Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-09-01
Dan.

Dan.
Away out in Western Nebraska where the
sluggish North Platte rolls its turbid wat
ers down through q rich valley with the
land on either hand rising until it gradu-
ally merges into series of low saudhlllS,
the countryis but thinly settled, and the
scream of the locomotive never disturbs
the solitude of the Great Plains, This
country, half garden and half desert, is,
however, full of animal life. Here the
great American eagle makes its home, and
the prairie dog and rattlesnake live and
rear their kind in peace. The native
grasses growing on the sandy soil furnish
grazing for cattle all the year round, ard
so the country is for the most part given
up to the hardy ranchmen and the wild
animals.
On certain ranch in this region, some
years ago, party of herdsmen caught a
young eagle which was unable to fly. It,
mother had been killed, SO they took it
home 20 their cabin, and kept it confined
In cage.
There was boy named Charlie on this
ranch who entreated his father TO let him
keep the eagle. His father finally did so,
and Charlie took great pleasure in caring
for his new pet, naming him Dan. After
while Dan became so tame that the boy
no longer kept him in the cage, but had Il
small collar put around one leg and
fastened him by o small chain TO IL post.
For long time Dan Chafeu and frctted
under his confinement and refused to eat,
but finally came to the conclusion that
his captivity wHS to be permanent, and
began to IN axe the best of his situation.
As he gre~ less uneasy under restraint,
the boy allowed him longer chain, until
fnally Dan had quite an extensive range
an front of the cabin.
Dan soon learned 10 come at the call Of
his name, and would eat from Charles
hand. He would follow the boy as far as
his chain would permit when Charlie went
away anywhere, and on his return Dan
would be waiting on the edge of his cir
cular range to welcome his master back.
lie would shake hands, turn somerSaults,
and perform many other curious tricks.
But all the time Dan was as solemn and
grave as q judge. He never smiled or
even made the attempt
Sometimes Charlie would lie down III
front OF the cabin and prctcnt to be asleep,
and Dan would come over very cautiously
and pull Charles watch from his vest
pocket, and when the boy jumped up and
said, Give it up, you thief" Dan would
stand OF one leg and hold out the watch
IN one claw, hanging down his head and
looking very guilty.
One summer day Charlie had been run
ming about in the morning and was very
tired. All the men had gone away f,om
the ranch, and Charlie was left alone with
Dan. He did not mind this, however, for
his very solitude made him safe, and as he
knew there were no wild animals near, he
lay down in the warm sunlight in font OF
the cabin, and was soon fast asleep. Dan
come up and stole his watch, but Charlie
lid not say Give it up, you thief" which
somewhat surprised the bird; so he played
with it for awhile, but finally becoming
tired of the sport replaced it in Charlie s
pocket and lay down near him.
Very soon Dan became interested in
long. black object that crawled along
slowly through the tufts of prairie grass
IN the direction of the sleeping boy. In Il
moment his native instinct for fighting
with small animals was aroused, and Dan
made rush for the intruder. \ warming,
ominous rattle halted him but for an in
slant, then he struck at the serpent with
10Th of his claws The rattlesnakc coilcd
itself ready to strike, but Dan with harsh
shrek was upon him. The noise awakened
Charlie, who recognized the danger, and
sprang outside of the circle.
1t was q desperate encounter; the snake
coiled itself around Dams body, and
strove to strike him with its powerful
fangs, but Dan cluded these attempts, and
Selling the rattlesnake in his powerful
talons tore it with his strong beall, and in
few moments the snake was writhing i'll
agony at Dams feet, when few blows
from Charlie dispatched it,
And Dan! alas! the Ii hit chain had
proven too much of an encumbrance; the
poor eagle had been bitten in the fray, and,
despite Charles efforts to save the bird
by bathing it in alcohol, poor Dan died
When the men returned at night they
found the trio in front of the cabin; the
dead rattlesnake lay on the ground, while
Charlie was shedding unayailing tears
over the body of the dead eagle.
Charlie has grown to manhood now, and
only goes to Nebraska occasionally for
pleasure, but in his elegant New York
home, over the door of one of the parlors,
there is a large stuffed specimen OF an
American eagle with rattlesnaEa III its
claws, while underneath is the legend,
Faithful Unto Death. food Cheer.