The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-06-08
FOUGHT AN EAGLE
A LITTLE BOY TERRIBLY pISFIcuREp
FOR LIFE.

One Eye Pluclked Out by the Bird-was
Hunting For the Eyrie OF the Winged
Marauder-The Boys Father Shoots the
National Bird.
From Ukiah, Cal, comes the nevis of
the serious wounding of Eddie, the S-year-
Old son of j. B. Briggs, who lives on the
south fork of Eel river, near the Colusa
county boundary line. His injuries had
been caused by the attack of an immense
paid eagle and resulted in the boys loss Of
Ehe left eye and serious injury to the right
The bird which inflicted the wounds had
established its eyrie somewhere in the vi
cinity of Mr.. Briggs ranch, but its nest
Ing place remained a mystery, notwith-
standing an active search. At length the
bird became SO destructive to the growing
lambs on the range that Mr.. Briggs deter
mined to wage a war Of determination.
Accompanied by his sons Eddie and Will
lie, the latter about IA years old, he left
his home Sunday forenoon to search for
the eagles home.
The two lads travelled along the summit
of a low divide, and the father followed
up the bed of the little mountain stream.
The boys were unarmed, but they were to
call their father in case they discovered the
eagles nest. The two youngsters proceed
cd about mile along the crest of the ridge
and stopped to rest in the shadow of
lofty cliff. After some minutes rest the
boys determined TO ascend the peak.more
out of curiosity than a hope to find the
nest of the national bird
They had nearly reached the summit
when they heard screech, and the bird
swooped down upon them. Taken by sur
prise as they Were and having no means of
defense except branch of madrone which
they had picked up to assist them in their
ascent, the boys were frightened and at a
loss how to escape the attack of the eagle.
The elder brother instructed his compan-
ion to descend, stating that he would keep
the eagle off until place of safety could
be reached. Eddie obeyed his brothers.
Injunction, but either through fright or
exhaustion was unable to descend more
than 20 or 80 feet when he called 20 his
brother, who was battling with the eagle,
that he was unable to proceed farther.
Willie then determined to descend and
attract his fathers attention if possible
He did so and discovered Mr.. Briggs in
the canyon several hundred feet below.
DE called TO his father, and by frantic ges-
lures gave him to understand that his as
sistance was badly needed.
In the meantime the eagle had attacked
the younger boy and had injured him eeri-
ously. The boy was covered with blood
when his father arrived one of his eyes
having been torn out and his cheek and
head having been terribly lacerated by the
sharp tolons of the eagle
Even after Mr.. Briggs reached his sons
side the bird continued its attacks. and the
father was for some minutes prevented
from firing fac fear Of injuring his con.
AT length he found an opportunity TO
shoot, and with the first discharge of the !
gun the eagle fell fatally wounded The |
boy was taken home as rapidly as possible |
and medical assistance summoned The |
youngster is terribly disfigured, but the I
physician is in hopes that the right eye |
may be saved.-San Francisco Chronicle