Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-11-10
4 DUEL WITH EAGLES.
Fatal Combat of Il
Brooklyn Man on IL Ledge
in an Abyss.
His Companion, Unable to Help
Him, Sees the Birds Peck
Him to Death.

About two weeks ago Frank u.
Conroy and j. +. Barkclow, of Brock
Ign, left Ogden, to view the TERRITORY
OF the extinct cliir-dwcllers along
Nine Mile creek. Yesterday Barkelow
returned alone, foot-sorc and appar-
emily hcart-broken. He told the
following story as an explanation OF
Conroy's absence:
"Whcn Frank and l finished our
jaunt along the creek. we placed our
entire outfit on the back of a burro.
while we walked along the side OF the
cliff. One morning, about two weeks
ago. We were picking our way along
the edge of What looked Ikea bottom
less gorge, a few miles from the
junction of Nine Mile creek with
Green river. The path was a narrow
one. a perpendicular rock wall on one
side and the dark prccipicr frowning
below us on the other. was in front.
the bnrro following close. and Frank
behind the burro. Suddenly felt the
pathway apparently slipping from
under my feet and only by almost
sUpcrhuman efforts was enabled To
scramble on solid rock. as the stones
of the path and the thin cakes which
seemed to peel of the rock slid over
the edge Of the prccipirc. | had
| started a lot Of loose stones rolling
down and the stream kept growing
| till il looked As if il might cut Off the
| path from Frank and the burro. and,
apparently To prevent this, Frank
gave the burro Il keen CHt so as To
make him 80 on while he could. Tho
/ intelligent animal however, would
not risk ii. and giving Il scream tina,
WAS almost human. it cndcavorcd 10
turn in The marrow path and go back.
but in doing So ii caught Frank and
ovcr the brink OF the precipicc They
Went together
~ hundred feet or 80 down 'hc
/ p:ccipicc a fiat. level part IL the rock
/ jutted and formed Il sort q platform.
On the outer edge Of this the burto
struck and rcbounded slightly, just rs
Frank in his descent struck on the
animals side. thus saving him from
/! instant death. After the rebound.
the Quadruped went over the edge and
down into the ravinc. While Frank
/ dropped back upon the platform.
leaned over and called out, but it was
some time before he was able to an
Swcr. licwas on a small ledge Of rock.
with several ribs broken and one arm
smashed and absolutely no chance of
rescue inside Of the day. To make
matters worse. we were both almost
dying OF thirst and the hot bollin.
sun became insutfcrablc.
4 Just as we had agreed That Frank
should take his chances while went
for assistance, | heard Shrek and
CHANGING down saw the beginning of Il
terrible combat. Above him and to
one side was large nest with several
young birds IN it and two enormous
eagles. Suspccting him OF ;.n attack
upon their young, they swooped down
npon him from different directions.
struck at him with bill and claws and.
posing after the attack. returned
from the opposite direction. Frank
had his bowie knife. and backing
against the rock wall. fought them of.
but they seemed to grow more excited
and determined and must have kept
IL up for two hours. Franks broken
arm hung limp at his side. the other
was used in guarding Off the attacks
ana was bleeding and laccrated, while
the sleeves of his coat and shirt had
been reduced to shrcds by the sharp
talons, which never ceased their
onslaught. Presently a groan gave
me warning that the end was
approaching and the fury Of the great
birds seemed to increase. They al
least succeeded in what they were
trying to accomplish and what he was
trying to prevent.
. They reached his face with their
hor"lhlc talons. l will never forget
the sight as he staggered backward.
With a scream of triumphant and
gratlffed revenge his victors followed
him over the edge of the shelf and far
down into the abyss"
Mr.. Barkelow reached a small settle
mcnt more dead than alive and after
resching this city asked for temporary
assistance from young business man
mere who is acquainted with his
i family.
] Ed. Oleson, aged q, and Joseph
Mh'tten aged IS, were drowned in
Devils Lake last week while crossing
Grand Harbor tay in a small boat.
Ihcy were accompanied by Miss
Buisso and Miss Oleson and were
going To a danco 1ul,on tl,a h&a4