The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-05
GOT THE EGGS FRESH
They We're Turtle Eggs and
Agassiz Wanted Them.
A WILD RACE AGAINST TIME.

The Professor Had to Have the Eggs
Before They Were Three Hours Old.
and This 10 the Story Of How the
Hunter Made Good His Promise.
When Professor Louis Agassiz was
writing book on the turtles Of the
United States it became necessary for
him to have some fresh turtle eggs.
He engaged Mr.. jerks Of Middleboro.
about forty miles from Cambridge. to
get them for him. Mr.. jerks promised
that the eggs should be in Agassiz's
hands before they were three hours
old Mr.. jerks. who told the tale to
a writer in the Atlantic Monthly. had
to wait by a certain pond for the tur-
ties to come out and lay their eggs in
the sand. Finally. after weeks Of
waiting. one morning about 4 o'clock
a turtle crawled up the beach. partly
buried herself in the soft sand and
laid her eggs. Mr.. jerks went on to
say:
AS she did SO the distant clock struck
4. There was no train till after 8. and
the eggs must be in Cambridge in
three hours.
laid the eggs on a bed of sand in
the bottom of my pail. filled in be-
tween them with more sand. SO with
another layer to the rim. and. covering
all over smoothly with more sand.
ran back for my horse. He knew as
we'll as that the turtle had laid and
that he was to get those eggs to Agas-
siz.
let him out ! shouted to him,
holding to the dasher with one hand.
the pail Of eggs with the other. not
daring to get of my knees. although
the bang on them as 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 a locomotive.
With a pull that lifted the horse
from his feet swung him into a 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 maneuver
was successful. for the engineer stop
ped. and swung aboard the cab-hat-
less. dew soaked. smeared with yellow
mud and holding as II it were baby
or a 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 nc
hot Z hut
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 a 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 70,
the street In the empty square stood
| q cab.
The caEman saw me coming.
| waved a dollar at him and then an
other. dodge into the cab slammed
the door and called out: Cambridge
Harvard college: Professor Agassiz'.
house: I've got eggs for Agassiz" ant
l pushed another dollar up at hin
through the hole.
Let him go! ordered. Here's an
other dollar for you If you make Agas
siz's house in twenty minutes
We few to Cambridge. There wal
a sudden lurch. and I dived forward
rammed my head into the front of thu
cab and came up with a rebound tina
landed me across the small Of my
back on the seat and sent half Of m,
pail of eggs heller SHELTER over tn,
floor. But we were at Agassiz's house
tumbled out and pounded the door.
"Agassiz!" I gasped when the maxi
came. Il want Professor Agassiz
Quickv'
She protested that he was in bet
and threatened the police. But jus
then a door overhead was flung open.
great. white robed figure appeared OF
the dim landing above. and a quick
loud voice called excitcdly:
LET him in: Let him in! l know
him! He has my turtle eggs"
And the apparition. slipperless ant
clad in anything but an academi
gown. came sailing downstairs. Th
great man. his arms exteuded. lai'
hold of me with both hands and. drag
ging me- and my precious pail into hi
study. with a swift. clean stroke lai'
open one Of the eggs as the watch Il
my trembling hands licked its way I
as II nothing unusual were hal
pening in the history Of the world.
| A Fearful Poison.