River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-09-21
A Thrilling Spectacle.
By Geo. H. Coomer.

an board the ship Luminary we had
" two boys, differing much from
each other in character. Walter Brew
er, the captains son, was an active fell
low, but very needless and rash. We
used TO think that he must resemble
that little Jack" of the ballad, who
/ climbed to the main-truck of "Old IRON
! sides" There was nothing he loved
| better than to perform some dangerous
/ and unnecessary feat.
| On the other hand, Arthur Clifford,
/ son of good Widow Clifford, in the little
seaport where the ship belonged, al
/ though no less active than Walter, was
4 always careful of his own safety, and
! took no risks where duty did not call
/ him. He would not pass from one mast
| to another on stay, as his companion
would sometimes do, but would take
to the shrouds in the regular manner
Walter often challenged him to do
some perilous thing, and would
thoughtlessly accuse him of cowardice
when he refused, as he invariably did,
where there was no necessary end TO
be accomplished by accepting the pro-
posed risk.
Yet, whenever the widows son did a
piece of work, either on deck or aloft,
it was done thoroughly, which was
more than could be said of Walters
! tasks.
Arthur did not like the imputation of
cowardice, but he told me one day that
| - Of dnit,n
/ foolish things just to show that he was
brave.
/ felt sure that he had more true
courage than his reckless young ship
mate. though l little anticipated the
| surprising manner in which the fact
was to be demonstrated.
We were lying in one of the many
harbors on the west side of Vancouver's
island, when the captain allowed ms an
all-day's run on shore.
The coast is here very mountainous,
so that we found rocks hundreds of
feet high, with gorges branching off in
all directions.
In some places we climbed to such a
height that, although our ship was a
long distance off, she had the appear
ance of being close under our feet.
Presently our attention was attracted
by the sight of two huge, gray eagles,
that came wheeling about us with MAJ
iestic sweeps, uttering loud cies, like
those of the common fish hawk.
Some one suggested that they prob
| ably had nest close at hand, and the
two boys were instantly inspired with
/ n great desire to find it.
An eagles nest would certainly be a
curiosity, whether containing eggs or
young.
"Oh, you wouldn't go up to it, Art;
you wouldn't dare tot" said Walter.
YOU'D be afraid of the old birds. just
let me get a sight of it! III show you
how to go up to an eagles nest!"
Arthur made some careless reply,
| laughing good-naturedly as he did so,
and they both commenced hunting for
the eyrie.
For some time we could hear them
shouting to each other as they pursued
the search They seemed at length to
have separated widely among the cliffs,
and for while we heard nothing from
them.
We now discovered that, instead OF
only one couple, there were two pairs
of the eagles, and this seemed to be the
reason that the boys did not keep to-
gether. There might be two nests.
Surprising that the youngsters would
soon return, we did not pay much at
tention to their absence, until S artled
by what seemed a cry of distress.
The eagles themselves were scream
ing. but their shrill notes could not
quite drown the human voice that ap-
peared to be calling out in pain or ter
ror.
ut is that Walt" said one of our
/ men, Hes got into some trouble
| broken some of his limbs. likely enough
and the captain will blame us for it.
There, hear that?''
Help! heIpl" cried the voice. "I'm
hurt Come quick, or / shall be killed.
Oh, dear, what shall | do?"
1t was plain that the sufferer could
not be far off; yet, to bring him within
sight, we had TO make our way through
some very difficult places.
W ilNH VIC dih SCA a view VI AiiAis tilS
peril of his position really terrified us.
He was at height of some 500 feet
above the ground, upon the jagged face
of a cliff IN assure of this his feet
and legs appeared to be wedged, while
with his hands he chung desperately to
a small projecting point.
"Oh, oh, OH" ne cried, as he caught
/ sight of us. Get me out of this place.
/ Get me down from here. ! can't move,
| and the eagles will kill met
He had good reason to think so, for
| the huge birds were sweeping close to
/ his head, swapping their fierce beaks,
and making a noise with their wings,
like that of a ships topsails when she
is going in stays
''You little scamp" exclaimed the
second mate, who was with us; chow
did you ever get there? What win
your father say to us, you young viii
lain ,"
"0h, oh, OH" walled the poor fellow.
4 was going up to the eagles nest.
and | slipped and got wedged in this
creyice. l can't get out. Come up
quick quick.'
Some 80 or 40 feet above him was the
eagles nest, sure enough. 1t seemed
astonishing that any human being
should ever have had the recklessness
to attempt such a foolhardy feat. and
still more astonishing that he should
have been able to climb so far.
Upon a further view of the cliff we
were appalled, Who of us could feel
like creeping from jag TO jag up the
side of that almost perpendicular rock
And how, even in case of his being
reached, was the half-disabled boy to
be got down?
To make the matter worse, we were
brought to a halt by wide chasm di-
rectly in front of us, so that 10 reach
the foot of the precipice il was neces-
sary TO seek out some place for cross
ing.
While looking for such a spot we
heard Arthur Clifford calling to his
young shipmate. and presently saw him
going up the side of the rock. 1t sur
prised US to see how fast he climbed.
We ran a long distance, until it be-