Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-27
A MUTUAL sURPRIsE.


An Indian Eagle Hunters Marrow
Escape From q White Mans
Bullet.
The Navajo Indians of New Mexico and
Arizona have a superstitious reverence for
eagles, and like to keep them in captivity
about their wickyups or wigwams. As
the capture Of a wild eagle Is a difficult
undertaking, they prefer to buy the birds
Of the patient and industrious Pueblo
rather than take the trouble to catch them
for themselves. A Navajo always stands
ready to give good horse for live
eagle.
Some of the Pueblo Indians make a
profitable business of eagle-catching. To
this end they repair TO a prairie-dog vii
Iage, and there dig a hole which they
cover with sticks and Garth. The heap
Of dirt thrown out is not noticeable
among the other mounds of the village.
In this hole an Indian conceals him
self, and through small opening surveys
the scene. Within easy reach, upon a
mound before him, is laid a stuffed
prairie-dog in a life-like attitude. A
tame eagle serves as decoy.
The noble wild bird, sailing high above
he town, sees the eagle sitting alone on a
mound, and, after a time, concludes to
join his company. Down he comes, in
narrowing circles, till he flaps his wings
and perches on a neighboring mound.
Soon the stuffed prairie-dog attracts his
attention, and he hops over to it and
seizes it. Sometimes he comes straight
down upon the dog without any prelim-
mary alighting. In either case, as soon
as he is within reach the Indian thrusts
forth his hand and seizes him by the leg.
Taken at disadvantage by an unseen
foe, the struggles of the eagle are unavail-
ing. He fights desperately with beak and
talons, but the Indian quickly hoods the
one and nooses the other, and reduces the
captive to helplessness.
In the summer of 1888, a party of
Pueblo Indians came upon the range of
Louis Walker, in eastern New Mexico,
and asked permission to hunt eagles. The
Mexican ranchers whom they met gave
them leave to do 80, but advised them to
notify Walker before they begun opera
tions, as he was great hunter himself,
and might mistake their decoy eagle for
wild one, and shoot it. However, as
be lived at a considerable distance, the
Indians concluded to go ahead without
seeing him.
As luck would haveit, Walker the next
day took notion to ride out over his
range. He carried, according to his Gus
tom, heavy, long-range Sharp's rifle of
number fifty caliber. Passing prairie
dog village, he saw, 200 yards away, fine
eagle Aitting eomposedly on mound. As
matter of course he dismounted, ''drew
bead" and fired. The bird fell over
struggling.
Pushing his rifle back into its case
which was attached to the saddle, the
ranchman walked toward the bird, lead
his horse by the bride rein. As he
picked his way among the mounds and
holes, he did not raise his eyes until he
had arrived near the eagle. Then an out
cry caused him to look up, and he was
startled to see an Indian, who had arisen
from the earth beside the eagle, and was
making vehement protest accompanied
by violent gesticulations.
Walker, who did not know what to
make of the situation, wished he had
kept his. rife in hand. To reach for it
now would be plain declaration of hos
tility. Not wishing either to do that or
to show the white feather, he continued
to approach the Indian, who fortunately
confined his demonstrations to a voluble
protest.
Arrived at the spot. the cause of the
Indians CONSERVATION was soon made
manifest. His tame eagle, worth pony,
was killed, and, as insult added to in
jury, the ball which had killed him had
crashed through the roof of the owners
hiding-place, and actually grazed his
head.
BY means of such Spanish words as the
two hunters had in common, helped out
by pantomime, the necessary explana-
tions were made, and the matter salts
factorily adjusted. Il Youths Companion.