Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-03-27
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The Golden Ea ole

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The Golden Eagle.
lHr. Editor I; Being near the Whitcsidc
mountain, in North Carolina, not long since,
by comfortable fire, in tho house of kind
friend, ! was agreeably entertained with
some anecdotes about the great Golden Ea-
gle. These birds arc frcquontlyseen among
the huge mountains al ut Whitesidc--here
they find secure places, among the inacccs-
sible cliffs, to build their nests, and rear
their young, unmolcsted by nan--hcrc,
likewise, they find abundance of subsistence
and are frequently seen carrying off their
prey in majestic triumph, independent of
all opposition. Seven and eight feet across,
from tip of wing to tip of wing, they make
a very formidable appearance as they are
seen cleaying the clouds, far above the tall
est mountains But it is not my purpose
to describe this brave bird in minute dc
tail, for that is well done in many books
which have read. My purpose is to relate
what was new to me, as | do not remember
to have ever seen a description of its mode
of attacking ali animal, and as it may be
as new to others as it was to myself, | will
give the manner of attack as it was related
to me-
Squire HILL's son, boy about II or
13 years old, was out with his gun in the
mountains, hunting. Suddenly he heard
his dog scream, and continued screaming as
though he was in great distress, and to as
certain the cause if possible, the boy walked
over the point Of an intervening ridge and
to his astonishmout, on arriving near the
dog, found him lying on his back, and an
Eagle striking at him, The dog was max
ing no resistance nor attempts to escape.-
The Eagle was coming nearer at every
swoop, On observing the boy he left off
striking at the dog, and made one daring
swoop at the boy. But as he was poising
himself for another swoop, the boy present
ed his gun and brought his majesty down.
A leg and foot of this bird was presented to
me He measured from tip to tip it. 10
inches. His wings and tail were preserved
by the Esqr's. family for fans.
Not long before this scene, hunter,
weary with his fatiguing walk, laid down
on the grass in an open place to rest But
short time ensued before he saw an eagle
posing himself over him. Being curious,
he lay still and watched After few
poiscs, he made swoop at him. The man
then concluded to try the eagle by lying
still, and sec if it would actually strike him.
After his first swoop, which was not very
close, he poised himsclfand made second
swoop, and so on nicely posing himself and
striking little nearer at every swoop, till
the narrator felt touch of his dangerous
claw across his forehead and being satisfied
with this daring oudacity, at his next poise
he presented his gun and Brought him down
to rise no more. am told by eye witness,
es, that animals attacked by the Eagle usu
ally give up, and neither seek safety by
flight or self-dcfencc. Perhaps the reason
the animal does notify from the eagle is in
some measure sclfdefence, as an eagle
could pick it up as it ran, and rise with it
much easier than if lying still, as they are
rather stif;jointed.
Pondleton, S. 9. w. II*&s:*Y.