The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-10-03
HERON AND HUNTER,
wounded bird Nearly Kills n Wan
in its Struggle for Life


A Beaver Brook IN. " dispatch saws.
William Janeway, a hunter had an mex.
pected and very exciting adventure on Fri
day last, near the head-waters of Ten Mile
river, in this county. He was hunting
along the margin of the stream on the Look
out for wood ducks, and as he sat hidden be-
hind an alder bush he saw a large blue heron
alight at the edge of the water, a short gum
shot away. Janeway fired at the bird. and
it fell to the ground, where it lay hutterinp
and struggling evidently badly wounded
With the idea of securing it alive
the hunter laid down his gun and
The great bird had struggled to its feet before
Janeway reached it, and when it saw him
approaching it turned and tried to run away,
but was hurt SO that it could not, and fell
again to the ground. Janeway hurried on,
was taken by surprise to see it regain its feet
and place itself in an attitude of defense.
Inc hunter had never heard that these
birds We're courageous enough to attack any
one, and he stepped forward to ove"-
power it. when it sprang to meet him,
and darting out its long neck, struck
Janeway a blow in the face with its
powerful beak that feed him to the ground
half stunned. He staggered to his feet and
found that blood was streaming from a
,'Ouhu Al MS CLICK Hldue Dy the heron 2
beak. He had no time to determine on what
1T was best to do before the immense bird,
which stood more than four feet high, flew
at him again, throwing its body heavily
against his breast, at the same time strik-
ing him just above the right eve with its
beak Janeway fell again, and the bird fol-
lowed up its advantage and attacked him as
he lay on the ground. The movements
of the heron, although wounded were
so quick that it had given the
hunter third blow, this time in the left eve,
before he could make any defense whatever.
Maddened with pain, Janeway sprang to his
feet and, rushing upon his singular antagon-
list, caught it with both hands about the neck.
Its strength was so great that strangled as it
was by the hunters desperate clutch it re-
CURED all of Janeway's power to retain his
hold until the bird was forced to succunb.
He held on its neck until it ceased to struggle
longer. He had choked it to death. He was
covered with blood and his left eve was blind
ed. He hurried to the house of a lumberInan
living near the spot. His cheek was laid open
TO the bone where the heron hal struck him
first with its beak, and there was u deep hole
over his right eye. The left eve was entirely
destroyed, and it is feared Janeway will lose
the sight of the other one
The bird with which the hunter had so ca
we're and serious a struggle was subsequently
brought in from the woods 1t measure1
nearly seven feet from tip to tip of its WINGS
These birds are rare in that locality, although
one IS occasionally seen. Janeway is an old
bear and deer hunter, and has had MANY,
thrllllng adventures while hunting them buf
he says, the surprising attack Of the heron
was hercer than any effort he ever saw
bear or wounded buck make in defending
itself: 1t was certainly most terrible ons
tor him. as 1t may leave him totally blind