The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-20
CURIOUS BIRD STORIES.
How Partridge Was Killed by a
Railroad Train.

L.
A Sparrow Ia Thunder-storm-nxc
snent Caused In a Church by Night
Notwithstanding Between a
Rooster and Dog.
A few days since, writes the Norwich
tConn. correspondent of the New York
Sun, q partridge THAT was cleaving tho
air in swift fight across break in tho
forest along the Air Line Railway, in
Windham County, performed an odd
trick on an express train that was ex-
tremely unfortunate for the bird. Tho
four p. m. express train was trifle late
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
tho legs of an acute triangle to its apex
on the railroad line, but the partrid go
underestimated 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, OK
pressman, was sorting over freight, and
went through window in the side door
with the momentum of solid shot. So
swiftly it sped it cut clean circular
hole in the large window pane as evenly
as If the instantaneous job had boen
done with diamond. Splinters of
glass fell in jingling shower the
whole length of tho car, and as Sam
Strengthened himself from his work in
dumb amazement the bird fell dead at
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 armament
seemed to be shot through increasingly
with zigzag lances of lightning, many
timid little birds sought refuge from the
frightful uproar wherever n shelter of
fered itself. On one dark afternoon the
telegraph operators rafting away ut the
keys in the Western Union Office in New
Haven suddenly heard rustling over
head, and glancing about saw a sparrow,
which, having come in through the open
window, was swiftly skimming about tho
room. Then came great
crash of thunder, Earring heavily under
the foundations of the building, and the
little bird with frightened peep" flut-
tered down on tho Scunder at w. j.
Sheehan's desk. Mr.. Sheehan picked
up the sparrow and held it in his hand
until the fury of the tempest had some
what abated, then took it 10 the window
and released it. But the bird would not
go out into the storm, and after hesitat-
ing on the window ledge for an instant
returned to the 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 t. window
panes.
On another evening big night hawk
few into the German Lutheran Church
in New Haven while Prof. J. E. Whit
ticker, of Rochester, was lecturing on
THE Follies and Foibles of Modern
Life" and for fifteen minutes excite
ment reigned. A night hawk is blum
iering creature in its fight, 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 it
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 the bird, for as it skinned
along the gallery front and shot among
she heads of the people, once passing so
close to the face of Prof. Whittecller it
fairly took the words of hir text out of
ais mouth, it went with the speed of o
,ocket, and it seemed it must go slam
Bang into somebody or something in its
lizzy turns. Once wise man shouted:
Catch that bird!" and the profound ad-
vice set the congregation to laughing.
Finally the hawk, in a random dash, ac-
,identally secuted through window,
Ind then the lecture went on again.
at Rockville rooster and q dog have
become fast friends. For week the
bird had been beset by a fierce cock,
both being members of the same flock,
Ind the two ROSTERS fought almost con-
stan not far from the dogs kennel.
Finally. the weaker bird, sick and
having been completely
Knocked out in the ring, fled into the
logs kennel to escape its bloodthirsty
zoe, and, dropping in the straw, made
eloquent signs, as if asking protection
md shelter. Carlo undoubtedly had
the combat between the birds
With an intelligent and sympathetic
aye, for not only did he permit the
rooster to tarry in his house,
out when the other bird attempted to
enter the kennel to glut its fury further
10 arose threateningly, growled, and
ust looked at the vindictive pursuer
,nce, and that bird evidently made up
is mind that the time for discretion
lad como. He went away sullenly.
Since then the wounded rooster has
lwelt with the dog, and the two in
mates of the kennel seem to warmly
attached to each other. If any rooster
challenges to mortal combat are for
yarded to his friend the dog attends to
hem promptly; so the other barn-yard
owls have concluded that it won't do at
Ill to monkey any more with the roos-
;er that lives in kennel.
THREE NOTED WIDOWS.
Fresh Gossip About Mrs. Beecher, Mrs.