The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-03-14
Fins, EurS, and Feathers.

While turtles do not have fms, this
story has a sufficient twang of imagin.
alton to be included under the above
title. 1t is a thrilling story. 1t was
told by man from South Carolina,
who was passing through the city re.
Gently. If he has further development
in the art of story telling Jules Vernes
will have worthy rival.
The man who reeled off the yarn is
the son of a Sea Island cotton planter
in the coast country of South Carolina.
Not far from our home," he said.
there was a small creek that emptied
into little salt water bayou that ex-
tended into the Atlantic Not far from
the mouth of this creek the roots of an
enormous cypress tree jutted out into
the stream. At this very point, we
boys had a swimming pool. We had
bully times there often when we went
to the stream we would have to run the
little 'goetche niggahs' out. Then,
believe me, we had fun. Those little
coons, alligator bait, as an old uncle of
mine used to call them, were regular
water dogs and often with our bodies
covered with mud, we would have to
60 for reinforcement.
Well, where the roots of the tree
jutted over into the stream a bank of
earth was held up, but as the roots
extended down through the current
into the bed of the creek, all of the
earth was washed away. By diving
we boys had discovered an admirable
place for the adventures of youth and
with the aid of big jack knives had
cut away a subterranean chamber.
When the tide was out a part of the
floor of the chamber was not covered
with water and we often used to con-
gregate there, and in the hollow of the
tree, which extended a short way up,
we guarded as a treasure chamber.
Il have always wondered why went
to sleep on the day of the adventure.
| will always believe it was due to
something that | smoked we boys
were just learning the use of the
weed. Anyhow, the other boys left
me there in the land of slumber. |
was awakened by the tapping of the
water over my feet. The tide had
arisen and | was trapped. However,
that made no difference. and | made
ready to dive through the opening in
the roots, when my attention was at.
tracted by a swapping noise at the
opening 1t seemed that some huge
monster was tearing the big roots to
pieces. My first thought was that it
was an alligator there. But | knew
that no gator had been seen in that
creek for many years, else we boys
would not have made such free use of
the swimming pool. That it was
shark was my next guess, still a shark
had never been known to come that
far up the stream. In a twinkling |
was the most frightened lad in South
south Carolina and cried out Mama 7
"Ihe noise ceased, as if the maker
of it was listening in the endeavor to
learn where the peculiar cry had come
from. The tide was rapidly rising.
The hollow of the tree was never hlled
with water, but it was doubtful if
could get my body into the small space.
tried it and found that if | remained
in such position long | would go
crazy; besides the atmosphere was
becoming very close. grasped one of
the knives that we used in cutting
away the roots. My hand touched the
knife as | was trying to tear away
more of the wood in the hollow of the
tree. The grasp of the steel seemed to
give me new courage. Whatever was
at the entrance of our cavern, | made
up my mind that would brave it. !
seized the knife and diving along the
bottom of the cavern floor, pushed fast
for the entrance. The entrance seemed
entirely closed by some big bulky
body, felt the scrape of heavy dull
claws on my right hand in which the
knife was held. Then something seized
my left shoulder. don't know how |
kept from screaming and strangling,
but freeing my hand from underneath
the claws, ! brought the knife into
play to free my shoulder. The pain
was terrific Suddenly realized that
| was in the grasp of a monster tur-
ties jaws. raked the knife furiously
across the protruded neck. 1t seemed
that | would have to saw forever. NY
lungs were bursting and my head ring
ing when the turtle loosed me. |
darted back into the cavern and filled
my lungs with the impure air. Still |
thought that | would smother, and
knew that | must reach the open at
All this time the widest
reigned at the side of the
entrance. However, as swift as pos
sible | darted through the hole and
arose to the surface of the stream.
"The next day, after had told my
stories to the boys, we visited the
place and found huge sea turtle lying
several feet away from the entrance
to the cavern. Although his throat
was cut he was not dead. We
captured him, cured the wound and
used him to draw our boat up and
down the bayou" +"
A quartet of Hood River men jour
leyed to Bonneville Sunday to see the