The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-02
NObblng an Eagles Eyrie.

Sea eagles were formerly common in
Shetland, but through trapping and
shooting these noble birds are now near
ly extinct Oh these northern isles.
Within the last three years pair has
established an eyrie in the cleft of n
great sandstone sea cliff, known as the
Bard Of Bressay, forming tho southmost
point OF the island of Bressny, the island
east OF the mainland which landlocks
Lerwick harbor. On the east side tho
oiif1s rise sheer out Of the sea to a height
OF 400 or 500 feet: The depredations of
the eagles on tho farms upon Bressnv
and the adjacent mainland this year
have been extensive, The hungry
eaglets required to be fed, and almost
daily lambs wero missed from the fields.
10 put stop to this plundering, q pro.
Ject was formed to rob the nest, and n
daring young cragsman--a leader in
hazardous dYentures-undertook to do
30 upon tho first convenient opportun-
ity. fO' Wall
Ihe risk was groat, for, besides tho
peril OF the descent and the ascent.
tnefe was chance Of q fight with the
parent birds. Tho oyrie could only bo
soen by the MD OF a glass from tho cliff
on the north side. a considerable way
down the cliff il large protrudlng boss
something in the shape of al oriol
window, with great cleft in the middle
OF 1t. LII this cleft the nest wns buiIt,
Inc exact distance OF the neat down tho
clll1 was hrst ascertnined. BY means of
a reel OF thread, with small weight at
the end, the measurement was found to
De ntteen fathoms, or about ninety feet
with two assistants the cragsman very
early one morning shortly afterwards.
crossed the Sound of Bressny in boat.
Tho top Of the "Bard' was attained aboul
3 o'clock. stout oaken stake having
been driven tirm y into the grouui.
through an "eyo' ut the top OF it, ono
cnd or strong Manila two-inch rope
was passed The young climber (says
the account i'll the Soofsnsun. from
Which This narrntiYe is tukeu) mn,ie Ibis
end secure round his body, while his
assistants grasped tho ropo on the other
side OF tho "eye." He had taken oifnIl
super iuous clothing, and wore a pair OF
thin goloshes. In bels round his waist.
he had G-chambered revolver. Over
his shoulder was slung hia fishing
basket. Going over the brink of the
cliff he partially climbed down, 80 as to
Jake the strain as much as possible of
the rope. When he got to the pond"
as tho place where the eyrie is built is
locally known. he found that fortune
had favored him in this-that neither OF
the old birds was at home; but at the
same time he found that it would be a
difficult matter to got at the nest. I'm
mediately sa ebove ll the "pS9Haarr pSyHlaariy3ag gyg}t
hung the eyrie; so that the cragsman.
suspended IN the air on the same level
as the nest, found hlmself still ten or
twelve feet from it. He at onco sipnalei
to those above to be hauled up to this
ledge; and, that having been done, he
cautiously climbed down it's face, wh1oh
had q sharp inward slope, until he got
upon the same run OF strata as that
upon which the nest was built By fol-
lowing an open seam Just wide enough
to admit his fingers he managed at last
to scramble into the pond" where
probably human foot had never been set
before. III the rocky chamber in which
he now found himself be could hardly
stand upright; he therefore went round
Oh his knees to the back of the nest.
There were two pretty eaglots in the
eyrle; and when they saw the strange
intruder they buried their heads below
tho woody lining of the most, and re-
maineI perfectly still. On lifting the
eaRlets out Of tho nest, though only n
fortnight old, they were so large and
we'll grown that only one would 90 into
the tishing-basket. The cragsman was
considering how he could get the other
to the top of the oli8, when warming
shout from above told lim that one Of
the old birds was approaching. 1t was
the female bird, which apparently was
determined to show fight in defense Of
her young. She came through the air
straight for the eyrie, like "hash OF
lightning;" and the oragsman had bare.
Iy time to throw himself on his back into
the deepest recess Of the "pond," and
TO draw his revolver, when the infur;a-
ted eagle was upon him. She made one
tremendous and unsuccetsful swoop at
him with taions aud hoax; and stimuli
taneously he pulled the trigger of his
revolver. The weapon, however, missed
fire. the eagle lowered outside for a
moment before renewing the attack; but
q shot from the revoIver-the report
OF which revorberated among the rocks
--effectually sonred it to a distance of
about 200 yards, whore it continued to
circle i'll the air-yolping like dog.
1t was by and by joined by tho male
bird; but mother Of tho eagles again
showed fight. The cragsman, having
deposited one eaglet in his fishing
basket, took tho other under his left
arm, and having given the signal to his
companions, swung himself out of tho
"pond,' and was safely hauled up-hls
perilous venture successfully aocomp-
ished. Boih of the eaglets arc still
alive. and arpsar to be thriving we'll in
captivity. They are fed three times a
day on flesh and fish, and on this diet
are coming into very beautiful plnmage.
Since the eyrie was robbed, it may be
mentioned that tho Old eagles hayo on
moro than one OCCASION been seen
lowering over tho town Of Lorwick.
This is tho first time for twenty yours
that eagles have been captured alive in
Shetland.
Improved Balloon,