Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-11-03
Severe Encounter with an Eagle.

STOCKPORT, PENN, Oct 30 Lewis Will
lims, who lives in an isolated spot in the
Preston Mountains, few miles from this
place. having set trap 10 capture a fox,
which he had reason to believe was carving
away his chickens, went out yesterday morn
ing to look at it. and found it gone The
trap had been chained t. a small stake in the
ground. and this had been pulled up and was
missing with the trap and chain. On his way
home from search for the animal. Mr. Will
liams saw flock of crows in niece of woods
n quarter of mile or so from his house
They were clwing furiously and circling
around above the tree tops in one particular
spot. MIR. Williams procee ded thither, and
had just entered the edge of the woods when
he heard the rafting of a chain; and simul-
tueously an enormous bird strutted out from
behind tree, dragging the missing trap,
Oh lin aud stake. The jaws of trap were fas-
tened to one leg of the bird, which was a bald
eagle of the largest size.
rhe eagle flew from the ground and was
rising with difficulty toward the top of tall
de al tree, Williams fired ut il, manning one
of its wings. and it fell to the ground. Think
ing to capture the bird alive. williams ap-
preached it. but in spite of its crippled wing
aud the burden of the trap on its leg, the bird
fleS at him ami attacked him with such fury
that he turned and fled from the woods.
Hurrying back home. Williams, without
saving anything to others, procured a stout
rope and large feeding bag On his way
back to the woods he noticed that the crows
which had attracted his attention to the spot
in the first place. were lowering over the
place where he had left the eagle. and from
their peculiar cries and frantic actions. he
inferred that something unusual had occurred
during his absence. The crows, knowing by
the wonderful instinct they possess. that the
eagle was wounded, and hating as they do all
large birds, had swooped down on the eagle.
and STACKED IL in its crippled condition.
This attack had been disastrous to the crows.
for when Williams again reached the spot,
three lay dead near the enraged eagle, and
several others were dragging themselves
awsl OUT of his react. uttering the sharp
cultural cry, which they only utter when
wounded nr in tronble
THE eagle no sooner saw Williams an
preaching again than il rushed at HIM.
Williams had made moose in one end of the
rope h. carried, and when the eagle flew a,
him he waited until it was almost upon him.
and then quickly threw the moose over the
birds head and it slipped down around the
wings. Tie then threw the bag over the bird
As williams stood with his arms around the
great body of the bird, endeavoring to secure
the mouth of the bag around its legs, the
eagle suddenly sprang against him, and
/ striking him in the stomach with its one free
talon, with one fierce downward stroke, rip.
ped the clothing from him. and tore the skin
from the flesh in long strip clear to the
waist.
Williams quickly released the bird, and
made haste to reach his house. supposine
that he was terribly injured. Two men who
were threshing buckwheat 'or him were Their
informed of the presence Of the eagle in the
woods. and they Sent to the spot and sue
cseded in overpowering it The eagle will
measure at least eight feet from tip TO tin o.
| its wings, aud stands nearly four feet high
| These birds still nest in the wild and rock,
| elevations in this region.