The Opelousas courier., 1898-02-26
FIELDS OF ADVENTURE,
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DARING
DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.

Farmer Lloyd's Quick Shot Prevented
His Little Son Being Carried OF by {
Big Eagle-Botanist Saved From {
Monster Kattlesnake by a Companion
It was just inside the New York Of
the future-a mile within the bound.
aries of the great city. The dusk was
closing in upon a perfect day.
From somewhere out of the bound,
less expanse of blue that marked a
cloudless sky, says the New York
World, a tiny speck appeared, grew
larger, blacker and became the like
ness of a gigantic bird. In wheeling
circles it flew aver nearer to the earth,
uttering fierce screams of hunger
every now and then, and ever coming
nearer to the earth. It was an eagle,
as wild and savage as any that have
brought terror to the Andes. Yet it
was hunting within the circle Of
Greater New York.
Round and round it swung on pin
ions that seemed motionless, in q
spiral which meant death to some poor
creature. As 1t reached the lower
stratum Of air fDove the present village
of Cedarhurst' in what will soon be
the Borough d Queens, there came q
sudden and mighty clamor of o
They rose from wood and harvested
field, an army of frightened and vocif-
erous cawers, for they knew that a
terrible enemy was near. Their alarm
probably saved a human life.
Right over the farm of prosperous
Thomas N. Lloyd the eagle lowered,
looking for prey. Soon its sharp eyes
found it, for there back Of the barn
was playing little James Thomas
Lloyd. He was a boy of three, fat
and chubby, a most delicious morsel
for bird or cannibal. Above him the
fierce bird lowered, preparing to de-
scend, its talons drawn up to strike.
Yet the fierce bird hesitated, for there
were men in sight.
Its hesitation was fatal. While 1t
was lowering undecided the cawing of
the crows attracted the attention of
the farm hand Max. He thought some
hen hawk must be menacing the poul-
try yard and ran out to see what was
the matter. He almost tainted when
be beheld the ponderous bird circling
above the child of the house, the only
son.
"The gun-the gunl" he screamed
10 Farmer Lloyd, who was luckily not
lar away. And then he ran toward
he child, swinging his arms and
shouting.
A moment later Mr.. Lloyd appeared
1t the door of the barn, a shotgun in
MS hand. In an instant he had taken
IN the scene. His nerve did not de-
,ert him. He saw the eagle swooping
coward his boy. He saw the latter on
ais knees, looking upward without
lear, wondering at the big bird over
him. And then he let fly the contents
If the gun straight at the savage bird.
The charge entered its wing and the
eagle topped, foundered and then
pitched headlong to the ground.
The foxy bird closed its eyes, laid its
head upon the ground and feigned
hat it was dead. |
$50 get a bag" said Mr.. Lloyd to
Max.
The huge bird never opened its eyes
aor made offer to move while the hired
nan was gone. But when he came
back with a potato sack, and the two
men started to throw it over the head
If the bird, it suddenly came to life
again and fought with a fury of beak
snd talons that left red streaks across
The hands of it's human enemies. It
was caught at last and placed untalaed
md savage in a large hen coop.
Farmer Lloyd was completely un-
1erved after the excitement was over.
BE took his little boy in his arms and
.ept wei him like q child.
''What was it, papa, a snipe?" asked
he little fellow, looking up in wonder
It his fathers tears. He had often
heard the latter talk about going out
shoot snipe, and he thought that
his must be one
An attempt was made to measure
he pinions of the bird, but it fought
fercely that its captors were glad
70 let it go. It was estimated that they
would measure full twelve feet from
lip to tip, and perhaps even more. It
vas a monstrous bird.
The eagle made short work of a
visitors pet dog that tried to
make friends. The bird reached out
hungry bunch Of talons between two
lats Of the pen and the dog was trans
ated to the happy hunting ground.
Charmed by q Rattlesnake.
Professor Charles Rice, the botan-
st, had a thrilling experience with a
monster rattlesnake one day last week,
nd it was only his GOODNESS and pres
nee Of mind that saved him from
Leath. Professor Rice and Doctor Ty-
ian, the bugologist, were up in the
higher attitudes of the Sierras in