The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-11
PLuNDERING THE EAGLES NEST.
Adventure of Egg Collectors in the
Black Hills.
From the Indianapolis News.

near Aermosa CHANGED TO come into the
bank one day in March, and. while giving
US some bits of news from that region.
incidentally tolds us Of an eagles nest that
he had passed on his way up to our camp.
He went on TO say that the eagles had
nested on a certain cliff for some years
and that owing to the almost inaccessible
ity of the eyrie. they had never been mo-
Tested Having once been an egg collec-
tor, 1 felt a return Of my former enthu-
siasm at his account, and determined to
try to reach the nest. If only for the ex-
citement connected with the undertaking.
Accordingly, / obtained leave of alb
sence for few days, and, having enlisted
my friend, Mr.. b of Chicago, in the
enterprise, on the following morning we
set out Tor the southern foothills and the
eagles nest We were we'll provided for
emergencies, having in the blackboard, in
addition to plentiful supply of food and
robes, our rifles and revolvers, several
hundred feet of rope, a pair of climbing
irons, and a prospectors bag
As our destination was distant thirty
nVe miles, and the mountain roads, al no
time the smoothest, were then badly cut
up by spring treshets, we drove through
ohIy as lar as a camp" just beyond the
mountains and put up" for the night.
The next morning we took an early
start, and, with better roads and fresh
horses, Travelled the few remaining miles
IN TWO hours, and about o'clock came in
SSight Of the nest. The COW puncher"
that the eyrie was hard to approach.
A huge butte" rose 800 or GOO feet up
from the plain, its sides so steep as to be
almost precipitous, while on teh side near
est creek which we had followed for
several miles was limestone cluff. About
up and down for about 800 feet. About
half way up its face, on a ledge, was the
nest, great black object that contrasted
strangely with its yellowish white back
ground.
We took in the situation. and decided TO
ascend the butte to a point directly over
the nest. So, after unhitching and teth-
erlng the broncOs and taking out our par
aphernala, we worked our way around
the butte to d side somewhat less steep
than the greater part of it, and began the
| ascent, and after half an hours stumbling
| and slipping among the icy rocks, scrub
pines and cacti, we found ourselves above
the cliff, and, as nearly as we could Judge
directly above the nest. Here, fortunate
~. the small, gEarled trees were thick
al1ording us means of support.
In the meantime we had noticed one of
the eagles, a monstrous bird, that slowly
sailed around only a little above our
heads, but had not as yet showed any
signs of hostility My friend now pro
ceeded to tie one end of the rope securely
around my chest; then running the other
end around a stout scrub he braced him
self firmly and stood ready to nav out
the rope as needed. Thus secured against
any probable accident, l carefully made
my way down to the edge of the cliff, and
nred my revolver The other eagle came
soaring out from the cliff and began cir
cling around. giving vent to shrin screams
or whistles We both now concluded that
vaV.ol IL -
attack us, and so b got ready to lower
me over the edge If the birds should not
prove hostile everything pointed to sue
cess, for Mr.. b is a man of great
strength, and the rope was warranted
So, first seing that my bag was secured
and revolver in easy reach, 1 gave him
the word, and in another moment was
Dangling In the air. I found that the
cliff shelved in almost from the top. and
as IN most places l could not touch the
rock soon began to spin slowly around
which did not add to my comfort
shall never forget the first sensation
or the moment. Though 1 was positive
that there was little or no absolute dan
ger, yet l was in some way far from
feeling secure. Suppose that the strands
of the rope should wear away by the fric-
ton against the sharp edge of the cliff.
or that in some way b should for n
moment lose his hold, or If this or that
ana then would brace" and try to think
of something else. First Just the bare
wall of the overhanging cliff. and then a
momentary view OF the surrounding coun-
! try, and then a hurried look below me
where l now caught a glimpse of the nest
/ on broad fiat ledge still some WAYS
/ down. Thus 1 must have gone down 100
feet. and was just congratulating myself
upon an approach to at least temporary
safety, when l suddenly heard close at
1 hand, tremendous Tapping of wings.
and the next moment / received $50 IL
seemed to my excited senses) at least a
! score of heavy blows on the head and
shoulders, accompanied by several heavy
! scratches upon my head and neck
1 had been holding the rope with both
hands. but now, instinctively, / ducked
my head under one hand and arm. and
with the other grabbed my revolver. I
dare not look up, but realizing my some
what dangerous position, l swung the re-
volver, butt end up land ii was a very
heavy one), violently back and forth above
my head for a moment, receiving at the
same time blow on the hand from one of
the eagles talons. This proved to be the
best move could have made, for II drove
them back, and, looking carefully I'D. I
took hurried aim and succeeded in
dropping" one of the birds, which fright
ened the other one away.
Meanwhile, my friend, ignorant of the
true state of affairs, had continued to
lower me, and just as I terminated this
strange encounter, 1 felt my feet touch
the ledge, and, after resting a little I
worked my way along to the nest 1t was
huge affair." fully three feet high and as
many in diameter, and was constructed of
sticks of various sizes, some of them as
thick as ones wrist, but dwindling in size
to small twigs at the top. 1t was almost
fiat. scantily lined with pieces of bark and
feathers from the breast Of the female
bird. The eggs, fine specimens, which I
have stall in my collection, measured
four and half by two and three-fourth
inches, and were of a cream colored hue.
irregularly marked with reddish brown
blotches.
After securing the eggs 1 gave the sig
nal to be raised, and finally reached terra
firma once more. But a sorry-looking
sight. with coat and collar soaked with
blood from the scratches on my neck and
head, and large strips of skin torn from
my hand.
We made our way down the butte. and
secured the eagle. It proved to be fine
specimen of the golden eagle well marked
and measured seven feet ten inches from