The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-20
0UTWITTED BY A TEAL.
'THRnLINa. BUT UNSUCCESSFUL, AT
TACK ON A WOUNDED DUCK.
Three Eagles Make a Determined and
4 Scientific Attempt for a Dainty Meal
h on Wapanoca Lake--A Local Sports.
mans Vivid Description.

The prevailing theme Of conversation
among q large and influential circle Of
AIemphians just now are the sights, scenes
Ind exploits while on hunting excursions
n An APPEAL reporter yesterday met one
81 these genial, sport-loving souls, and
beard the following vivid narration OF an
unsuccessful effort by three bald eagles to
capture wounded teal duck:
|W THE SIGNAL.
"A From my blind in the willows heard
s the whizz of ducks wings to my left. l
turned hastily and at the same time threw
my gun to ready. 1t was cross-Ayer,
green-winged teal, going like he was sent
1 for the doctor. / fired Immediately and
"wing-tipped" him. The speed with
which he was going landed him far beyond
n the reach OF my second barrel. AS soon
rs he struck the water he began to swim
y toward the middle Of the lake. In less
than two minutes | heard the scream OF
\ an eagle. Turning my eyes toward the
\ sound | saw, at great altitude above the
timber, an immense bald-head eagle.
4 "Now you'll see fun" remarked the
Snative with me; "but he'll never catch
im," he concluded, as he took an extra
',pull on his strong old pipe.
u BY this time the eagle had begun TO
4 circle over the wounded duck. Nearer
and nearer he drew toward the scared
bird as he diminished the circle at every
flight.
THE ATTACK.
The duck, with his sharp eyes fixed
on the eagle, swan round and round, Just
as his adversary flew. When about fifty
yards above his prey the great bird uttered
q scream, as ii TO put the terrified duck on
his guard, and made dart, with his talons
outstretched, directly at him. On came
the eagle with the speed OF an arrow, and
expected to see the wounded duck borne
away by the liking Of birds" without any
chance for his life whatever
''See him divel" cried the native, rs the
duck went out of sight beneath the placid
waters. The eagle, realizing the fact that
he had missed his prey, shot upward In
tho air TO make another onslaught. AS he
did so he again uttered q scream.
''Dar, man; he has yelled for his mate
an de two OF 'em will do up dat LITTLE
duck II he don't cit out of dat open watel
and hide in dc grass" remarked the ne
gro paddler.
REINFoRcEMESTs.
Scarcely had the sound OF the eagles
call died away when ] saw its mate flyinI
swiftly toward the battle ground. imag
ined | could see the feathers on th,
wounded duck rise rs these two immens,
birds crcled above il. After preliminary
understanding between them eagle No.
made another dive at the duck, Will,
eagle No. circled close enough 10 tn,
water TO catch the duck us soon as |
showed its head after its dive from No. |
! saw the play and watched the fight 70
life OF the little duck with intense inter
est, and wished that they would circl,
near enough TO me 10 be placed passc d,
combat by a load from my gun.
Look lookl he's maxim Tor dc cover,
cried the negro, rs the duck showed itsel
fully 100 yards nearer the grass. Dow
went Eagle No . and down went the duel
under the water. Us | scored the fifth clcal
miss for the hungry birds.
MORE TRoors.
As the maddened eagle arose 10 give Il
mate another chance II also uttered
piercing scream which, as II by magic
brought forth another one OF its kind.
"Dar. now; II dem fro great big bird
amt 'gwine 10 fight dat one little due
den I'm q sinner" again spoke the negro
And 30 they did. taking turn about q
before, but with no better success, as ever
dive tho duck would make brought hin
closer TO the grass.
oUTwITTED.
Once under cover, they gave u
the fight, aud the wounded Dir
was spared until the shades Z
night, when he would have TO do bal
tic for his life with coons, mink and othe
prowling yarmints that nightly patrol Tia
marsh and feeding grounds by whc
Wapanoca Lake II surrounded. So intcn
was on watching the fight that ! MISE
several good shots while the battle wei
on, and ended my days sport few min
utcs later by stepping of my blind int
tho lake. OF course | Immediately n
turned TO the clubhouse for repairs and
little bracing up.
WpTTRN SANITARY Commission, ST. Lour
Nov Is iSGi.- Mcssrs. J. x G. Magulr