Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-07-01
GOT THE EGGS FRESH
They Were Turtle Eggs and
AgaSSiz Wanted Them.
A WILD RACE AGAINST TIME.

The Professor Had to Havc the Zoos
Before They Were Three Hours Old,
and This Is the Story OF How the
Hunter Made Good His Promise.
When Professor Louis Agassiz was
writing Il book on the turtles Of the
United States Il became necessary for
him to have some fresh turtle eggs.
He engaged Mr. jerks of Mi,idleboro.
about forty miles FROM Cambridge. to
get them for him. Mr. jerks promised
that the eggs should he I'm \ gaSSiz's
hands before they were three hours
old Mr.. jerks. who told the tale to
writer in the Atlantic Monthly. had
TO wait by certain pond for the tur-
tics TO come out and lay their eggs i'm
the sand. Finally. after weeks of
waiting. one morning about 4 O'Clock
n turtle crawlcd up the beach. partly
buried herself i'm the soft sand and
laid her eggs. Mr.. jerks went on 20
say:
As she did SO the distant clock struck
4. There was no train till after ., and
the eggs must he in Cambridge in
three hours.
tue SSSS OH " DeO OF S1Tu III
the bottom Of my pail. filed I'm be-
tween them with more sand. so with
another layer to tho rim. and. covering
all over smoothly with more sand. |
ran back for my horse He knew as
well as ! that the turtle had laid and
that he was to get thuse eggs to Agas-
siz.
let him ont. shouted to him,
holding to the dasher with one hand,
the pail of eggs with the other. not
daring to get or my knees. although
the bang on them AZ we pounded down
the wood road was terrific. We had
nearly covered the distance to the pike
when ahead of me heard the sharp
whistle of n locomotive.
With pull that lifted the horse
from his feet swung him into field
and sent him straight as an arrow
for the track
By some stroke of luck got on the
track and backed off before the train
hit my carriage. But the vancouver
was successful. for tie engineer stop
ped. and swung aboard the cab-hat.
less. dew soaked. smeared with yellow
mud and holding as If it were a baby
or bomb little tin pail Of sand.
Throw her wide OPEN" command
ed-"wide open, These are fresh tur.
tie eggs for Professor Agassiz of Cam
bridge. He must have them before
breakfast"
The engineer and the fireman no
doubt thought that | was crazy. but
they let me alone. and the fast freigh,
rolled In swiftly TO Boston.
But misfortune was ahead We
slowed down in the yards and came
TO stop. We were put on a siding
to wait no one knew how long.
| suddenly jumped from the engine.
slid over high fence and bolted for
the street In the empty square stood
n cab.
The cabman saw me coming
waved dollar at him and then an
other. lodged into the cab. slammed
the door and called out: Cambridge:
Harvard college. Professor Agassiz's
house: I've got eggs for Ayassiz." and
pushed another dollar up at him
through the hole
Let him co. ordered. Here's an
other dollar for you IL you make Agas-
siZs house In twenty minutesw
We flew TO Cambridge. There was
n sudden lurch. and ] dived forward.
rammed my head into the front of the
cab and came up with n rebound that
landed me across the small of nv
back on the seat and sent half OF nv
pail of eggs heller SHELTER over the
door. But we were at Agassiz's house
tumbled out and pounded the door.
"Agassiz" / gasped when the maid
came. Il want Professor Agassiz.
quick"
She protested that be was in bed
and threatened the police. But Just
then n door overhead was flung open. a
great. white robed figure appeared on
the dim landing above. and a quick.
loud voice called excitedly:
Let him In. Let him In, | know
him! He has my turtle eggs"
And the apparition. slipperless and
clad in anything but an academic
gown, came sailing downstairs. The
great man, his arms extended. laid
hold or me with both hands and. drag
cling me and my precious pail into his
study. with swift. clean stroke laid
open one OF the eggs as the watch In
my trembling hands licked it's way 10
as II nothing unusual were hap
pening in the history of the world.