The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-05-20
A VERY DANGEROUS ACT.
Master Chalmers Hughes Climbs to
the Top of Pine Tree and Eenrs
oil Two Young Eagles.


~ great eagle with great wings, long winged, full
of feathers, which had divers culnrs, came Ghtt
Lebanon and took the highest branch of the cedar
Ezekiel xvii: 3.
The county of Abbevillc is not noted for tho
number and extent Of her manufacturing en-
lerpriSes, nor is ii known as the route Of any
great iron highway which has been IN INC
SOUP for many years. But ii is distinguished
everywhere for It's great men and pretty wo
men.
The fame OF the beauty Of our women hav.
ing gone to the four corners of the earth, and
the historian in every aye having sung INC
praises of our men, Abbevllle cares very lit
tie for the profit and the notoriety arising rom
the existence of blacksmith shops, spindles
and looms.
And following the example Of the distin-
suished Georgian who promised TO "call lhe
roll of his slaves ut Bunker l1ill,' we call the
roll of our distinguished dead whenever we
assembled together to hear speech from
any body on any subject whatsoever.
Even the daring and courageous acts
of her boys can rival the stories of the
African lion-tamer or the wild western hun
ter Of lerOcOuS beasts.
Think Of IL twelve year.old Sunday School
scholar in this staid old town going 10 the
country and climbing to the top Of one OF the
tallest pines for the sake of bird eggs.
Remember the treacherous bark OF the pine,
and in your imagination look at the i"d ~
the great height.
Then let the chillS run up and down your
back for awhile, and be prepared to hear the
story which we will tell you of Master Chal'
mers Hughes.
Master Chalmers Hughes and Master Brad.
ley Reese, went hunting last Thursday, but
did not 90 in the direction of Lebanon.
They left the city by the Northwest gate,
and continued their journey, until they
reached the Gordon woodland, some four Of
five miles distant.
Very much to their surprise they saw large
nest in the top of one of the highest pines
the pine being first cousin to the cedar.
81 II r1,n, s,li hnI I'll n
found therein two young eagles, which he
brought away, and which he now has on en-
hibition ut home.
The nest was large one, and in it were
the bones of rabbits or other such animals,
and part OF n snake upon which the
eaglcts had fcasted.
The old bird protested against the robbery
of her nest, and bcwailed the dCSrOiiatton as
protests were in vain.
Bradley Reese shot at the old bird q number
OF times, when il would fly far enough away
not to endanger his friend, but the bind
would stand sill long enough To be hit.
The 1ledglings are covered with down, and
have q well developed beaE ana claws. inc
wing feathers are coming out, anu IN a niue
while the birds will present different ap
pcarancc. Their bodies are about he size 0!
an ordinary chicken, with wings about hfteen
inches from tip TO tip. They are hearty
eaters and seem to be thriving in captivity.
If the family house cat docsn I get them soon
they will be able TO take care OF themselves
i'm little time Chalmers has been offered
- for one Of them, which sum lie has refused
About two years ago Andrew Ferguson
killed Il grown eagle some two miles from
where these were found.
The eagle being Il useful bird in carrying OIL
lambs, pigs, children and chickens, the eagle
industry will likely thrive.
If you want to sec real live eaglets, call on
chalmers Hughes. and let him tell you how
he cl mbcd 10 dizzy heights and endangered
his life for the birds which are so rare IN this
section, and Of which he is now SO proud.
Then you can wait a reasonable length OF
time to see in these columns sad story oi
the death Of some mothers son who in try
ing to emulate tho daring of Master Chal
mers Hughes has reached an untImely end.
The verdict of the Coroncr'S Jury will be
death from accidentally falling from tree
top" The preacher over his coffin will no
doubt utter such words OF consolation, as he
| can find, and which, spiritually speaking,
may be a great So;ace to the afflicted mother,
but which, in reality, would weigh very lit
tie If put in the scales against presence, life,
devotion and love Of Il dutiful son.