Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-06-15
A DANGEROUS SPORT.
THE DARING ROBBERY OF AN
EAGLES NEST.
Lowered over Gin 20 Fight the Huge
Bird in NTldair-Painful Blows and
Scratches from the Eagles Talons--
Collecting Eggs.

Collecting Eggs.
While spending a winter In the
Black hills two years ago writer IN
the Omaha Bee had an adventure
which, while strictly speaking 1t does
not come under the head of out-of-door
sports, yet might prove of interest to
those interested in ornithology and It's
branches. cattleman from the foot
hill country, near Hermosa, CHANGED
to come into the bank at H. CITY
one day in March and while giving US
some bits Of news from that region in
cidentally told 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 nestled on certain cliff for
some years and that owing to the in
accessibility of their eyrie they had
never been molested. Having myself
once been an egg collector l felt quite
a return Of my former enthusiasm at
his account and determined to try TO
reach the nest if only for the excite
ment connected with the undertaking,
Accordingly ! obtained leave of abb
sence for a few days and, having en-
listed my friend. Mr.. B. of Chicago, IN
the enterprise. on the following morn
ing we set out for the southern foot
hills and the eagles nest. We were
well provided for all emergencies. hav-
ing in the blackboard in addition to a
plentiful supply of food and robes our
rifles and reyolvers, several hundred
feet of rope. pair of climbing irons,
and a pTospector's bag. A huge
butte rose 500 or 600 feet up from
the plain, its sides so steep as to be al
most precipitous. while on the side
nearest a creek, which We had followed
for several miles. was a limestone
cliff sheer up and down for about 300
feet. About half way up its face on a
ledge was the nest, a great black OBJ
iect that contrasted strangely with its
yellowish-whi background. We took
in the situation and naturally decided
to ascend the butte to a point directly
over the nest. In the meantime we
had only noticed one Of the eagles, a
monstrous bird that slowly sailed
around a little above our heads. but
had not as yet showed any signs of
hostility My friend now proceeded to
! tie one end of the rope securely around
my chest; then, running the other end
around stout scrub, he braced himself
firmly and stood ready TO pay out
the rope as needed. Thus secured
against any probable accident, care
| u 20, N~r, -
the cliff and fired my revolver. Di-
rectly the other eagle came soaring out
! from the cliff and began circling
around, giving vent to shrill screams
or whistles. So, first seeing that my
, bag was secured and my revolver In
easy reach. gave him the word and in
another moment was dangling in the
air. l at once found that the cliff
shelved in almost from the top, and as
in most places could not touch the
rock I soon began to spin slowly
: around. which did not add to my COM
, fort. Thus | must have gone down a
, hundred feet and was just congratulate
/ ing myself upon an approach to at
least temporary safety, when sud-
/ denly heard close at hand tremen-
dous tapping of wings and the next
moment | received $50 1t seemed to my
. excited sensesJ at least score Of
. heavy blows on the head and shout
ders, accompanied by several fearful
| scratches upon my head and neck.
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.
, ! dared not look up, but, realizing my
somewhat dangerous position, swung
the revolver, butt end up land it was a
| very heavy one), violently back and
forth above my head for moment. re-
ceiying at the same time blow on the
! hand from one of the eagles talons
, This proved to be the best move I
could have made, for 1t drove them
back, and, looking carefully up, took
a hurried aim and succeeding in drop
ping" 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 | terminated this strange en-
counter / felt my feet touch the ledge
and after resting little worked nv
: way along to the nest It was a huge
affair, fully three feet high and as
many ip diameter, and was construct
ed Of sticks Of various sizes, some Of
them as big as ones wrist. but dwIn-
ding 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. and con-
, tanned the eggs. The eggs, fine speci-
! mems, which have still in my collec
tion, measured 41x2M inches and
: were of cream-colored hue, Irregular
2 ly marked with reddish brown
blotches. Well, to bring the story To
: a close, after securing the eggs / gave
: the signal to be raised and finally
reached terra frma once more, but n
! sorry-looking sight, with coat and col
lar soaked with blood from the
I, scratches on my neck and head and