ADVENTURE WITH A SEA LION.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 225, 21 April 1868, Page 3

ADVENTURE WITH A SEA LION.

(From tlie Southland Winzes.) A novel and somewhat exciting chase of a resident of the town by an amphi- j bious animal known as the sea-lion, now being exhibited at the establishment of Mr Von Hammer, Tay-street, Invercargill, took place on Sunday morning, March 15. As far as we can learn, it would appear that about seven o'clock in the morning of the day mentioned, the landlord of the Provincial Hotel was proceeding up the street towards the Post office, when on Hearing the Fire Brigade buildings he heard an unearthly sound. He describes it as being something between the bark of a dog, the roar of a lion, and the hiss of a serpent. On turning round, he beheld a creature bounding towards him in great jumps, roaring at every spring. Thinking at first that it was a savage or mad dog, and considering that discretion was the better part of valor, he took to his heels, and ran with electric speed until he reached the Church of England, where, panting with exertion and trembling with fear, he paused in the portico, and timidly peeped out to see the whereabouts of his pursuer. There he was, following in the direct track, jumping with a speed that convinced " Mike" that although he was the fleetest of foot, his place of refuge was not safe ; but with true Hibernian instinct, he was determined to scan more distinctly the character of the animal that had given him so ominous a morning's salutation. He had time to makejbutjfew observations. On came the brute snorting and roaring —it was unlike anything he had seen before, being neither beast nor fish, but resembling to some extent each. It had the head of the seal, the body of a dog, with four web-feet, by the *ase of which it covered several feet of ground at a bound. Thinking that the time occupied in his observations bad given his antagonist, who had nearly reached him, too great an advantage, our townsman darted from his hiding-place, dodging round the church corners, then towards Esk-street, back into Tay-street, still closely followed, where he got the advantage of his roaring pnrsuer in the straight running; and on approaching the Scandinavian Hotel, placards, announcing that a sea-lion was being exhibited, led to the conclusion that this must be the animal. With haste he made for that establishment, and speedily battered at the door with an energy that threatened the paneb with destruction, and aroused the inmates. Mr Von Hammer, upon making his appearance, recognised his "pet," and seeing that it had become excited by the chase, procured a rope, and with great dexterity flung the noose over its head. Amidst jumping and bellowing on the part of the captive, he was safely caged in his den.