Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-01
DEATH or 4 BALD EAGLE.
THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF s PLACER
COUNTY EPISODE.
Desperate Struggle for Life by the King
of Birds-Terrible War of the
Elements.

monotony Of rural seclusion by roaming
over the country at all hours, in search of
spoil for scientific purposes, with rusty
muzzle-loader over one shoulder, shifting
indiscriminately every undomesticated
, living creature which may, through ig-
norance, innocence or presumption, allow
itself to fall within range of the afore-
mentioned instrument of destruction, from
a wild Irishman or degenerate Mongo-
liam down to one-eared jack-rabbit or a
three-legged squirrel; and so it happened,
on one of these erratic expeditions, that
after being out nearly all one day in quest
of divers inhabitants of the geological
world, espied about sunset dark object
in distant tree, which afterward proved
to be one of the largest and most ancient
representatives OF his noble species, huge
bald eagle.
For several days previous to the late
unprecedented storm of wind and rain |
had in the vicinity of my abiding place,
near the edge of the timber at the base of
the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mount
aims, southwark of Bear river, observed
the presence and movements of quite a
number of large hawks and eagles, and had
already dozen times or more marked one
out for my prey, only to be led off for
miles on worse than "wild goose chases."
1t seemed impossible by any manner of
circumstances of the most advantageous
character to come within half mile of
one, much less within reach of my faithful
shot-slinger, and circumstances being I'M
favorable to trapping or lying in wait, 1
had almost come TO believe that while it
might be an easy matter to asSasslnate a
bald eagle in theory or by accident, to do
SO in practice or by deliberate resolution
was an exceedingly difficult undertaking.
Hence it may be imagined that my feel
ings rose rapidly from the zero point at
the prospect of securing one of the coveted
specimens when, as before mentioned, |
discovered the dark object in the distant
| tree under the most favorable conditions,
as will at once be understood.
1t was fast growing dark the eagle had
evidently been making day of it amongst
the lambs and jack rabbits which abound
| in the neighborhood. l was riding slowly
| homeward, and soon had another tree be-
tween myself and that one in which the
eagle sat, gorged perhaps to the roof of his
mouth with the flesh and even bones of
his victims. The wind and elements were
| favorable and threatening The bird, as [
afterward learned, was facing away from
me. Nothing, in fact, was lacking, fgur-
atively speaking, preliminary to carrying
the war directly into Egypt.
Approaching slowly and cautiously to
! ,1arta,. Of 10 Of tho aacr1a'c
perch, dismounted, tied my horse and
ously soft and Doggy piece Of land, diyersi
fed by sloughs and puddles of water, and
| into which / frequently sank knee deep.
| finally arrived at the base Of tree
within sixty yards of that one in which
the eagle roasted blankly unconscious of
the close proximity of his deadly enemy.
Providence must have directed my foot
steps through the mud and water so as to
conceal me from the piercing vision of the
fierce birds bold, bright eyes, and | gave a
thankful sigh of relief on striking terra
frma again, but paused for moment, be-
fore preparing myself for the onslaught, to
contemplate the grandeur of nature, under
such suspicious circumstances.
1t was now almost dark. | could barely
distinguish large objects within gun-shot.
Multitudes of black clouds were flying
overhead. A great storm was brewing.
1t had began to sprinkle. The wind
whistled mournfully through the with
cred branches of the giant tree tops on one
of which the king of birds sat comatose.
The lightning flashed in the east and the
distant deep-toned thunder rolled. l felt
like saying to the moment in the language
of the immortal Faust, "Tarry, thou art so
fair" so sublime!
But the time for action had arrived.
examined the printing of my fowling
piece, and putting myself in array for the
battle, stepped boldly forth from ambush.
There sat the monster rapt0r in plain view
within seventy yards. No time for pray
ers then, but bang, bang, in quick success
sion rang out my rusty muzzle-loader, the
echoes rafting and crashing above the ris-
ing wind. At the first discharge the huge
bird took flight, but at the second, famed
the air with an injured wing, and described
a parabola to the earth, after striking
which, he ran with the assistance of his
wings as fast as an ostrich, with the
writer in lively pursuit, about one hun
bred and fifty yards, to a slight elevation
surrounded by water, when he stopped and
looked defiantly back at the disturber of
his happiness.
In order to dislodge him l was COM
PEELED to take to wading again, but this
time l was only too glad to avail myself of
the opportunity for so doing. Accord
ingly | advanced to within twenty-five
yards of the threatening bird, but not rel
ishing his appearance in the least | halted
to reload (yet wishing to avoid firing at
him again for fear of seriously mutilating
his pumage), and having re-charged my
shooting iron, again advanced, fording the
mud and water, until was within dozen
PAGES of the old warrior; still he held his
ground like soldier.
His wings and tail were spread, and the
light feathers on the posterior portion of
his neck which was arcbed, were distended
like auills upon the back of fretful por-
cupine, while from his eyes darted forth
such sinister and uncanny-looking glances
that dared approach no nearer to the
wounded, infatuated animal, fully aware,
! from former experience with smaller spe-
cies of his family, of the devilish nature
of his powerful claws and "bending beak."
Therefore, instead of advancing, | re-
treated to more respectable distance and
threw a clod of earth at him. This started
him off again at the top of his speed, with
the writer again in full pursuit.
Another hundred yards of racing and
the eagle had plunged headlong into
small creek running pretty full. l soon
arrived on the scene and assisted him up
out of the water with long, stout stick
picked up near at hand. No sooner, how
ever, had he got on his legs than away he
| went second time, apparently refreshed
by his unexpected bath. / now seized my
fowling-piece, which / had laid on the
ground, jumped the stream with running
bound short distance below, and gave
chase with vengeance.
Fearing that he might again get control
of his injured wing, which ! afterward
found had only the very smallest bone
broken near the tip, blazed away again
at his retreating figure.
He did not seem to notice the heavy
charge of coarse leaden pellets which l
hurled against him at first, but in few
minutes showed signs Of weakening and
paused to rest in a reclining position. l
now determined to annihilale him with
my long stick by pressing him over the