Wichita eagle., 1889-02-06
CHASED BY A HERON.
A Curious Adventure in Southern
Florida Swamp.
A Blue Horon and Its Extraordinary
Strength-An Exciting Chase In Which
the Hunter Was Hunted-Sharp Beaks
That Resemble italian Stilettos.
CThe Cook.f


OF all the native birds in Florida none Is
more interesting than the heron tribes.
The king of all these tribes is tho great
blue heron. 1t grows to an extraordinary
size. Captain Dummitt, who planted the
most noted orange grove in the State,
killed one Oh a bayou near Mosquito
Lagoon fifteen years ago which measured
nine feet seven inches from the point of its
bill to the tips Of its toes. The coastwise
bayous and lagoons are usually dotted
with small mangrove islands. intersected
by solitary creeks, the favorite fish
ing grounds of the great blue heron. Some
of the happiest days of my life have been
spent in hunting the bird in these haunts.
Seated in the bow Of q Canadian canoe,
with my gun on my knees AID
guide in the stern, I was noise
lessly poled over the winding creeks be-
meath the arching mangroves. At sharp
turns there was frequently scream OF
alright. Huge wings were unfolded. The
great bird waited itself into the air, and
was brought to earth by shot well aimed.
1t is dangerous sport, however, for a
stranger. Even the best Of guides are
suffer untold tortures. Impractical hunters
are apt to lose their eyes; for the beak of
the great blue heron is as sharp as
needle, and his long neck masks immense
sweep and great power. The bird strikes
with marvellous precision and with the
rapidity of lightning. When wounded it
is especially dangerous. was once struck
on the cheek within half an inch of the
eye. The blow was made by a crippled
snowy heron on an island in Lake Worth.
1t was just after twilight. The darkness
saved my eye. was in thicket looking
for birds that had shot while on the wing.
saw a snowy spot in the undistinguish-
able foliage, and took it for dead bird.
AS I stopped to pick it up my cheek was
pierced as though receiving q thrust from
a stiletto.
In the spring of 1875 was encamped in
the heart of Turnbull Swamp, about
eight miles from the head of Indian
River. The weather was very dry, and
there was much less water in the swamp
than usual. l was hunting paroquets,
wild turkeys, wood ducks, deer, bears,
wildcats and pumas. The swamp is
streaked with savannas q hundred yards
wide and miles in extent. Deer becoming
scarce in my vicinity, l set savanna
on fire one morning while on a turkey
hunt. After the burning Of the dead
grass the new crop would serve to bait the
deer within a fortnight. At sunset l
was miles away from camp. AT dusk
saw several gobblers fly into grove OF
tall expresses, and marked them with the
intention Of returning in the morning at
daylight and shooting them from the
trees. The redeemed sky gave me bear
ings on my way back to camp.
After wading for ten minutes through
mud and water, listening 70 the doleful
music Of a death owl, l emerged upon the
burning savanna. The sky was overcast.
1t was as dark as Erebus. A brisk south
wind was driving the fire northward.
The flames were leaping over the tall, dry
grass, and tingeing the clouds and the
tops of the expresses an orange hue.
Suddenly saw in the lurid light far
above me four great blue herons. They
were in line, Tapping their wings with the
precision of machinery inssinctlVeiy L
drew my gun to my shoulder. On inspira-
ton discharged it. for the sight" was in
visible. The second barrel did good work.
The third heron in the line stopped. fell ten
feet, and came swoopins toward the
ground in great circles / saw that the
bird would drop some distance away, aud
ran forward to mark the spot But the
burnt part of the savanna, despite the lurid
light from the rolling wave OF hre In ths
south, was as black as the beAyfag dark
ness of the clouds heard the bird strike
the earth with a th1d. but did not see
where it fell. The black ashes OF the burnt
grass were ankle deep. I searched for the
prize, but did not And it.
was perplexed. Suddenly festhery
form sroee from the ashes ten feet away
1t seemed to tower above me- II was the
heron. II had elevated the white plume on
its head as an angry oockasoo draws for
ward its topknos Tie plums aloha could
be distinctly seen in the darkness With
blood-curdiing scream the tail bird
darted for me. 1 knew my danger. o1
the spur OF the moment ! turned and ran
toward the hlasing savanna Ihs osra