perdosa stag
gered to his feet only to stare about
him drunkenly for moment before
throwing himself with screech on an
other victim.
The niger alone did not jump into
the turmoil. He stood just down the
cave, his club ready. Occasionally a
disorganized rush to escape would be
made. The nigger's lips snarled and