The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1892-05-13
RoeelNo AN EAGLES NEST
The Dangerous Adventure OF Naturalist
In the Alps.

passing MS huuuui VhCaJlOu III VIC ~
rol, when he was told that n pair of
golden eagles had been ravaging one
Of the valleys, and were supposed TO
have their eyry on certain mountain
side. At the first opportunity he Sc
cured the services OF several wood-cut-
tiers, and started before daylight, mean.
ing, II possible TO secure the young bird
which was believed TO be then in the
nest. They assembled the mountain, and
looking over the edge OF the perpendic-
ular cliff could see n ledge about hun
bred feet below them. The party con-
sisted OF nine men, including Mr.. Groh-
man. One Of them remained at the top,
while the other eight lowered them
selves TO the ledge by means of n rope.
Here they fastened the fifty-fathom
half-inch rope to the stump of n tree,
fixed a block of wood against the edge
OF the cliff for the rope TO run over,
fastened an iron hook in n crevice of
the rocks, and prepared to lower Mr..
Grohman TO the eyry, which could be
seen far below them.
A strong lether belt was fastened
round his waist, with an iron ring in
front through which the rope passed.
To the end OF the rope stout piece
of wood was knotted. and on this Mr..
Grohman seated himself astraddle.
With rife on his back, n revolver in
his pocket, a big knife in his belt, and
long pole in his hands, he was ready
TO start. Five men took hold of the
rope, while the other two lay fiat upon
the rocks, rifles in hand. looking over
the edge of the cliff. IL the old birds
should attack the intruder his life
would depend on those two rifles.
He had been on such expeditions be-
fore, but as he swung off into space.
the prodigious height had at first sort
of paralyzing effect upon his mind.
Little by little the feeling wore off, and
soon he was really enjoying the sensa-
ton of hanging on n rope scarcely big
ger than a mans finger over an abyss
nearly n thousand feet in depth.
The descent lasted ten or fifteen min.
utes. Then he found himself opposite
the eagles ledge, and jerked the signal
line. He was ten or twelve feet from
the ledge, but with his pole, which had
hook at one end. he was able to draw
himself in, and presently was looking
cautiously over the edge OF the nest.
which, TO his establishment, contained
not one eaglet, but two.
One of them, not without some live
~ efforts, he put into the canvas bag
which he had brought for the purpose;
the other he finally managed TO secure
by running moose over its feet lie
tnl H. hn, % 1,n 81 al
ranged himself on his wooden seat.
took the second bird in his left hand
and gave the signal.
The men on the ledge above. contrary
to instructions gave n vigorous pull.
which wrenched the pole out of Mr..
Groham's hands, and sent him away
from the cliff at n frightful pace. The
retrograde movement was likely TO
dash him against the rock with deadly
force.
There was but one thing TO do, and
he had presence OF mind enough To do
ii. He tilted the upper part of his body
struck the rock with his feet, with no
worse result than paralyzed feeling
in his legs and n twitching sensation in
his back and loins.
Just then dark object flashed past
him, so near that he felt the rush OF air
produced by its fall. lie supposed 1t To
be n stone; but presently he perceived
that instead OF being drawn upward he
was quite stationary. One hour passed,
then two hours, and still he swung
there at the end of the rope. The day
was far advanced; the old eagles were
likely to return ut any minute. TO add
TO his misfortunes, n sharp thunder
storm came on, wetting him TO the
skin. and nearly binding him with
lightning.
AT last, when he had thus hung be-
tween Heaven and earth for more than
three hours, he felt tug upon the rope,
and in fifteen minutes was at the top
with his two prizes.
1t turned out that the falling object
was the block over which the rope had
run. This IL was necessary TO replace,
lest the rope should be cut by the sharp
edge of the rock, and the long delay
had been occasioned by the necessity
Of sending the one man at the top
down TO the base of the peak To fell "a
young tree, and make second block.
He was returning with the block
when the thunder-shower overlook
him. A fash of lightning struck a
bowlder close by, and threw him sense
less to the ground II the lightning
had struck him instead OF the bowlder.
Mr.. Grohman's situation would have
been serious indeed. Probably the
whole party would have starved Ia
death. --Youth's Companion.