The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-12-21
Men IS. Eagles
4" Asvsntpr' on the California Coast

Those who seek to rob birds nests
sometimes repent Of their deed. especially
II the bird happens TO be an eagle as
fierce as those on the California coast.
These birds are seldom shot. and c0nse-
quently they have increased In numbers;
but the eggs are IN demand By collectors.
and a few adventurous spirits make "A
business Of trying to secure them. G. F.
Holder tells in the New York Commercial
Advertiser OF an adventure wherein two
egg hunters had a trying experience and
the eagles came on victorious.
The nest was on a rocky pinnacle. per-
haps one hundred feet IN height COM
pletely separated from the shore. In
storms the waves rose, a splendid mass OF
foam 10 the very summit. The base was
covered with kelp and the waves would
rise eight or ten feet, then as suddenly
drop away. leaving jagged points upon
which a boat would be hung until over
whelmed by the next wave.
One quiet day the men approached
They rowed about the rock for ten min
utes. then. the sea being level rushed at
it. With an their care, however. the boat
was dashed on a ledge, and they found
themselves prisoners on the rock with
nothing to eat-the provisions having
been lost overboard-and the bottom Of
the boat crushed IN.
They rescued a rope and a can Of
water, and being still determined TO try
for the eggs. they turned their attention
to the nest allaying their uneasiness by
the thought that some passing yacht
would take them on.
The rock, however proved slippery
from long accumulation OF guano. and
the men found IL impossible 10 climb
nearer than forty feet from the nest
Of faa .Hi a trH 40
tempt that last forty feet after the fash
ion adopted by South Pacific natives in
climbing trees. A long rope. doubled. with
a stone attached 20 the doubled end was
hurled over the rock so that it fell on the
other side. thus encrclng IT, Then the
egg hunter began climbing barefooted.
not going up, but gradually circling the
pillar and hitching the rope upward
la one circuit Of the rock he had
gained ten or twelve feet. and the foot
ing was growing better. The second
brought him twenty-five feet up. Tie was
reaching down 70 raise the rope when he
heard a cry from hts companion. and then
came a sharp whistling sound, a rush. and
something filed the air III front OF him.
striking fierce blows and throwing him
from his feet SO that ne hung for a Sec
ond by the rope. faint and bewiidered.
II was the mother eagle that had
plunged down upon him from "a great
height. She was driven on for a time BY
the man below. who hit her squarely on
the breast with q STONE.
The hunter. stnl undaunted proceeded
20 climb this time with his knife between
his teeth. When he was within five feet
of the top the former experience was re-
pcated
A short sharp deht ensued. The bird
fell away. but Immediately returned. Tho
man struck al 81 with his knife. missed
f. and then while one of its claws was
fastened In his clothing, lost his balance
and fell against tnc rope. The rope
broke and the bird and man went pluns-
Ing into the sea.
Tho fact that the birds talon had
caught IN his clothing saved the hunters
llfe for the eagle, as soon as q struck
the water. began 10 try TO fy. and ac-
tuaily helped the man out Of the keip bed
into which he had fallen. Then hy It's
struggles il freed ITSELF and the hunter
swan % the rock.
AN thought Of securing the eggs was
now abandoned Tho boat proved % be
damaged beyond repair and the men
spent a miserable night IN crew OF
the rocb, the sea rising aN around ems
Late on the following day they Wer. es-
cued by "a passing boat.