Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-08-05

bird was one of the largest bald eagles, and
the snake was a monster of it's kind, being
three inches in diameter. The eagle, with
his crest thrown backward, ran up to the
snake and gave it a blow over the head
with his wings that completely stunned it,
Just rs it was in the act of striking at him
with all it's force. Quick as thought the
eagle then caught it in its %talons, scared
about ten feet in the air, gave it a furious
shaking, and let it fall to the earth, where
it lay coiled in a warlike attitude, rafting
aud Kissing in great wrath. The eagle
made a second attack in the same manner
as before, but the snake watched its chance
this time, and when the eagle was close
enough thrust its head between his head
and wing, and, with a desperate effort,
wound itself around the eagles body, and
it looked for a moment IA though the
powerful bird must die. But, with a
violent flap of his wings, he broke the
deadly embrace, caught the snake, gave it
a number Of jerks, and threw it down
again. The blood was oozing from several
places in the r%attler's body, which seemed
to make the eagle more excited than ever.
The antagonists now remained some feet
apart and seemed to be resting, while the
RATHER kept up a deep buzzipg, perhaps to
intimidate the bird. The eagle next tried
another plan, wheeling around his enemy
in q circle; but the serpent was acquainted
with this dodge, and kept full in his face.
Thus foiled, the eagle began TO whip the
RATHER with the tips of his wings, his head
well thrown back; but the snake lodged
the blows. The eagle then made a feint,
Jumped to one side aud struck it a fearful
blow; caught it by the middle and shook
it until the snake was about to Irvine itself
around his body, when he again threw it
to the ground. Both showed signs Of great
fatigue, but neither seemed inclined to
give way. The eagle ran around and
around his victim, in every conceivable
way, but 30 far the snake managed to hold
him of, until he threw back his head
and made q desperate drive. The snake
struck with all its force az the wing Of the
eagle came in contact with its head, and,
while trying to coil around his body, was
caught and carried into the air, where il
wis almost jerked in twain, and when it
reached the ground again its entrails were
hanging out, and it writhed and twisted
III ETcdb pam. LhC pIOuu bihy cOouu ioOh
ing on with the victorious air of a pugilist
who has won a world-renowned battle, his
head erect and his wings resting on tine
ground. For the first time he cast his large
eyes upon me, showing neither surprise
nor anger at my presence; he seemed to I'M
derstand that l would not modest him, for
he turned to the snake and gave it another
good shaking, to make sure of lis death.
1 was tempted to take him home as a
trophy of the battle, but his mistaken con-
fdence in me unnerved my arm. When
the sgonies of death were over and his
enemy had ceased writing, he stretched
his wings, seized his prey where the skin
was not broken, and, with steady fight,
bore it to 3 mountain crag, the highest one
in the neighboriug mountain. AS he slowly
winged his way the huge serpent could be
seen hanging from his powerful claws.
The fight lasted three quarters of an hour,
and had the eagle been less careful Of his
eyes and head, he could have torn the
snake TO atoms in q moment, but be seemed
TO realize the danger of the poisonous
nature Of the snake, and gained his victory
by the exercise Of his strategic instinct.