The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-03-30
Story of an Owl.


This strange story of an encounter
with an owl in midocean is asserted to
be true. The bird alighted on the main
truck of the ship, paying no attention to
the lookout in the crows nest, only
few feet, beneath. The bird may have
been making a passage from one of the
Aleutian islands to another, and it is
not Improbable that the reflection of the
Sunbeans from the ocean had rendered
it's sight more dim than usual \ land
bird at sea, however, seldom manfests
the timidity common to it's kind when on
shore. Among the passengers were two
were up in arms in an instant
~ wish | had my gun herc!' said
Markoff, with all the eagerness of a
hunter.
And l wish l had miner' responded
Winchell; ''but it's at home, just like
the lrishman's cable and anchor in the
Storm
The captain stepped into the cabin,
and they heard his ramrod raftling in
his double-barreled fowling piece. Pres
entity he came on deck, and standing
near the mizzen-mast blazed away at
the main truck.
The owl came futtering down, but it
would evidently, fall overheard instead
of striking the deck -,e -
Seeing this, Markoff and Winchell
rushed for one of the quarter boats and
stood ready to lower her away. By this
time the bird, though still alive, lay
upon the water with outstrctched wings
Bear hand, boys cried the cap
tain; lower, away and get him.
The boys let the tackles run, unlocked
them and pushed off after the prize
which Markoff seized without difficulty.
while Winchell sculled with the steering
oar.
There was moment of triumph, but
that triumph was instantly succeeded by
Il cry of distress from Markoff.
Owl he exclaimed; 'here. you, Mis-
ter Owl! let go! ow! let go!''
Wlnchell, looking around, saw his COM
panlon standing helpless with both wrists
confined by the strong claws of-the bird
Dropping his oar, Winchell turned quick
~ to assist Markoff, who could make no
movement of his arms without the most
intense pain.
Blood was dropping freely from the
wounded wrists as Winchell, Selling one
OF the talons, endeavored to disengage it
AFTER a desperate effort he succeeded
but 1t was only to find his own wrist
grasped by the same fierce claw, tho
sharp hooks sinking deep into his flesh
Meanwhile the strong beak was not idle:
it had struck through the thick cloth Of
Markotfs trousers and fastened upon one
OF his legs above the knee.
The position of the two youngsters was
as queer as it was painful They were
prisoners to the owl! The right hand
of each was as firmly held as if caught
IN steel trap, every attempt at release
causing exquisite torture; and all the
while the boat was drifting broadside to
the sea away from the ship, which had
been hove to from the first.
The sailors laughed, the officers shout
ed their advice, and for a few minutes
the excitement was equal to that which
usually attends the capture of 100
barrel whale. In fact, it seemed as if it
would be necessary to lower second
boat. since this strange enemy had cap
tured the first!
1t was only after Winchell, using his
left hand. had struck the bird Il stunning
blow with a boat Ratchet that the lads
were able to unlock the savage beak and
claws.
On arriving on board it was found that
the boys hands and wrists were badly
hurt and they were disabled for some
time. The. owl measured five feet across
the wings and was in all respects a
magnificent specimen of it's kind -Gold-
en- DAYS.