St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-16
A LONG SHOT.


For moment it was difficult to tell
the result of the shot, as the eagle was
so far away. The speck became larger.
The eagle had been hit. 1t was falling.
1t came down slowly, for it fiuttered
desperately, swOoping its great wings,
trying to retain its place in Midair. 1t
then circle round and round. and losing
control of its wings, eagle and lamb fell
in some thick brush On the opposite
side of the river. With look of amaze
ment, Capt. Cutler rode up to the cabin
to learn the name of the man who had
made such wonderful shot. The man
had been leaning on his rife unit! the
rider came near, when he exclaimed:
"Helio, Capt. Cutler, is that vou?'
~'Why, ii it, if it isn't Kit Carson !!
said Cutler as he dismounted, and the
two old friends shook hands, and Cut
Ter, continuing, said: II saw you come
out of the cabin, and was wondering
what fool was trying to kill that eagle.
But had l known It was you, Kit, I
would not have doubted it a moment.'
"Well," replied Kit, II was little in
doubt myself, but knew would hit the
bird if my gun would carry. l can hit
as far as gun will carry a bullet. But,
as luck would have it, my old rifle made
by Hawkins, in st. Louis, was loaded"
at the now old-fashioned, long-barreled
muzzle-loader.
Mounting his horse, Cutler said he
would ford the stream and find the
eagle. BE CAREFUL" advised Carson,
''the eagle may be only wounded, and if
so, it will be dangerous. l shot for its
head"
sits head" exclaimed Cutler in as
constituent.
why how could you see an eagles
head that far away?" and Kit Carson
only laughed for reply.
Capt. Cutler found both eagle and
lamb dead, the talons of one leg still
buried in the back of the lamb. which
weighed about twenty pounds. Return
ing to the cabin, the captain said: THE
eagle was shot through the throat"
1.-The throat" said Carson, "well, the
eagle was so far away it was hard to
Judge the distance. l shot at its head
by aiming little above it. l should
have aimed half an inch higher.
BETTER THAN KIT CARSON.
81 think Jack Watkins was better
rifle shot than Kit Carson" added
Owens. "Jack was a fine-looking fell
low, six feet tall. l made Jack several
rifles and knew that he was crack
shot. He was good with revolver, too.
express companies, and supplied their
stations along the route with game.
That was big business for the hunters
in those days. When sober Jack was
quiet kind of man, but he would
get drunk and gamble, and then he
would shoot. He was good poker
player, and a good many years ago when
playing with Mexican near Fort Lar
annie the Mexican grabbed the money
and ran. Jack did not follow. but
hunted up his rife. BY the time he
found it the Mexican was 400 yards
away, running as fast as his legs could
carry him. Giving a quick aim, Jack
fired, and seeing the Mexican fall, ex-
claimed, Dbl good shot, and re-
turned to the house without going after
the money. He also killed some officers
who were following him. l have not
seen him for several years, but think
he is still alive.
Eyes, Jack was crack shot and
great buffalo hunter. He could easily
kill buffalo Oh the run 700 yards away.
He delighted to wound the bull eff the
herd and follow it with pistols, wEcl!
often proved more dangerous than he
bargained for. He nearly lost his life