Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-27
ATTACKED BY A HERON.

A Beaver Brook IN. W special says
William Janeway, a hunter, had an unex
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 lookout
for wood-ducks, and as he sat hidden behind
an alder-bush he saw large blue heron
alight at the edge of the water. a short gun
shot away JaneWay fired at the bird, and
it fell to the ground, where it lay tlutteripg
and struggling, evidently badly wounded.
With the idea ofsecuring it alive the hun
| ter laid down his gun and ran to the SPOT
where thcheron was. 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, and, bending
over the heron to seize it, he was taken by
surprise to see it regain its feet and place
itself in an attitude of defence. The hunter
had never heard that these birds were cour-
ageous enough to attack any one, and he
stepped forward to overpower it, when it
sprang to meet him, and darting out its long
neck, struck Janeway blow in the face
with its powerful beak that felled him to
the ground half stunned. He staggered to
his feet and found that blood was streaming
from wound in his cheek made by the
hercn's beak. He had no time to deter.
mine on ,:hat it was best to do before the
iSfHf:""feet iiSSnf feet high, New az nlm again,
throwing its body heavily against
his breast, at the same time striking him
lust above the right eye with its beak. Jane
way fell again, and the bird followed up its
advantage and attacked him as he lay on
the ground. The movements of the heron,
although wounded were so quick that 1t
had given the hunter third blow, this time
in the left eye, before he could make any
defence whatever. Maddened with pain,
Janeway sprang TO his feet and rushing
upon his singular antagonist, caught 1t with
both hands about the neck. Its strength
was so great that. strangled as it was by
the hunters desperate clutch, it required
all of Janeways power to retain his hold
until the bird was forced to succumb. he
held on to its neck until it ceased to strug-
ole longer He had choked it to death. He
was covered with blood, and his left eye was
blinded. He hurried to the house Of lum-
herman living near the spot. His cheek was
laid open TO the bone, where the heron had
struck him first with its beak, and there was
a deep hole over his righteye. The left eye
was entirely destroyed, and it is feared
Jaueway will lose the sight Of the other
one.
The bird with which the hunter had so
severe and serious struggle was subsequent
brought in from the woods. 1t measured
nearly seven feet from Zip to tip ofits wings.
These birds are rare in that locality, al
though one is occasionally seen. Janeway
Is an old bear and deer hunter, and has had
| many thrilling adventures while hunting
| them, but he says the surprising attack of
the heron was ierccr than any effort he ever
saw bear or wounded buck make III deten-
ding itself Tt was certainly q most terrible
one FOR him. us it may leave him totally
| blind.