The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-09-06
WOMAN'S BATTLE
WITH BALD EAGLE
a Relative Of the 5oughners
Rescues her Baby from King
Bird after exciting Chase
and Struggle.

Mr4 Annie Gouldlng, a distant rela-
tive az the Boughner family In this
CITY. residing in California, had a
thrilling experience and proved her
self a real twentieth century heroine.
ON July 10Th about half past two
O'Clock Mrs. Gouldlng was seated in
the yard, and her I months old baby
occupied the cradle by her side. All
Of sudden the air seemed filled with
a sort OF whlrring sound which was
caused by the swift descent Of huge
bald eagle, which with unerring ac-
curacy swooped down and selling the
babe In its deadly talons slowly rose
and made straight for Victor noun
tain, something like nine miles distant.
Although nearly paralyzed with the
agonizing thought that her child was
forever lost, she soon rallied and with
the strength that seemed to come with
desperation, she mounted mule which
happened to be fastened near by and
at once gave chase to the monster bird
which was carrying away her child.
The weight OF the child, (some twenty
pounds) greatly retarded It's flight and
across the arid and treeleSs plain she
was able to keep 1t plainly in sight, as
1t slowly but surely wendell It's way
toward the nest high up on the rocky
crag Of the mountain, AS the base
was reached growth Of small scrubby
bushes caused the bird to rise higher
and higher until high up the dizzy
heights it slowly deposited its burden
upon a shelving rock near the nest.
Mrs. Goulding at once tried to reach
the high cliff but found IL impossible,
and returning to the mule she rode
around the mountain. still ascending
where IL was possible. At In she
came where ascent was possible, and
again she fastened the mule and began
the ascent, carrying with her stout
club, and also the long stake rope used
in tying around the neck Of stock
while grazing. She was successful in
finding place where she could ascend
to nearly where her child lay on the
ledge Just below her, She fastened
the end Of the rope as securely as she
could, and then descended hand over
ha d until in her great joy she saw her
child lying on the rock near the nest.
She at once secured it and was trying
to regain a little Of her exhausted
strength, when to her horror she saw
the huge bird dart from an adjoining
cliff and with beak. wings and talons
commence terrible attack ON her for
the possession OF the child. Shielding
it as best she could behind her body,
she welded her club with all the
strength she could command and by a
most fortunate blow she broke its
neck and the llfeleSS body tumbled to
the ground at the foot Of the dizzy
heights. Again she was completely
overcome and lay trying to regain her
strength to ascend the rocks To the
top. Hearing that peculiar whizzing
sound and looking ii that direction
who can imagine her feelings when she
SAW Tue LlldLG Vi LllG NGtiu blAA lllhhAhE
straight for her, again the attack was
renewed, more Hereby than ever, but
good luck again favored her, and she
succeeded in disabling this one also,
and it went tumbling over the rocks
TO Join its dead mate below. When
she regained sufficient strength to
make the ascent of the rope she found
it utterly impossible to make the as
cent OF the rope with the child In her
arms. She then tore her skirt into
strips and fastened these TO the end Of
the rope and decided to risk descend
ing in hopes Of finding some cliI from
which she could wind her way down
ward to the bottom. In this she was
successful. Exhausted, torn and bat
tered by the birds, and bruised by the
rocks, she once more reached the mule
audat once began her Journey home
ward over plain, wher. She arrived