New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-08
a Fight with a Condor.
BY EMERSON BENNETT.

aGrasS the wings which was suspehueo itol Gue oel
ter Of the ceiling in flying attitude. ! expressed
my wonder at its size and build and my friend re-
eyes, sir, that is wonderful bird, and cost me
more anxiety and peril than all the rest put together
"Ah indeed2
ayes, it was a thrilling adventure" he pursued,
tand when you have finished your inspection VIII
give YOU the details over bottle of generous wine.
Alter spending some two hours in the cabinet we
retired into the library where, after drlnElng eaen
others health my friend commenced his tale as loi-
lows: ...;4,t If
ttWhile was staying in Chniusaca the capltal Oh
Bolivia, met two gentlemen who were orotleIs ne ne
longing 10 a distinguished old Spanish fanny: we
soon became intimate friends and learning during
our new conversations, that they shoIIy lhtenueo -
visit La Paz, one of the most loaTlshinS cues Y
South America situated on the Ahdes' n Gle VEST
arn mart of Bolivia informed them That, II not IN
frndinp it would afford me great pleasure 10 accom-
nanv them to which most cordial assent was given.
nAccordingly in a few days we were en- route Tor
L. Paz anticipating great pleasure from our trlP'
we arrived there without accident and, alter spend.
inc nearly ten days very pleasantly in the CITY, one oil
nv friends proposed that we should lind enough to
enlpoy as for weeks in exploring the rugged and al
most inaccessible cliffs and crags OF It's rocky shores
at was Immediately decided that we should go
and the second day after, led by an experienced
guide, we sailed out OF the town, prepared with all
that was necessary for our Journey La Paz although
situated in deep valley, is some twelve thousand
feet above the level of the ocean, and the lake 10
which we were now vending our way, is some three
or four thousand feet above La Paz so that at rst
it seemed quite curious to me we should travel up
ward from the city to the lake but soon forgot
this in the dangers OF our Journey Whlchi as we
assembled narrow and PERCEPTIONS mountain paths,
winding sometimesNoyer jagged peaks, andsometimes
along the very brink Of ehasms that seemed to yawn
from the bowels Of the earth, required my whole az
tentiOn to keep myself from rolling down rough IN
clines or being precpated into some opening in the
solid rock-down which, II q stone were hurled, the
sound would echo and reecho till it finally lost itself
ID the awful depths below.
At last we arrived on the shores OF the lake,
which presented wild, picturesque appearance, the
landscape blending such grand, rugged majesty
with sweet, calm repose, as TO produce hafmonl-
Gus, yet awe inspiring effect Here, as the sun was
fast sinking behind the tops of the sn0w'cappeu
peaks on the western side, we resolved to make our
first camp, and resume our exploration on the NOR
row.
Soon after cur halt, and while Josef, our guide,
was preparing our frugal repast he called our atten
ton to an object which projected from behind rug
ged orag far up on distant peak.
Senores,' said he after he was satisfied we per-
ceiYed it, that is the nest of condor, which for
years has raised her young in security from the APP
prOaeh Of the most daring who might attempt to
climb to the spot.
He then went on to relate several accounts Of
daring mouutaneers who had endeayored to climb to
its nest and had been lost and Of one in particular,
who had been attacked by the ferocous bird, and,
though defending himself bragely, had been dragged
over the ledge and dashed to pieces on the rock
below.
@Do you not think we could kill it r? said |, turning
to Josef.
mo, Senior, he replied in a decided manner, "the
condor is at all times formidable antagonist; but
doubly when in the present instance, it has its
young in nest, which it will defend most sayagely7
"But the more our guide dwet upon the danger
attending an endeaYoT to take the bird the more our
desire increased to be the heroes of an exploit in
which all Others had failed and after some further
discussion of the subject, we resolved to proceed on
e. Il, CrtE,l,F
the ledge on which the nest was built, where it was
supposed we might obtain at least glimpse OF the
terrible bird.
Accordingly, the next morning, we set off on our
adventure in high spirts-uuT guide at intervals dur
ing our difficult and perons ascent. persisting in
warning us against the dangers TO which we wert
rashly exposing ourselves
AT length, after a tedious and eXhqusting jour
ney, we landed on the top Of the crag referred to
where before proceeding to any examination, VIZ
| parto0k of some refreshments. After finishing on
repast we clanbered various projecting points aonl
the edge of the rocks, to catch GLIMPSE II possible
OF the nest but being unable to do so, proposed tt
descend at point farther down, and creep along th
ledge till could see whether the mother was theFt
or no. Our guide still most warmly protested agans
my rashness, but my curiosity being excited to tat
utmost by what had heard Of the bird was re
solved to satisfy it at all hazards.
'sAftef some further discussion upon the matter, !
was finally settled that my friends should lower mt
to the ledge and it, on obtaining sight Of the nest
SHOULD discover Lle LnOLlet TO DG aUSeDbt SHoult
capture one or more Of the Young ones, and return
to the point Of the ledge where had first landed
4 and should then be drawn up.
"Looking mt the condition Of my reVolyers, ant
loosiug my dirk In its sheath, prepared for the peril
GUS enterprise by diyestng myself OF all supertous
/ clothing, fastening the end OF the rope securely
round my body, and running it over q small block o.
/ wood, to be placed along the sharp edge of thu
! rock.
@Thus prepared cautiously lowered myself over
1 till was banging by the arms when, looking mo
ment to see that all right, gave the aigua anc
was lowered gradually down till my feet touched The
! ledge | sought !; then creeping carefully and eau
tously along, came at last within sight OF the nest
i which was constructed of branches, and appeared
from the distance at which stood to be some thfet
or four feet in diameter.
"Happiy the mother was away and with hear
beating ioy(ully at my good fortune, / advanced
towards the spot which the condor had selected as
sale place in which to rear her young. few yards
on this side Of it there eayetike opening in the
wall Of the preCipce Of about the size OF a smal
ROOM around whose sides grew running vine, which
had taken root in mold in CrevCe of the ledge
Passing on, came to the nest itself, which | fount
to contain two young birds, and to be lined witt
something exceedingly soft.
Z" Producing a small cord, | now hurredly ant
anxiousy proceeded to bind the nestiHgs each 0
which was about the size Of a large goose but Will
thus engaged, felt something like pnllnpon rop
which was around my body; and imagine my feel
ings when on looking around, perceived that, from
some cause it had been completely severed above me
and that fifty feet Of it now hung over the pre-
eipice.
e Instantly dropping the bird, drew my knife
divided the line aud was in the act Of drawing it In
when a wild cry arrested my attention. Looking u
in alarm, to my horror IpereeiVed aar over the lake
monstf0us bird cleayng the air in the exact direC
ton Of the spot where stood
Mereif0l God shall ever forget that agonizin
moment, as the whole peril Of my situation rose a
once to my view Alone upon that rocky point, cu
off from my friends with the monster bird, like