Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-11-18
AN EMPEROR-PENGUIN.
~0O0OO~~~@


w. G.. Burn Murdoch gives in his
book. entitled From Edinburgh to the
Antarctic" an interesting account OF
the capturing Of an emperor-penguin.
That great bird Of the cold regions
showed its royal blood in it's quiet but
firm resistance to deposition. The de-
scription makes one feel that man Is
too petty and trifiing being to inter-
fere with the monarchy Of nature, or
to overthrow the throne and blot out
the reign Of such a sovereign.
was on deck enjoying the quiet
and beauty Of the white night when /
saw an emperor-penguin on a piece Of
snow not two hundred yards from the
ship. Anxious to make q drawing OF
the bird, went aft and let the mate
know. He ordered out boat.
The penguin was standing on a
round piece of ice about fifty yards In
diameter. We rowed up to a sort OF
hummock on one side, put two men
behind the hummock, and then rowed
round to the other side, where three
of us landed. Then all five, advancing,
closed in on the penguin.
He got on the mound Of snow as we
approached, but only looked slightly
anxious as we drew near. Then, think
ing his position was dangerous, he
tried to get away. He slid down the
snow on his breast, and padded away
with his flippers and feet.
One Of the party made successful
rush over the hard piece Of snow, and
fell on the bird, and embraced it. The
penguin looked quite shocked, and
threw him off with hitch of the Shout
ders. Then 1t got up, stood on its feet
and looked at us When we got near
1t again, five Of us made a rush at 1t.
The boatswain got in first, and scragg4d
it with both hands round It's neck. The
two rolled over together on the snow.
The penguin got its neck free, and be
gan to peck with its beak at the boat
SWANS head, but missed its aim, for
tunately for him.
It's strength astonished us. One man
held its neck, two got hold of it's flip
pers, and two more held It's legs. Using
all their strength, the men could hardly
keep hold. The bird did not seem the
least fiurried nor put out; merely NOV
ed its fiippers slowly, and drew up and
extended its short legs, but that near
~ twisted our arms off.
1t was too difficult a task to carry
the penguin to the boat, so we strapped
it round the middle, with it's f1ippers
bound to its sides. We used the boat
SWANS belt, which was a broad affair
with big brass buckle, and we hauled
it until the penguin collapsed like a
Gladstone bag. With another belt we
tied the legs, stood the bird up, and
drew a long sigh Of relief.
So did the penguin-a long breath
from the bottom Of his chest. The
buckle burst, and the bird began I'll
hobble away on its still tied legs. Il
actually hobbled with dignity.
Then we all sat on it again without
ceremony, for we were angry, and the
penguin remained calmly dignifed. We
fastened him with a whole line from
bill to toes, like a roll of beef, and
carried him to the boat. He freed one
ripper, just to show what he could do,
but made no other effort to escape.
On deck the penguin preserved
sphinx-like dignity under very novel
and trying conditions. All the crew
stood about and marveled at him, but
he took no notice of them. Fanny, the
ships dog, tried to play with him, and
danced about him. At first the penguin
paid no attention; then the hard beak
came out with a fash. Off went Fanny,
in no end Of hurry, and never came
near again.