Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-01-26
VANOUISHED BY OWLS.
Connecticut Farmec Beaten by IA
Couple nf Night iiirds.

A Connecticut Farmer Beaten by "a
Couple "f Night iiirds.
Uncle Elisha Huff, well known cit
izen of Glover Plain, went to the door
last Monday night to look at the sky
before going to bed, says the New York
Press. While he stood ON the door step
an owl hooted in an apple tree across
the garden.
Mr.. Huff is an old hunter and trapper,
and the minute that he heard the owl
boot he decided to get him if he could.
He went back into the house to slip
ON his boots and get his gun. The moon
was shining, but Uncle Elisha's eye
sight is not as keen as it was once,
and when he got out under the apple
tree he couldn't see the owl. With the
idea of stirring UP the bird and max
ing it fly out of the tree,if it was still
there, he picked up stone and threw
it among the branches. There was
sort of futtering noise among the
limbs and Mr. Huff tried to get sight
of the bird, but the shadows were TOO
much for him; he couldn't see it, and
he let drive another stone. This time
there was more noise among the
limbs and Mr.. Huff thought he saw the
owl sitting high up in the tree. He
pulled up his gun in line with the dark
object and pull the trigger. That
same instant Uncle Elisha heard a
sort of squeal and he got a rap in the
face that knocked him fiat. When the
old man fell his elbow struck a stone
and his gun fell out of his hand. He
was a littl dazed at first, but he soon
collected his senses, and saw sitting on
the branch of a ounce tree few
feet away two immense white owls
Mr. Huff Immediately began to get
upon his feet, but he didn't reach them.
When he was on one knee ready to
stand up the two owls, with a savage
sQueal, shot out from the ounce tree
and struck the old man a fearful
blow on the side of the head with
their claws. Uncle Elisha toppled
over half stunned. The blood was run
ming down his face. When he came to
bis mad was up, and he jumped to his
feet as quickly as his age would permit
him to. He had hardly Strengthened up
when the owls struck him again. This
time one of the birds hit him in the
face, the other struck him on the chest.
The man went down once more, the
two owls still sat on the ounce tree
limb squealing and grinding their
beaks together ominously. When I'm
Gle Elisha moved the birds shook their
g. ~ n DIV 70
pounce on him. Mr.. Huff hated to give
up to q few owls, but he knew enough
to lie still while thinking out plan to
outwit them. He thought of his dog and
whistled to him. The dog was asleep
in his kennel out back of the house.
He was a big lazy animal Of the New
foundland species. He heard his mas
ter's whistle and shambled out in the
garden. When the dog got within 10
feet of the ounce bush the owls land
ed on his back, and he moved faster
than he had moved for years in the di-
rection of his kennel, yelping painfully
Mr. Huff started to crawl toward the
house on his hands and knees, but he
was brought to a halt by the owls.
They lit on his back and pounded his
head and sides numerically with
their wings. The old fellow had to ac-
knowledge himself beaten, and he
lay still till after midnight trying to
think of some way to escape from his
tormenters, but he couldn't do it, and
he finally yelled at the top Of his
voice for his son to come out.
His son was about half asleep when
he came into the garden in answer to
his fathers calls. He woke up, howev-
er. when one of the owls came at him
with a squeal. The young man retreat
ed to the house and got his gun. /
When he returned to the garden his
father was still lying on the ground /
and the owls occupied the limbs of the /
ounce bush. Young Huff was a crack /
shot and taking both birds in at long
range, he let both barrels Of his gun go
at them. They tumbled to the ground
dead. The owls were very large. One /
measured three and a half feet across /
the wings from tip to tip. The other
measured a few inches less.