Litchfield enquirer., 1862-01-23
A DARING ADVENTURE.

A DARING ADVENTURE.
 now was at that part of the ladder where it leaned against the struggling branches of the eyre, and had ten or twelve rounds still above me. discovered that the eyrie, instead of be, ing two feet high, as we had supposed when viewing it from below was composed of branch es which had been accumulated by the eagles for years and was nearly eight feet in height. The ladder was, therefore, eight feet too short, in or der to enable person to step off into the nest. What was to be done? To turn back was not at all my taste and the hope to be able at least to look into the eyrie, carried the day.
 With all speed mounted higher putting my hands through the ladder and holding on by the branches of the eyrie, and with my feet pressing the ladder as closely as possible against it. had now the last round of the ladder in my hand, but there was still five feet to the nest so that 1 was obliged to trust all my weight to the branches that composed it. Boring my hands and arms as far as could into the immense fab ric of boughs and branches, carefully tested them all till found one that@I could neither snap in two nor drag out; grasping this firmly l thus got on the topmost round of the ladder one hundred and ten feet high but even now could only lean my chin firmly against stick on the outermost edge of tbe nest, while with both arms held fast on it's surface. Just be- fore me lay half putrid dead animal alive with million of worms. and there was stench enough to knock enc down from the ladder. However, in my unsafe position there was little time for giving due attention to all this abomination.- 1 When had gained firm hold, 1 allowed my self to stretch my back and knees somewhat by doing so gained half @ foot, which just enabled me to peep into the nest, where, to my despair, made the discovery that the young bird was sitting Tn the very hlndernost corner, four feet away from me. On gaining sight of him, I held doubly tight with my left hand, and saluted the young scion of royal race with due respect, taking off my cap to him, and waving it with a shout to the men below. now cast look at tEe household arrangements of the eyrie, and discovered at least half dozen roe and chamois kids several hares. blackcock, Q weasel, &c., all half devoured, baIf decomposed, besides mass of bones and skeletons spread out on the nest which was alive with all sorts of vermin. twas veritable carrion pit, horrid and disgusting. The question, however was to get possession Of this future despoiler 1 dared not chamber on | the nest, even could have done so for I then should have been unable to reach the topmost round of the ladder in getting down again con- sequently should have been obliged to remain | in the eyrie few days and nights, perhaps, till aid might be brought me which, after all, was a very questionable natter So pulled 6 long thin stick out ol the nest, end with it poked the young bird. As l expected he found this polk ing not at all to his taste, and furiously seized the stick in his talons. Drawing the stick quick ly towards me, with my right hand laid hold at him by the bag. But the question was how to bind the animal, defending himself as he was, with all might with his claws? had brought a thong with me for the purpose, which l carried ln my mouth in coming up the ladder, we'll fore seeing that my position would not allow me to ! get 1t first out Of my pocket. But he grasped the stick so firmly that could not mako him loose his hold. My left arm was beginning to grow fatigued. "lf," thought l. "I could only manage to get the assistance of the thumb and torehnger or my lof. hand.' But to get the fore 1 finger at liberty, which wItn the other fingers alone supported me-to get 1t out from beneath a stroug branch, it would be necessary to swing myself upwards towards the nest, and at the same moment relinquishing my hold, change fingers and hold on by the three others only. In doing this my body would necessarily be for moment without any support whatever, hanging back wards over the abyss. I considered whether ought to venture it; and it was only with the feeling of being able to maintain my equilibrium without causing the ladder to rock in the least i; It was only with the consciousness of being as calm cool and possessing the same presence of mind as if l were sitting at my writing table, that undertook the movement. This, insignii- cant as 1t may appear to many reader, was, ai- ter all, the most perilous moment of the nnder- taking. Thank heaven had calculated right ly, and it succeeded-my three fingers held me 1 firm.
 l With my right hand then turned the eagle quickly on his back, which was not so easy, as he held on to the stick with a convulsive grasp. Then letting go, made grasp at his talons, l which were now turned upwards, but caught on I,, # Al Lo k seize my hand, but happily clutched the stick in stead at the same instant, however, got hold of the second talon. I now with the right hand was able to lay both talons in the two liberated fingers of my left hand with the right l then took the thong and quietly bound them together in spite of his loud cries. his futtering and reso- lute resistance fastened the other eud of the thong to the upper button of my coat, and then repeated the swinging movement so as to have my entire left hand for holding on by. Both arm were now getting cramped, for had been three-quarters of an hour on the ladder, and two thirds of the time hanging to the nest. Victory had been achieved, therefore began to think of effecting an orderly retreat. So, with my hind me, in order that he might not incommode mo while descending, and then tried to find the holes in the eyrie which I had bored with my hands when climbing up.
 This was difficult and fatiguing affair, and lasted terribly long because my head beiug pressed close up against the side of the nest, l could see nothing, and was only able to feel my way with my hunds and feet. The top of the uppermost ladder inclined backwards more and more as descended, making full two feet at each round. It was only after long search. and af- ter snapping many 9 dry branch, that succeed ed in finding again the holes in the nest; but found them at last, and thus, by care. perseve' rance, courage and presence of mind, descend ed the three ladders and came back again to my men and, except that my hands were much torn by the brambles, quite uuhurt.-Forest Creatures bv Ckarles Bonner-
 A Mrs. Ingersoll, who went to Charleston re- gently, by way of Fortress Monroe, to take some clothing to her son, who is prisoner, and dona- tions to others from Michigan who are confined there, publishes a card in the Detroit Free Press stating that she was everywhere treated with the greatest kindness and consideration. Gen. Ripley alone displayed rudeness toward her. Gen. Shields has fallen into his old habit oi getting into quarrels. Senator McDougall o California having stated that Shields expressed to him year ago his approval of the secession of the southern states, and his opinion that the, ! Go1 E.