The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-12
A TRAGEDY IN THE WOODS.
Pathetic Description Of the Death of
a Hawk.

Calvin D. Wilson in LippincotFs.
One day in November I was crossing
a field in Maryland, with gun and dogs,
when I saw soaring above me, a large
hawk, which seemed Obvious of my pres
ence until 1t had flown within convenient
range.
The great bird swung gracefully, almost
directly overhead, and as l threw the gun
10 my shoulder it paused, as if realizing
ITS mistake. In that second l fired, and
the bird reeled in mid-air. It made few
half strokes forward with one wing fell
a foot or two, and then recovered itself
One wing was injured but not entirely
broken; its evolutions were vigorous and
lightnng-like.
AS it reached out in vain for something
to grasp, 1t showed every sign of being
filled with rage at the unknown calamity
that had happened to it. From the time
when, as a fedgling, II had left the nest
it's wings had never failed IL TIL the pres
ent moment They had carried it up into
stOrm-clouds; they had bathed il in sun
light far above tine earth; they had borne
it swooping, with open beak and extended
claws, from the heights of trees upon it's
prey, or in swift flight and rapid turnings
as 1t followed its quarry in air.
But as 1t had flown from the woods yon-
der aiming at that lofty tree, from which
it hoped to look out for quail, there had
been a movement of a man, a puff of
smoke, noise, and somehow those broad,
strong wings could pilot 1t no longer Now
there was an awful pressure, bearing ii
nearer and nearer to the ground.
Its struggle Is in vain; its desperate
strokes with the wounded wing fail to
support it, lower and lower it comes with
rage flaming from it's eyes, it's beak wide
9pen its claws spread. AS 1t falls 1t passes
close to me- and strikes out viciously.
When upon the ground, where 1t can
stand upon its feet, 1t makes ready to
fight as l step towards il. 1t holds out
its uninjured wing, and with unfaltering
gaze looks upon and makes towards me
one of the dogs dashes in, to receive
stroke that makes him howl.
There is nothing for it but to give this
fierce thing another cartridge. / regret
that 1t has been shot al all. Hawks are
usually so wise in keeping out of range,
so able to take care of themselves, that
one gets into the habit of firing at them
as they fly over. with little expectation
of the shots taking effect. So that this
time l have thoughtlessly succeeded in
making a cripple.
He is too badly hurt to leave him to
pine and starve; the dogs cannot kill him,
50 l find myself reluctantly compelled to
finish what has been begun. The bird is
so brave, dauntless and warrior-like, that
king of this woods, and his empire ex-
tends for many farms around. The quail.
the mice, all the insects and lesser animals
and birds, fear him. His flight is so lofty
and swift, his eye so piercing, his beak
so strong his talons so sharp that when
his shadow falls upon a field the hearts
of all creature fall within them
Now this king is himself Frustrated be-
fore a mightier; this knight is hors de
combat in the arena. What spectators of
those that have feared him are looking on?
Have other creatures in the tops of the
trees yonder taken notice of that sud
den arresting Of the haEk's flight, and
OF his desperate fall? Probably they have
their own way of communicating news of
the destruction Of their enemies and ii
may now be known to all things for half
a miles about that the great bird has
been smitten from the clouds
It will be no mercy to leave this proud
spirit to suffer- with his broken wing. ana
to starVe; he cannot get well, so / must
deliver him from his pain. I step away a
few yards, in order that the shot may not
tear his body too much.
How fierce and undaunted he looks!
What a look Of strength in his eyes! He
shows no fear of the dogs or of the man.
He watches my movements keenly. and is
looking right toward the muzzle of the
gun as the flame Of death carries the
shot
There is a brief struggle The beak opens
once or twice the eye CLEANS with def
ance, and then stands wide open in death.
The brave bird, master of all the crea-
lures in the woods hereabout, the terror of
doves and Of all timid things, is helpless
at last!
He Is very graceful, even in death, and
one cannot but wonder at the strange
transmutation that has made this thing.
v hose shadow sent a shudder through the
inhabitants OF the tree tops, and amid the
grasses of the fields; this creature, whose
wings could, a few moments ago, carry
It unwearied through miles Of air, now a
rnotionless bunch of feathers, the sharp
claws incapable Of harm. the fierce beak
as innocent as a child's finger, the savage
spirit all subdued
The dogs may smell of him without fear
of a stroke, while man meditates upon the
great change.