The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-09-04
E~en fhs C;nrinnai Chronicle sss-
NOVEL COh BAT WlTu'A BIRD.


By q friend, residing in TeDDessr. "
have been politely favored with the follow
ing accounts Of fierce and extrsordipar
contest, between q man and a bird, whic
occur. ed on the banks OF the Hatcbee, no
far distant fom Boiivar.--The gentleman &
whom we are indebted for this narrative,
one Of uuimpeachubs verscity. II is, per
l,aps, considering the character of The CON
battants, as unique and bloody battle, al
can be found on record
s.About three months since farmer IiyI
ing four or Eve miles up the llatchee, wa4
searching on the bolton land of ttat river
for strayed cattle. when he observed somcI
thing of unusual appearance pass through
the thicket, which be- pursued, and soon dis
covered TO be a large BIRD. The bird at
tempted to rise, bat its wings becoming iin|
pended by the bushes or cane. il had nd
cnanee To get of that way, and finding i'll
self gained upon. by its porsuer, il turned
upon him. Somewhat surprised by this I'm
expected attack. he started 10 run from it,
tnci and fell; the bird dashed at HIM. with
wings, beak aud claws and the man found,
it necessary to turn Immediately on hIssfacea 1
but finding himself sorely annoyed by his
anita gonist, and his knlfeblsde coming OUT
Of the haft, 70 shoe: knife he scrambled uH
and ran. The bird pursued but q short; ds1
tance, stopping at his hat, (which had fallen
off in the fighi,J on which he commenced q
furious attack; after which. ne returned to1
wards the water. A man of more than ak
feet high. and weighing about $50 Tbs, to be
beaten by a bird! this would not do tn tell.
The blade Of the knife was searched for,
found, and fitted to The handle; and two
sticks cut, one with fork, to yoke the enc
my's~ neck In his adyance,--the other 10
strike him with. The bird was soon found,
and nothing 10th, returned to the combat:
The onset or the festhered bipcd was so
severe and sudden, that the forked stick
missed his nerk, and only sudden move.
ment of the head, probably saved an eye Of
the man from lhe bill of, the bird
The struggle now became most violent,
for the man bad seized the bird BY the neck,
while the bird dealt him such blows with his
wings, and 80 tore him with his claws, that
a very coarse shirt was literally torn Of his
hack. Al last the bird was ssrspgled, and
iay apparently llfeless At the. ieet Of The
conqueror. While however, he was taking
breath and rest after his toll, his fcathersd
enemy fell unexpectedly again upon him
having now revived: snother struggle ensu.
ed the coup de col was resorted to q second
times with success; and the bird being sgsin
strsngled, bic adversary gmn,esd his s0ind.
pipe IN two, having lost HE knife and being
completely tired of HE contest. t
This is On interesting fact TO ornitho!oR:
isis, and the curious generally: The eisd
was purely white. except At the bend OF the
wings--hesd bald--s bunch Of feathers cve4
the rump--bill 9 or 10 inches long--eig
feet hgh--wings 8 feet from sip-'egs su9
feet resembling turkeyss. but ssou'-.'arRs
knees sud thig ghs--its cry very hcrsbs re-
sembIing - my informans says, nss o. :
isckass! he declares, "hs tray'ng was
yIo ~ f,;ehifoJ.v-T have convsrsed with sev.
s,si nsrsons = no saw the bird sheS il wss
dssd one oe Who n. hss brought me several
fssthess. (which ere white aud Beautifully
"a prcmised me wing, bosb sfxhlch hsvs