Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-03-11
THE FIERCE CONDOR.
AN EXCITING ADVENTURE AT THE
TOP OF A PERUVIAN PEAK.

Swooped Down and Carried OF Boy In
His TaIons.
The three of us had been prospect
ing for gold along the Purus river, $50
miles southwest of Lima, Peru, for
three or four weeks before
had the good fortune to get
a near sight of condor, re-
lates a South American traveller.
I had seen them at such a distance
that they might have been mistaken
for crows, but though we had all kept
our eyes open and rifles ready no spec
linen of the big birds had come with
in cannon shot. When we complained
of our bad luck to Jose, the cook, who
had been born and reared among the
foothills of the Andes, he said:
There is no other bird living so
strong and fierce as the condor, and
yet the sight of man frightens him. He
seems to know just how far a rifle will
carry and he always keeps beyond
it,"
How strong is a full-grown con-
dor?" | asked.
mo man can tell you that" he re-
piled, "but I will tell you what have
seen with my own eyes. One day, a
few miles from my home while a man
who had been hunting sat upon a rock
in the open to rest, he was attacked by
condor, which suddenly dropped
from the skies. AS it came down it
fastened one claw in his back and the
other in his shoulder and struck him
a fearful blow with its beak It could
not lift the man, for he weighed $50
pounds but it dragged him along the
ground for many rods before it let CO.
The blow from the condor's beak had
stunned the fellow and the wounds in
fiicted by its talons were so terrible
that the man died of his injuries"
This simply whetted my desire to
see one of these mighty birds. For
time it seemed as though I would be
disappointed. One day, however, we
came upon an old native and his son,
the latter about 70 years of age. He
was talking of condors and pointed out
place high up on a mountain spur.
1T has been there" said he, Since
my grandfather was a boy. was
close to it once, but it was empty. My
son here was near it, too, only few
days ago. For a little money he will
show you a path.
That was exactly what we wanted,
and l soon struck a bargain. The lad
had not approached the nest from be-
low, but from above. and had not
found the route very difficult He had
gone near enough to see a fedgling in
the nest, but being afraid of the old
birds return, had retreated after a
brief view. He was a fairly intelligent
lad and proud to go with us, and he led
the way in a manner to give us conf
dence. 1t was a tough climb, but finaG-
ly we reached the peak.
Just beyond the curve is the nest"
whispered the boy as we came to a
halt. IF the old bird is there, what
will you do?"
Shoot her" l replied.
But if both are there?"
Then we will shoot both"
He looked serious and doubtful. I
did not expect him to go further, but
he started off having his bow and ar
INV III manu-, anu we lOllOWtu. AS We
turned the curve we came full upon the
nest; the mother bird was there feed
ing a fledgling.
With a shrill scream of rage and sur
prise the old bird lifted herself about
ten feet into the air. and as | fired at
her she fell. The lad had rushed for
; ward to the nest; Jose and l were ad-
ba Az i
ing bird-which was only badly
wounded-when there was a whirr Of
wings and a shrill scream, and the
male bird dropped from the clouds fair
upon the boys back. What happened
{ passed so quickly that we stood in
| dumb surprise The condor simply
swooped down, fastened his talons in.
the boy, and was in full flight with him
all in the space of ten seconds. The
lad must have weighed at least fifty
pounds but the bird lifted him easily
and flew in the direction of our camp,
sinking little in his flight down the
slope, yet keeping above the trees.
AS we stood paralyzed with surprise
the wounded bird fiuttered over the
edge of the cliff and was lost to us.
+ 1t was night when we got down the
mountain, and noon the next day be-
fore we found the father of the boy.
l had expected an outburst of sorrow
e and indignation, with a claim for
1 heavy damages, but when he had heard
4 the story he simply said;
1T was no ones fault, and it is nc
: use to look for the dead. He was a
good boy, but it was to be so. Perhaps
you will give me a few pieces of sill
yer to comfort his mother?"
o Found Target Ready.
Il resident of Sherman place, Utica
" made his young son present of a re-
y VOlVer II was nrettV cold for accurat q