Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-18

Two Remarkable Sontests WIN tasIes
Ii is not often that the American Eagle is
found near the hahitation OF man, as his
lordship never allows his reputation to suffer
from too close familiarity that is 50 apt to
beget contempt. Neither has he ever allowed
any act of his to lower. for enc moment, his
high standing as the proud bird of Freedom
Remarkable exploits OF the eagle have
been chronicled, where the grand old tird,
impelied by hunger which, tor some reason,
his usual prey bad tailed TO satisfy, would
swoop down from some mountain crag aud
snatch a child from its mothers arms or from
its sleeping couch where it had been left IN
guarded in supposed safety. But never, or
so rarely. has even a small boy. or any hu-
man being able to walk about, been attacked
that such bold exploit must be regarded as
of heroic adventure.
Such an occurrence comes TO US from
Xenia, and the particulars are gathered as
follows, from the Xtnia Gazette:
On Friday morning of last week, while
Walter Mead, boy fifteen years Of age, who
is employed in assisting the butcher at the
Orphans Home, was out IN a field looking at
ter some cattle, he was attacked by an eagle,
which Jumped from the branch OF a tree upon
which he was perched As the boy approached
The youngster was scared at the sight of the
large bird and started tor the institution on a
run, but the eagle was too fast for him ard
run. but the eagle was too fast for HIM, and
soon overlook him end baried its talons in
the ieshy part of one of the boys legs. The
little fellow shook his assailant of, but it at
once renewed the attack, and, jumping onto
him, buried its beak in the fieshy part OF the
BOYS left arm. The boy realized
that he had to fight for bis life
and went for the eagle la SulIl-
van, having nothing but his bare hands for
weapons. He managed to get firm hold
upon the neck of the eagle and soon crushed
the life out of it. Young Mead's hands and
body received numerous scratches and bites,
besides the severe wound on the arm where
the eagle bit him, and he was so badly in
iured that he was compelled TO 90 to the hos
pitsl.
The body of the eagle is in the possession
of the Home officials, and is quite fine spec
linen of the American bird OF freedom. 1t
wings, and looks like it would make very
formidable foe for a man, much less small
boy like Mead. 1t is the intention OF the
Home officials to have the bird stuffed, and it
will be kept as memento.
Another case, though not entirely OF the
same nature, occurred about four miles north
of this city on the srh inst, and was briefly
reported in the GLOBE REPUBLIC.
In this case John Lutz, a boy about twelve
years old, found the bird on the ground hav-
ing been wounded in me way.
A hard fought battle eusued b tween the
boy and the bird, in which the eagle, though
disabled by the wound, defended himselt with
the gamiest determination and wonderful
pluck, bu: was finally dispatched by repeated
blows from A heavy club. The body was
brought to the city, and it measured seven
feet from tip to tip, and was remarkably
fine specimen Of the noble bird, Had be uOr
been previously wounded, es is supposed by
gun shot, the capture would certainly not
have been successful.
These two occurrences happening within
so small radius OF Springfield, it is sup
posed that the two birds are probably mates,
but no reason can be assigned for their ap.
pearauce in this neighbolho