The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-24
ON THE ISLE OF EAGLES.
A WILD SPOT orr THE CALIFoR.
MAN COAST

From New York Commercial Advertiser
Tho early traditions OF California have
someshins 90 say about aerce. white
headed birds Of the ISLANDS on shore.
one Of which was given "a name which
signincd the Isle OF Eneles The birds in
the old days were considered sacred by
the natives. she tail feathers being used
as sacrifices or offerings 10 their goi
not taken from she bird. which was
never mocsted. but from the nests rhc
birds We're 80 tame that az the time %
the last spanish expedition they we're
ianown 90 dash down and seize fish from
the hands Of women, who were no match
for them. These binds arc stnl undis-
thrhed. it being an unNritten law 20 pro
tect the eagles. consequently. they have
Increased IN numbers OF hate years Their
points OF vantage arr fhc lofty ana in-
accessible plnnacles which rise from the
rocky shores and their nests are usually
built on points beyond the roich 81 the
most skiiful climber ON santa Catalina
there Is a pinnacle. perhaps lco feet IN
ncisht, completely separated from the
shore. the sea having eaten the interveu-
Ink rock away. and about 90 the waters
swirl and rush furiouSiv The point rs
che most exposed Of any. faclug tho
Iona seas which come down from Point
Conception. and In srorns they strike
the eyre OF the eagles and rise. a
splendid mass 81 foam. 60 the very sum
mk, who're the bunch % wood and
branches indicates the nest Of the great
eagle
Unfortunately the eggs OF eagles are
IN demand by collectors and a feW a1-
vcnturous spirits make business Of
trying 10 secure them literally taking
their lives In Their hands The nest men
toned, on the moth end OF ;ho island,
from being unmolested grew 20 large
size; heap % kelp. branches OF trees
hn1 shrubs. easily distinguished from
yachts and other cran. To reach a.
WIS the ambition Of score Of men. and
finally two determined Co make the at
tempt The north island is uninhabito-i-
maze OF hihs. mountains and canons.
some o. which are famous for their heat.
the island gradually narrowing as u
approaches the north until finally there
IS nothing but ridge pole or rock. mar
row and dangerous. along which man
can crawl and so attain the end. CAPS
Isabrillo beyond which is che local pill
lar Of Hercules-the eagles eyrie The
men started from Avalon. rowing up the
coast making their headquarters 81 a
little bay about two miles south Of the
cyrie. While there are no storms here In
summer there is a heavy sea. which
often piles IN. making che approach 20
the rock impossible; - the men waited
for calm day aud waited two weeks.
For days 81 would be absolutely calm In
the vicinity. hardly a ripple disturbing
the waters. but the rock OF the eagles
seemed so be guarded by some mysterious
ROVER. as the sea rose aud fell unceas-
iugly about g. swirlcd about and wac
sucked into unseen caves with ominous
sounds, as though disappearing ineO the
bowels OF the earth 10 be expelled with
such volume end force that a boat would
be crushed Again. che base OF the rock
was covered with a skirting - kelp. or
moss. and the waves would rise eight
OF ten feet, then as suddenly drop away.
ie..-@~g .s.s~s.i rssints nnnn which
boat would be hung until overwhelmed
BY the next wave
Au these points the men studied for
days. and nnally one morning they found
the sea 40 quiot that they determined
70 make the attempt As they approach
Cd on the glassAike water Two large
eagles rose with wild cries and flew away.
The men were equipped with guns ropes
gain the rock n possible and remain un-
"a they had secured the eggs. They rowed
a boat about the forhidding rock for ten
minutes. then. the SEA being level they
rushed ct q. The man IN che bow leapei
onto a ledge as they struck the other
dropped the oars and sprang 10 his as
sistance. and a. the word both lifted
the boat uBon che ledge. But at the
same moment che sea ssnk-hternliy
dropped away-leaving the boat hanging.
stern down. over the water: then a. Il
rose u tilted her; and when u again
sank dragged her from their hands. and
they found themselves on the face Of
the rock with notning 10 eat the pro.
visions being dumped overheard. and a
disabled boat. the bottom having been
crushed IN. They secured from she boat
a can OF water and rope. and, sill
determined 20 try aud secure the eagle
eggs, led the boat around 10 the lee side,
where she was allowed To float on 90
the length OF che rope They then turned
their attention TO the nest. relying on
some OF the passing yachts. which round
ed the island almost every day, 20 take
them on The rock was slippery from
long accumulation Of guano, and the men
presently saw than 10 reach the nest
was almost beyond human possibility.
They could climb the base. which was
irregular and broken. 20 within forty feet
OF the nest, but front here there was
nothing but the smallest breaks IN the
way Of foothDlds. one OF the adventures,
however decided to attempt a.. and IN
an ingenious manner. The long ROPE which
they had was doubled and a stone
attached 20 the doubled end and with a
swing this was hurled over the top 30
that Il fell down on the other side q
the rock and they had enclrcied q. ia
a word the egg hunter proposed 20
ascend Y as the natives - the South
Pacihc climb trees. lie began the climb
haFefOoted. not going up but gradually
clrcling the pillar and hitching the rope
upward. Holding 20 che crevices with his
toes he made z iod headway, and by the
time he had completed the circuit OF the
rock ne had gained ten or twelve feet,
ana the footing was growing better.
slowly he moved observing every eau
ton. now overhanging the SEA, which
but poorly concealed jutting rocks. now
over the rock itself. and on the second
turn. always hitching the rope up, he
had gained twenty-five feet lie was
reaching down 20 mise the rope when
he heard "a cry from his companion. and
then came n sharp whistling sound. a
rush. and something hlled the air In
front OF him, striking fierce blows and
throwing him from his feet. 40 that he
hung for a second BY the rope. faint and
hewildered by the blows. II was the
mother oagle. that now. convinced that
the object OF the visitors was 90 attack
the nest, had plunged down from great
height. striking the maa ~ssh wing ana
talons In a desperate EFFORT % throw him