Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-07-31
AN EAGLES FIERCE ATTACK.
Young Mans Exciting and Dam
gerous Experience with a Bird of


lFrom the st. Louis Post -Dispatchl
The hen-bird of freedom, the American
eagle, made his appearance in this city last
Wednesday night, and Frank Hardy, the
twenty ty-year-old son of James Hardy, the
contractor, owes his life, or at least his
sight, to his youthful agility in getting
away from the bird after severe and ex-
hausting battle. Frank Hardy is the ce-
ment inspector in the Office of the street
commissioner, and lives with his parents
at No. 5,S63 Maple avenue. His days
work is ended at six o'clock, and he usual
1y rides home on the Washington avenue
cars. 1t is long ride, and he reaches the
end between half-past six and seven
o'clock. After leaving the cars there is
delightful walk of ten minutes to his
home, through the heavily wooded Cham
berlain Park and the country just west of
it, The trees are large and the landscape
is beautiful with heavy bushes, which are
allowed to grow on the vacant property.
Last Wednesday evening Hardy was
strolling through this garden spot on his
way home to supper. 1t was about seven
o'clock, and the day being cloudy the
space under the trees was quite dark.
When crossing Clara avenue Hardy heard
| q rustling noise behind him, and a mo-
ment later was almost knocked forward ON
his face by blow on the head, neck and
shoulders Visions of highway robbers,
banditti and Malta societies flashed through
his mind as he scrambled to his feet and
turned around. He saw nothing. Before
he had time to gaze about he was again
struck in the back, but with less force.
This time the blow was accompanied by
an ear-splitting, blood-chilling scream,
which recalled to Hardy's mind the wild
night of Tam O'Shanter and his fight
from the witches. He caught sight of his
assailant as it struck the second blow and
saw it was an immense eagle, with great
crooked talons, glistening eyes, spread
wings and a beak which appeared to be as
long as the horn of Texas steer. After
making the second attack the eagle few off
about twenty feet and alighted on the
ground. Hardy was so completely taken
by surprise he could not move and stood
dumfounded, gazing into the brilliant eyes
of the ferocious bird. He was recalled to
his senses by the eagle springing into the
air and darting straight for his face.
| Throwing his arms before his face he
knocked the great bird from him and 1t
rolled over on the grass few feet in front
| of him. Seeing his hat Hardy picked ii
| up, and as he did so the bird sailed for his
1 eye. Again ne struck the bird and again
it fell, but Immediately regained its feet
and spread its wings. Hardy is an athlet-
ic young man, but the attack was so sud
den and the surprise of finding so unusu-
al an enemy SO complete that his strength
left him and he pushed the American
screecher from him with but the force of q
child. Unhurt, but somewhat ruffied, the
eagle made q circle about Hardy's head
screaming like a calliope all the while.
Hardy, thinking himself unable to com,
bat with an enemy overhead, took to his
heels and ran at ten-mile an hour gait
for home. The eagle followed him
About every twenty-five feet it would cir
Gle and swoop past his face, batting hin
on the head and shoulders with its power
full wings and rise again only to renew tn
attack q few yards further on. As /
passed his head each time Hardy heard tn
vicious click of its horny beak He thre,
his arms before his face and holding to hi