The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-03-14

T. ~ the Colombo Pc
Rod. Was Il not on
account Of the fact that our feathered
friend was mainly instrumental IN the
dissemination Of the undigested seed
u the cinnamon plant that a law was
passed forbldding the killing Of a crow
under the seyerest penalties? Most Of /
he stories which are related OF the /
iagacity OF the crow and Of his power |
of acting In concert with others are 30 |
Incredible that I almost fear 70 CON-
promise my character for veracity by !
repeating them. For instance. crows
have BEEN known 20 undo a paper par
rel In order 20 pry into ~ contents;
10 unite the knot OF a napkin inclos-
Ing provisions: 20 remove the peg by
which the ia OF basket was fastened
iOwn-always with some unhallowed
object In views 10 hunt In couples after
a brood OF chicks. one diverting the az
iention OF the hen-mother by repeated
leints IN one direction. while the other
made On with the coveted prey. etc.
That they have a language Of their
own. though undis,ingalEhable 20 our
ears. by which they readily communi-
cate intelligence. give warning. secure
and combine 20 act 10 a deh-
nite way. Is only too evident. Point but
a gun at a crow. and the warning cry
OF Care, Care" or something similar
u az once raised from the neares; out
post and echoed and re-echoed from
every tree for miles around: and for
many a long day that spot will be care
fully Stunned by every crow IN the
neighborhOod. Put a substitute a stick.
cruich or broom for a gun and he viii
laugh you Ia the face and positively
call his fellows 10 come and defy you
with taunts and yells Of dcrisive laugh.
Ter. The most notable Instance. how
ever. which ! have seen OF their power
Of acting IN concert. and apparently
amer due dellberation. was what Wit
Messed On a certain occasion o. the pro-
ceedings OF an immense multitude Of
,rows and which had an the somblance
u an opon-air criminal court: or. rath-
sr. Of the summary mode OF trial and
execution pursued by vigilance commit
tees under the sanction OF lynch law.
Il was a. noon and I was driving pas,
the Colombo esplande. when my atten-
ton was drawn 20 a gathering Of the
Grow clan IN large numbers. They ap-
peared 20 come from the cas-; and the
vest. from the north and the south sim
ulmneously and. for the most part. a.
lently. Perched on the branches Of
some large trees which stood AZ a dis
lance and occupying irregular but CON-
handing positions along the seaside
were stationed certain nolsier brethrea
apparently engaged on sentinel duty
but cawing their eternal khaa khaa
with a vehemonce and energy which
seemed 30 denote some occurrence o,
more than ordinary import. Pcrhap.
Ike the "Oyoz, Oyer OF the town criei
their hoarse. monotonous cries were 0
summons 10 an good citizens 70 Assem-
bic forthwith In the interests % publ,
Justice Presently there was a sort OF
an arrangement OF the black forces
SERTED ranks formed a kind OF SQUARE
an the birds hopping on the ground
save those on outpost duty. AN the
grecnsward presented almost a funeral
appearance. while in the center. under
the custody Of some special oonstables
an unfortunate crow culprit was care.
fully guarded. not without sundry
pecks and aps on the head and othei
reminders peculiar 10 the force. Their,
was a brief silence while the presidon
OF the tribunal appeared TO be assial
the prisoner n be could shew caus
Why sentence should no; BE- passed OF
him. Caws enough he had. poor Gel
low. but the formula was unmeanlne
a. In many a higher tribunal: his cas-
was prejudiced; and without waltlni
for a reply he was ordered 10 b
drummod out OF the ranks. banlshet
, outlavcd-Que ais-ie? The scntenc
, was received with reclamation. Their
was a universal clamor and uprisln
, into the air. looked round for N
J victim; he was running the crow-0I
] deal for life. He rose, was PICKED q
! by a number OF his fellows, struggle
! aercely and got on, only TO be pursue
. by others. who hurried him down wit
= beak and claw. Then on his bacl
, grizzly faclng hin assailants. he tough
b desperately for hare life. Once agai
! he was successful. and this time as
I rose In the air With a rapid wing be dh
D tAnced his pursuers ana wos soon 10.
10 view. What his ultimate fate WIS
DO NOT know. But the whole AFFAIR Il
tercstod me greatly What possib
crime could he have committed. a
: miserable wretch who had Sims
: against the unwri,ten code Of GRO
law, such a code a. only an opium eat
could conceive Of In his wildes, Ina
a innings or a colony Of escaped oonvic
= enact In q new settlement