The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-10-10
DANGEROUS, But EXCITING. sPo4vF
IN THE ALPS.
Tree. for Nine Days, but Bag
Eed His Game.

sport is until he has shot down his first
eagle in the Alps. Few Englishmen come
TO this country Tor a real hunt. but pre-
Ter their own Scottish highlands or their
well-kept home preserves. But the Ger
man and the American scent the excite
ment in the dangers that surround one
on all sides in the Alpine region, and so
1t is that at this time of the year the
woods are full of them" colloouialiy
speaking.
! But to those of us Americans to ,ynva
the hunt in the Alps is new the most
interesting preliminary phase is in the
rare stories that beguile the night before
the start. You must listen carefully, for
this German dialect is not easily under
stood They will tell you of the record
made last year by Count Alban Won
Quodt, famous German hunter. who lay
in hiding a whole week to get a single
shot at fine specimen of an eagle They
VIII thrill you with the record Of the
KING of eagle hunters" Leo Dorm, chief
forester OF the prince regent of Bavaria.
and then they will suddenly break up
ana inform you that the Arlberg is a
good five mile climb and the start Ynuss
be at daybreak.
So. at daybreak, we are off. These
guides know each possible eagle crag.
They tell you that the young ones can
lily at this season Of the year, and to get
close would mean battle with the older
ones. So, it is always good policy to await
the light of the older bird.
Not an Easy Shot
10 say 1t IS an easy matter to get a
shot at an eagle would amuse even the
best Of Alp hunters. The king of the air
seems TO scent the danger, and with It's
mountain prey in sight will fly about
for hours at heights beyond the reach OF
the hunters bullet.E Even then in swoopina
down FOR its prey it will seek to chased
IL as tar from the hunter as possible and
nine times out of 10 will succeed in avoid
ing the latter by the lightning rapidity
of its flight. Standing on a narrow ledge
with an almost fathomless abyss yawn-
lng for you, and waiting a whole day for
shot at an eagle is what is called real
Alpine sport
Then, too, the guide will suddenly tell
you that the eagle has shifted his game
and that means an hours march to an
other height But then there is the snort
OF bringing down the bird. of SEEING, the
great wings flop their mightiest for a mo
ment, only to drop powerless Immediate
~ after with their dead weight deep
down into the abyss. And then il is that
the Alpine guide fastens his great ropes
10 the rocks and sinks almost out of
sight. He gives an Alpine shout that
echoes back to us and we pull him Up
with his prey, a splendid load, and one
that will give the village an eagle hunt"
celebration. These are unique affairs.
and invariably a supplement to a good
days sport. The bird is put on exhibit
ton, the villagers drink good luck" to
the next days sport. and the Younger
ones dance away the early hours of the
evening.
Champion Eagle Hunter.
1t was at one of these celebrations that
caught my first glimpse of the greatest
eagle hunter the world has knOwn-Leo
Dorm. he is a very Nimrod in face and
figure. Towering nearly six feet in height
he bears his 81 years wonderfully wen
HIS long, white beard, gives him a ven
cradle appearance, although his hunting
togs would hardly suit an American or
Englishman. They are made of the very
coarsest material, and are almost ragged
from wear. His shoes are the old hob
nailed affairs, with never sign of
sock underneath. Yet this is the man
who has killed Go eagles, a record never
even approached by the best of hunters
When he began to tell us of his
achievements there were a sparkle in his
eyes and smile on his lips, but never
a word Of praise of himself. 1t was simp-
" the story of each long daring achieve
ment, told without establishment, and
in the peculiar dialect of Hindelang.
where he lives the greater part of the
year.
His last eagle, brought down this year
not alone broke his own record as TO
number, but exceeded in size any of his
~ SNiOu9 trophies. IL measured eight feet
from tip to tip of the wings Dorm had
started early on the hunt after this
specimen, for his spyglass had given him
many a fine view of the great bird But
he had at last ascertained where the
eagle had its eyrie of young ones and he
had outlined daring method of proceed
ure, differing from anything he had pre-
viously attempted
He watched for the fight of the mother
bird and them when he had seen her
disappear completely from view, had his
men drop him into a canyon, and with
mis- great Alpen stock pulled himself into
The nest. The young birds tore his hands
50 that he still has the marks to show
)ut he finally succeeded in tying them to
each other by ropes. He then tied himself
% tree jutting out from crag near bv
ana with just barely enough room for
lis feet to rest, awaited the return of the
)lS eagle. Time and again the mother
)ird was seen soaring in the sky, bear
ng It's booty. Then, with the speed of
lightning 1t would shoot into the nest
'ut of reach of his gun. He followed the
ame tactics for nine days in succession
he rope had left a bloody scar about
lis body, and he was nearly exhausted
sut hnally, on the ninth day. the eagle
oared its last, for Dorn's bullet mad
ound a vital spot.
This is perhaps the most thrilling IN
ident in his career. but his hairbreadth
scapes have been about as numerous as
lis trophies.
These, by the way. fill one large room
Y his cottage, and are not alone the evil
ences of his prowess as an eagle hunter.
ut of his skill on the larger game OF the
yroiean Alps. Antlers line the walls on
II sides. Fully SO Of the very finest
makes Of guns adorn the corners ana
lake rather warlike panels thanking the
rophies of the chase
But here this chief forester of the