The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-09-22
TURTLE RACES BIG VESSEL.
For 20 Days 1t Follows Vessel, Then
Beat it Into Port only to
Make Soup.

NEW YORK, Sept. 18.-With Capt
William Jarvis and the crew of the
British ship Lawhill the old saying
''as slow as a turtle does not hold
good, for the fine vessel that is in
port today from the far east with
varied cargo of Oriental trappings
brought also turtle that followed the
ship for a good part of 5000 miles.
The fact that the turtle was able to
keep up with the Lawhill does not in
any way imply that the Lawhill was
making poor Roadway toward the
American shores across the Atlantic,
for it kept up an average clip of nine
knots through most of the way across
the ocean. 1t was the turtles speed
and not the Lawhilrs slowness that
makes the feature of the story told on
board the vessel. Affidavits are ready
for the doubling Thomases who are
on the Job with incredulity.
1t was on Aug. 1 that Barney Ire
vor, the Lawhill's bos'un. discovered
turtle astern so close to the ship
that all hands made ready for try
with harpoons and lines. duly bafted,
beast that seemed to cut through the
water after the Lawhill without the
slightest trouble.
Swims Like q Motor Boat.
All that day and all the next day
and the day after that the members
Of the crew flshed for the turtle,
which kept up its pace with the ship
and nexer seemed to tire. The sf-
Acers Of the bark watched the pro-
ceedings with amusement. There was
talk of lowering a boat and catching
the turtle that way. only that it was
believed that the boat might scare the
turtle and end the fishing that was
fine sport for the Lawhill's crew.
When days passed and the turtle
remained in about the same position
astern swim ming like a young motor
boat and keeping one eye on the ship,
all hands on the Lawhill became
somewhat nervous. There was an
uncanny something about that turtle
GERS and men could understand. The
pursuing turtle got on the nerves"
Of all on board the ship.
Barney Trevor was the first on deck
every morning to wish his friend
good-day.
II never seen a turtle or any other
beast" said Trevor. that could go
without breakfast or dinner so long
as did this thing astern of the Law
hill. I was tempted to drop some
dessert over the stern, but sort of fear
ed that there would be no more turtle
after he got a bite Of cooks pie or
erullers."
Ends a Twenty Day Race.
For twenty days that turtle re-
manned in pursuit of the Lawhill
Then the vessel anchored off the Del
aware breakwater to await orders and
the turtle took a much needed rest of
half a day. When the Lawhill con-
tinued to this port the turtle took up
the chase again. AS the Lawhill came
up the narrows, however old Mr.. Tur-
tie quit his post astern, and swimming
off the ships port bow, waved his
starboard ripper triumphantly at the
crew.
AS the Lawhill came up to the East
river berth the turtle still preceded
it, but current carried it between
several canal boats tied up there. A
dozen eager hands from among the
Lawhills crew dragged for the turtle
as they leaped to the canal boat decks
and leaned over the side. With
large hook the luckless turtle was
caught astern of his starboard after
flipper and brought to the Lawhilps
deck. There will be genuine turtle
soup on board the Lawhill for some
days to come.