The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-09
ARE AWFUL EATERS
Bloodthirstiness Of the Terrible
Condors of the Andes.
An Instance OF the Extreme ferocity or
the Birds, as Witnessed by an Amer
lean on Gillian Plain-A
Steers Awful Death.

s~The appearance of a hawk circlin8
about in the air over a poultry yard
will not fill a brood of chickens with
more terror and excitement than will
the shadow of a condor on the wing
carry to a herd of cattle feeding on
Gillian plain, as the great vulture
sweeps down from its evrle in the path
less Andes TO maneuver for prey" said
gohn c. Maxwell, who, according to
the New York Sun, IS one of the last of
the engineers who were with the
famous Harry Meigs in his great South
American enterprises of generation
and more ago.
''The condor" said Mr.. Maxwell,
unlike other members of the vulture
family, doesn't always wait for son1e-
thing or somebody to die in order that
be may have his dinner. Ifhe doesn't
ind ready-made carcass on the plains
when he is hungry he turns his time
and attention toward providing the
carcass himself. At least such was
his habit thirty-fve years ago, when L
was an observer of the condor and his
ways
II was CHARTERED once. as q
purchaser OF supplies for our party, at
the little village of Latosta, at the
very base of the Andes, with about q
mile of plain stretching away to the
ocean. At sunrise on the first morning
was in the village I was awakened by
a great commotion among the
populace. I looked ont of the low,
prison-like window of my apartment
Men, women, and children were scurry-
ing through the narrow and dusty
street, yelling wildly, and men on
horseback dashed away across the
plain, toward which the excited aud
miscellaneous mob Of vingers was
making its clamorous way. A roar as
If q hurricane were passing or ap-
preaching came up from the plain and
there was a tremor on the earth that
alarmed me.
'Tt twas all caused by the herd dashing
wildly about, fleeing in terror before
the pursuit Of the raiding condors. L
could see several men on horses plung-
Ing along close to the edge Of the
rolling cloud, and occasionally the dust
would lift on one side or the other and
the dimly-outlined forms Of stamped
ing cattle could be seen, while in and
put of the volume of dust, circling
over it like still darker clouds, darting
down into the depths or lowering on
its borders, the great condors appeared
and disappeared like winged demons.
The scene was startling, and resolved
to get closer view Of it.
Mounting my horse, dashed away
over the plain, passing jabbering and
shouting groups of villagers who were
hurrying on afoot toward the rolling
cloud of dust, in which were hidden
the terror-striclzen common property Of
the hamlet and its ravenous and deter
mined foes.
CAS- I rode up to within few rods Of
the stampeded cattle one OF the herd
burst suddenly from the dense volume
of dust Four immense condors were
following it closely, and, swooping
down upon 1t, tore at its flesh with
their great claws and punctured and
lacerated it with their powerful beaks.
1.-THE animals eyes were bloodshot
md wild with terror. Its believing
was frightful to hear. 1t lashed Its
tail in agony against its torn and
bleeding sides and rushed this way and
that way, while the huge vulture:
beat against it and slashed and tore II
with claws and bealks-
Although the poor brute sped ovel
the ground with the speed Of the fleet
est race horse, the attacking birds KEPT
easily close at its side, plying their ter
rible beaks and talons. The herd, free
from the assaults of the condors, came
TO a stop a mile or so away, and the
mounted herdsmen dashed back anc
became spectators with me OF the
struggle between the agonized steel
and its relentless pursuers. They car
ried their lariats and spurred theil
horses on to the heelsof the beleegureC
animal, followed asst was by the entire
field of giant vultures.
Following close the fated steer, ana
circlinC around it by their amazing
horsenanship as it dashed here anC
there, the herdsmen threw their lariet
again and again, and several of the con
doris were lassoed and removed from
the chase.
Once the poor steer, as II looking {
US for succor, rushed in among tn
horsemen and the groups Of villagers
Regardless of our presence the desper
ate residue Of condors chung TO HI
bleeding sides or dashed fearlessl.
along in his wake. The doomed Rnima
was black with dust and streamin;
with blood from q hundred wounds
The excited crowd scattered before tn
advance of the steer and his pursuers
and the herdSmen having strangle
to death. the condors they had brough
down advanced again TO east their lar
ats The steer circled around in
stumbling and unsteady way.
Bloody foam dropped from his lips
his believing had changed TO husk
tnoans. His tongue, red and swolleT
hung in full length from his mouth
Once as he passed me huge condo
swoopsd down upon him, seized IN
steers tongue in its beak and LITERAL
wrenched II ont by the roots and he
away to gorge the dainty morsel- III
steer threw his head up with hear
rendinr cry and then saw two hide
Gus, sightless cavities dripping bloo'
The condors had plucked bis eyes frol
their sOcletsl
To Get Rid OF Flies.