The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-08-07
CURIOUS BIRD STORIES.
How q Partridge Was Killed by q
Railroad Train.


A sparrow In . Thuntsr-storm = Exolts.
meat Caused In Church by Night
Hswk-Frisndship Between .
Rooster and Dog.
A few days since, writes the Norwich
Comm correspondent Of the New York
Sun, Q partridge that was c1eaving the
air in swift flight across break in tho
forest along the Air Limo Railway, In
Windham County, performed an odd
trick on an express train that was ex-
tremely unfortunate for the bird. The
coming into Pomfret village, and was
running at lightning speed, when the
partridge essayed TO cross over the track
in front OF the locomotive. Both the
bird and rushing engine were following
the legs Of an acute trisngle to its apex
on the railroad line, but the partridge
underestimsted the speed Of the train,
which reached the apex second In ad-
vance. The heavy bird struck the ex-
press car, in which Sam Dikeman, ex-
pressman, was sorting over freight, and
went through window in the side door
with the momentum Of solid shot. So
swiftly It sped 1t cut . clean circular
hole in the large window pane as evenly
as II the instantaneous Job had boen
done with diamond. splinters OF
glass fell in jingling shower the
whole length Of the car, and as Sam
Strengthened himself from his work In
dumb amazement the bird fell dead ct
his feet, mass Of feathers and broken
bones. Sam had broiled partridge for
supper that evening, and to save himself
the expense Of the broken window he
made oath before the railroad superin-
tendent that the wild bird, not he, was
the author Of the mischief.
In the memorable thunder-storms last
week, while the whole Ermament
seemed to be shot through increasingly
with zigzag lances Of lightning, many
timid little birds sought refuge from the
frightful uproar wherever o shelter Of.
fered itself. On ono dark afternoon the
telegraph operators rattling away at the
keys In the Western Union Office in New
Haven suddenly heard rustling over
head, and glancing about saw sparrow,
which, having come In through the open
window, was swiftly skimming about the
high-ceiled room. Then came great
crash of thunder, jarring heavily under
the foundations Of the building, and the
little bird with frightened ''peep" fut-
Sheehan's desk. Mr.. Sheehan picked
up the sparrow and held 1t in his hand
until the fury Of the tempest had some
what abated, then took 1t to the window
and released 1t. But the bird would not
20 out into tho storm, and after hesitat-
ing on the window ledge for an instant
returned to tho operator, climbing on his
shoulder and nesting against his face.
Finally he threw the sparrow far out of
doors and hastily shut the window, but
it came back and pecked at the window
panes.
On another evening Q big night hawk
Hew into tho German Lutheran Church
in New Haven while Prof. j. e. Whit
tecker, Of Rochester, was leoturing on
"The Follies and Foibles Of Modern
Life" and for fifteen minutes excite
ment reigned. A night hawk is blum
dering creature in its flight, and as the
wide-winged bird darted back and forth
in the sanctuary In great sweeps and
circles just above the audience, its spot
ted pinions cleaning specter-like as 1t
hummed through the air, women
| screamed and darted about the pews, and
finally the lecturer had to stop talking
for fifteen minutes. Every one was
afraid Of tho bird, for as 1t SKINNED
along the gallery front and shot among
the heads Of the people, once passing SO
close to the face of Prof. Whittecker it
fairly took the words of his text out Of
his mouth, 1t went with tho speed of
rocket, and 1t seemed 1t must 90 slam
bang into somebody or something in its
dizzy turns. Once wise man shouted:
"Catch that birdr' and the profound ad-
vice set the congregation to laughing.
Finally the hawk, in random dash, ac-
cidentally secuted through window,
and then the lecture went on again.
AT Rockville rooster and dog have
become fast friends For week the
bird had been beset by fierce cock,
both being members Of the same Hock,
and the two roosters fought almost con-
stantly not far from the dogs kennel.
Finally, the weaker bird, sick and
friendless, having been completely
knocked out In the ring, fed into the
dogs kennel to escape its blood thirsty
foe, and, dropping in the straw, made
eloquent signs, as II asking protection
and shelter. Carlo undoubtedly had
watched the combat between the birds
with an intelligent and sympathetic
eye, for not only did he permit tho
wounded rooster to tarry in his house,
but when the other bird attempted to
enter the kennel to glut its fury further
he arose threateningly, growled, and
just looked at the vindictive pursuer
once, and that bird evidently made up
its mind that the time for discretion
had como. He went away sullenly.
Since then the wounded rooster has
dwelt with the dog, and the two in