The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04
DOG And GEESE EIaHT AN EAGLE.
A PIucky Rattle Ended by n T~weive-Year-oid
Girl with - Fence Hail.

"Vcrmillion county. in my State" said Major
nopson Gravoly of Indiana, is n long but mar
row division of the State lying along the west
ern borGcr. When the first settlers came Into
the Northwest territory that part OF 1t which
was set apart after a time as Vermillion county,
Ind, was notable FOR being the homo of n great
colony of caglcs-thc big and genuine bird of
freedom, whose spread carly became likewise
symbolicnl of tho oratory of tho Hoosicr State,
which II continues to be to this day.
"Thc descendants OF that colony Of eagles
and doubtless some of tho original members of
It, for tho eagle lives long and dies hard-stil
populate the scraHgy businesses of Vermillion
county, and purloin sheep and poultry with us
much perseverance and dcx!crlty, the residents
OF Ncrmillion county say, rs some of their abut-
ting ncigllhors over tho Illinois side of the Dor.
der over showed, which places the Ncrmillion
county cnglc up near the head in that line of in
dustry. The tactics OF these eagles when MAX
Ing IA raid aro at times bold to the extreme OF
impudcncc, but ono Of the historic colony rc-
comfy carried this boldncss TO n point that
broke tho record and incidentally his own head.
mot far from the State line Joel Martin has n
farm. He keeps n good many geese, as they are
profitable things to raise In Vcrmillion county,
where tho old-fashlOncd feather bod still defcs
all modern beds, and goose grease is us yct tho
only recognized and unfailing remedy for Group
and quinsy. Farmer Martins geese have tho
run of his place. y flock of twenty or more wore
rasturing In front OF tho house. Farmer Martin
has n twclyc.ycar-oid daughter named Tillic.
She was sitting Mt n front window darning a
sock. Suddenly something dropped down up on
Tie geese like n big stone falling from
somewhere. A flock of geese can make n lot of
noise when It. starts out TO do 1t, and no
flock ever started out with the Intention Of max
ins more noise than this one Of Farmer Martin
did on this occasion, and the attempt was IA sue
cess. One OF Ncrmillion county's big eagles had
GwoOpcd down upon the flock, had fastened his
talons In the back OF the higgost geese in 1t. and
was making a desperate effort to rise and soar
AWAY with his prey. But there WAS II little too
much goose grease, on The ribs OF his intended
victim. ana ne couldn't even lit the scrceChins
goose from tho ground.
For a moment there was n great sGuabbling
and hutter.ng and scattering of feathers in tho
yard. Then tho goose, bearing the Juggling md
ClnwinG eagle on its back, staggered and tum-
ut the end of the stoop. TIL" eagle held fast. and
every other goose in tho flock waddled after tho
two. falling over one another In their fierce hut
screaming of the geese WINS enough to make a
panther. stop and think the matter over, but n
Ncrinillion county cHclc wasn't horn in the
CrdgEv woods 10 be scared hr tame geese, and he
kept his hold. screaming still louder and harsher
THE goose with the eagle riding It. ran under
the sto3p. Some OF the other geese htd. wad-
died under after them, when the farmers dog
Trip came rushing on the scene. Tip was small
and yellow. and had never distinguished him
ha.f except In the way of now and then u coon,
hut hC had heard the unusual connection among
the geese. and without any Thought of what hc
was !.hriy 10 RIM against. dashed through the
nU.sy Eccs,' ana disappeared under the stOUp.
All tniS occurred before Tillie Martin had
time tn drop the sock she was darninR and rush
on; to take u hand herself IN rcsCuing the goose
from the grasp Of the eagle. but she got there "a
fast ~ she could. BY that time the fight had
surgcl hack from beneath the stoOp to tho open
yard. and had. become II general rough and
tumble, In which Hc"Ic, dog. and eagle were so
rromi,cuOusly mixed up that Tiliic was afraid
10 bring into active service u fence rail she had
grabbed Tor fear that shc might carry more de-
s~:ruCtton among The geese or do more damage TO
the dog thui she would inh!ct upon the eagle.
Tao eagle was plainly getting the worst of
the fight. although he had ripped up half II
dozen geese and disilSurcd tho dog so that his
nearest friend would scarcely know him. But
thu combination against the big bird was too
stTuaE even Tor a Ecrmiilioa county eagle. and
IL was doing his best 10 break away and take
himself OF. The do, WAS full ot grit, and as the
eagle managed 20. riso 10 clear The fence. Trip
grabbed him. hg tho hcsly part of one leg and
held on. The eagle got partially over
tho fence, but the weight of the dog
Was more than he could contend against
IN that. way. and lie hung with his head
and neck on one side OF the fence, his great
wings beating vinlertly. and the rest OF his body
on tie other side OF Ia" fence. The dog hung
clear OF the ground. but kept his hold on the
ca=!u's leg. Now was Ti.i!c's chance to got In
her yr0TS with u fence rail, and she got il in.
she broke the eagles neck with one blow, and
thCr" MAS one less bird OF freedom in Ncrmili!on.
the ghnlcn"ss and courage display cd by tho
geese. til" goose being n creature not placed
among oso thnt eight. even Indcr pvovocat!on
or in scit-de!eucc.'