Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-08-29
KIT CARsoN's WONDERFUL SHOT.
Piercing the Neck of an Eagle When
It Was Almost Invisible.

Piercing the Neck of an Eagle When
Ii Was Almost Invisible.
Kit Carson was the crack shot in
the Rocky Mountains in his day, and
many are the stories told on the
frontier of his quick eye and unerring
aim. There will never be another Kit
Carson, for there Is no longer a great
and unknown wilderness to develop
men of his peculiar type. Occasionally
now you will find in the west grey
headed, sturdy old pioneers vino knew
CaIson In his prime, when the aim of
his rifle meant death, for he was often
heard to say can kill as far as my
rife can carry"
Captain L. w. Cutler, one OF the
proprietors of the Denver Field and
Farm, was "FIfty-niner. and knew
Carson well, and in a recent converse
ton related an incident In the life of
the old hunter and scout which showed
his wonderful skill with the rife; and
the story as told me by Captain Cutler
probably recalls as fine shot as Kit
Carson ever made. and of which the
Captain was an eye witness. 1t was in
the Spring of 1868, and Captain Cutler,
then Deputy United States Marshal,
was Ell route to old Fort Bent. below
Pueblo, this State. The country was
sparsely settled, only here and there
finding a small settlement along the
Arkansas River, which he was follow
ing. He was travelling alone on horse
back and on the second morning OF his
journey broke camp very early, starting
out at dawn. He had followed the
course of the river some distance,
when, Just at sunrise, the loneliness of
his journey was relieved 10y the sight
OF a cabin In "A heavy growth of cotton
woods on the bank Of the Arkansas.
Just at this moment he saw a mon
ster Rocky Mountain eagle darting
down with almost the rapidIty of light
ming. Near the cabin was corral in
which were a large number of sheep,
and thither the great eagle was bent
for prey. Refining up his horse, the
Captain awaited the result. There
was a wild bleating and a rapid flight
of the sheep, but moment later the
eagle rose from the corral bearing a
large lamb with it. The lamb did not
seem to impede It's flight in the least,
and the great strength of the eagle can
readily be discerned by its breaking
some branches near the top of the trees
by the fearful stroke of its wings.
course of Its flight being not far from
| the perpendicular.
AT this moment a woman came out
of the cabin, and seeing the eagle with
the lamb In his talons, uttered Shrek
and hastened to the house. A moment
later Captain Cutler saw man come
out of the cabin with long rifle IN
hand. He was dressed in a slouch hat,
| pantaloons and white shirt. Just
think or it, a white shirt In Colorado
as early as 1868. BY this time the
eagle was soaring high, with its course
| over the river. To the Captain 1t was
becoming more like dark speck in
| the sky, and when he saw the man
| raise his rifle to shoot he said to him
self:-"I wonder what fool is going tO
try and shoot that eagle" But hardly
had he muttered the exclamation
| till there was a flash from the rife.
| Only a second had the man looked to-
ward the eagle, and the stock of the
| ritie had hardly reached his shoulder
before he fired.
For a moment 1t was difficult to tel
the result of the shot, as the eagle was
so far away. The speck became larger
The eagle had been hit. 1t came down
| slowly, for it fiuttered desperately
swooplng its great wings, trying t.
retain its place In mid air. 1t ther
circles round and round, and losine
control of Its wings, eagle and laml
fell In some thick brush on the oppo
site side of the river. With look Of
amazement, Captain Cutler rode up Il
the cabin to learn the name of the maj
who had made such a wonderful shot
The man had been leaning on his riff,
| w N.
exclaimed:
''Hello, Captain Cutler, is tha
youP''
"Why, if it isn't Kit Carson,' saiC
Cutler, as he dismounted, and the TIVE
old friends shook hands, and Cutler
continuing, said: saw you come ou
of the cabin, and was wondering wha
fool was trying to kill that eagle. Blu
had known it was you. Kit, would
not have doubted it a moment"
"Well," replied Kit. 81 was little
in doubt myself, but knew L would
hit the bird If my gun would carry.
can hit as far as gun will carry
bullet. But, as luck would have 1t
my old rifle was loaded,' and til,
old hunter gave look of pride a
the now old-fashioned, lon -parrelet
muZzle-loader.
Mounting his horse, Cutler said h,
would ford the stream and find tn
eagle. "Be careful" advised Carson
'the eagle may be only wounded and /
50 it will be dangerous. shot for it
head"
"It's headI' exclaimed Cutler, il
astonishment.
"Why, how could you see an eagle
head that far away?" and Kit Carsol
only laughed for reply.
Captain Cutler found both eagle ant
lamb dead, the talons of one leg stil
buried in the back OF the lamb, whicl
weighed about twenty pounds. Re
turning to the cabin the captain said
The eagle was shot through til
throat"
The throatI'' said Carson. swell
the eagle was SO far away it was hart
to Judge the distance. 1 shot at it
head by aiming little about it.
should have aimed half an inc