Evening star., 1901-01-05
ON THE ISLE OF EAGLES
AN OUT-OF-THE-wAY SPOT ON THE
CALIFORNIA COAST.
An Attempt Made by Two Adventurous
Hunters After Eggs-Birds
That Can Fight.

was given name which signified the Isle
of Eagles. The birds in the old days were
Isidered sacred by the natives the tail
feathers being used as sacrifices or offerings
to their god; not taken from the bird,
which was never molested, but from the
nests. The birds were so tame that at the
time of the last Spanish expedition they
were known to dash down and seize fish
from the hands of women, who were no
match for them. These birds are still un-
disturbed, 1t being an unwritten law to pro-
tect the eagles; consequently, they have in
creased in numbers of late years. Their
points of vantage are the lofty and mac
cessibe pinnacles which rise from the
rocky shores; and their nests are usually
built on points beyond the reach of the
most skillful climber. On Santa Catalina
there is a pinnacle, perhaps 100 feet in
height. completely separated from the
shore the sea having eaten the intervening
| rcck away and about it the waters swirl
and rush furiously The point Is the most
exposed of any, facing the long seas which
come down from Point Conception, and In
storms they strike the eyrie of the eagles
and rise. a splendid mass of foam, to the
very summit. where the bunch of wood and
branches indicates the nest Of the great
eagle.
In Demand by Collectors.
Unfortunately, the eggs of eagles are in
demand by collectors and a few adventur
spirits make a business of trying to Sc
cure them, literally taking their lives In
their hands. The nest mentioned on the
north end of the island, from being unmo-
Tested, grew to a large size: a heap of kelp,
branches of trees and shrubs easily distin-
gGished from yachts and other craft. To
reach it was the ambition of a score of
men, and finally two determined to make
the attempt. The north island is uninhabit-
ed-a maze of hills, mountains and canons,
of which are famous for their heat,
the island gradually narrowing as 1t ap-
pr0aches the north until finally there is
nothing but a ridge pole or rock, narrow
and dangerous, along which man can
crawl and SO attain the end, Cape Babrillo,
hey ond which is the local pillar of Her
cuies-the eagles eyre. The men started
from Avalon, rowing up the coast, making
their headquarters in little bay about two
miles south of the eyrie. While there are
n, storms here in summer, there is heavy
sea, which often piles in, making the ap-
preach to the rock impossible; so the men
waited fer calm day, and waited two
weeks. For days it would be absolutely
calm in the vicinity, hardly a ripple dis
turbing the waters, but the rock OF the
eagles seemed to be guarded by some mys-
terious power, the sea rose ana fell un-
ceasingy about 1t, swirled about and was
sucked into unseen caves with omlnous
sounds, as though disappearing into the
bowels of the earth. to be expelled with
such volume and force that a boat would
De cTuSneu. ASdli liIS Di-e u tiiS h'SiN
was covered with skirting of kelp or
moss, and the waves would rise eight or
ten feet. then as suddenly drop away, ieaT-
ing Jagged points upon which boat would
be hung until overwhelmed by the next
wave.
Make Careful Preparations.
All thase points the men studied for days.
and finally one morning they found the sea
so quiet that they determined to make the
attempt. AS they approached on the glass
like water two large eagles rose with wild
cries an5 flew away. The men were equip
ped with guns, ropes and provisions. and
their plan was to gain the rock. II possible,
and remain until they had secured the
eggs. They rowed a boat about the forbid
ding rock for ten minutes then, the sea
being level. they rushed at it. The man
in the bow leaped onto ledge as they
struck; the other dropped the oars and
sprang to his assistance and at the word
both lifted the boat upon the ledge. But at
the same moment the sea sank-literally
dropped away-leaving the boat hanging.
stern down. over the water; then as it rose
it tilted her from their hands and they
found themselves on the face Of the rock
with nothing to eat, the provisions being
dumped overheard, and disabled boat,
the bottom having been crushed In. They
secured from the boat can of water and
a rope. ani. still determined to try and Sc
cure the eagle eggs, led the boat around to
the lee side. where she was allowed to float
off to the length Of the rope. They then
turned their attention to the nest relying
on some of the passing yachts, which
rounded the island almost every day. to
take them off. The rock was slippery from
long accumulation of guano and the men
presently saw that to reach the nest was
almost beyond human possibility. They
could climb the base, which was irregular
and broken to within forty feet of the
nest, but from here there was nothing but
the smallest breaks in the way of foot
holds. One of the adventurers, however,
decided to attempt it. and in an ingenious
manner. The long rope which they had
was doubled and stone attached to the
double end and with a swing this was
hurled over the top SO that it fell down on
the other side If the rock and they had
encircled it; In word. the egg hunter pro-
posed to ascend 1t as the natives of the
South Pacific climb trees. He began the
climb barefooted not going up, but grad
ually circling the pillar and hitching the
rope upward. Holding to the crevices with
his toes. he made good headway, and by
the time he had completed the circuit of
the rock he had gained ten or twelve feet
ana the footing was growing better.
Attacked by Il Mother Bird.
Slowly he moved, observing every caution;
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
fye feet. He was reaching down to raise
the rope when he heard a cry from his
companion, then came sharp whistling
sound rush. and something filled the air
in front of him, striking fierce blows and
throwing him from his feet so that he
hung for a second by the rope faint and be-
wildered by the blows. 1t was the mother
eagle, that now convinced that the object
of the visitors was to attack the nest had
plunged down from great height, striking
the man with wing and talons In a desper-
ate effort to throw him Off The bird
dropped away for a moment perhaps
alarmed by the cries Of the man below. who
also threw pieces of disntegrated rock at
1t, giving the climber moment to recover
and secure a new footing and take out a
long sailors sheath knife He was none too
soon. as again the eagle rushed at him.
turning when 1t reached him and striking
him with its claws, and at the same time
with its long wing. Having both hands
free the man warded off the wing blow
snatching at it In an endeavor to disable
it, the only result being several feathers.
while he almost lost his balance. The eagle
was now hit squarely on the breast by
piece of rock from the hand Of the other
man just as 1t was turning. which sent it
tumbling downward, but it caught itself
and flew away over the water
The man below now endeavored to induce
his companion to come down, but the latter
replied that he was going to reach the nest
II 1t took all summer, and holding the knife
In his teeth he moved on. the other hunter