The Tucson citizen., 1902-02-07
HOSTETTER'S
STOMACH BITTERS
THE BIRD WON THE FIGHT.
An Attempt to Rob an Eagles Nest
That Did Not Succeed.

An Attempt to Rob an Eagles Nest
That Did Not Succeed.
Those who seek to rob birds nests
sometimes repent OF their deed, espe-
cially If the bird happens to be an ca
gle as fierce as those on the California
coast These birds arc seldom shot.
and consequently they have increased
in numbers. but the eggs are In de
mand by collectors, and a few adven.
turous spirits make 4 business OF try
ing to secure them. Cir. c. +. Holder
tells in the New York Commercial Ad-
vcrtiscr of an adventure wherein two
egg hunters had trying experience
and the eagles came Off victorious.
The nest was on rocky pinnacle.
perhaps 100 feet in height. completely
separated from the shore. In storms
the waves rose, II splendid mass of
foam, to 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 n boat would be
hung until overwhelmed 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
ut it. With all their care, however the
boat was dashed on n ledge. and they
found themselves prisoners on the rock
with nothing to eat-the provisions hay-
Ing been lost overboard-and tie bot.
tom Of the boat crushed In.
They rescued rope and can Of VA
ter. 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 of
The rock. however, proved slippery
from long accumulation of guano, and
the men found 1t impossible to climb
nearer than forty feet from the nest
One of the adventurers decided to at
tempt that last forty feet after the
fashion adopted by south Pacific ma
tives in climbing trees. A long rope,
doubled, with stone attached TO the
doubled end. was hurled over the rock
80 that 1t fen on the other side, thus
encircling It. Then the egg hunter be-
gau climbing barefooted, not going up,
but gradually circling the pillar and
aitching the rope upward
In one circuit OF the rock he had gain
ID ten or twelve feet. and the footing
was growing better. The second
brought him twenty five feet up. He
was reaching down to raise the rope
*hen he heard a cry from his compan-
on. and then came a sharp. whistIing
sound. rush, and something filled the
air In front of him. striking fierce
blows and throwing him from his feet.
20 that lie hung fer second by the
ope. faint and bewldered
II was the mother eagle that had
plunged down upon him from a great
leigLt. She was driven of for a time
" the man below. who Lit her squarely
III the breast with stone.
The hunter, still undaunted, proceed
q TO climb, this time with his knife be-
ween his teeth. When re was within
i've feet Of the top, the former expert.
once was repeated.
a short, sharp fight ensued. The bird
fell away, hut Immediately returned. |
The man struck at 1t with his knife, |
missed 1t and then, while one of its
claws was fastened in his clothing. lost
his balance and fell against the rope. /
The rope broke, and bird and man
went plunging into the sea.
The fact that the birds talon had
taught in his clothing saved the hunt
'r's life. for the eagle, as soon as it
struck the water, began to try to fly
md actually helped the man out OF the
Iclp bed into which he had fallen.
Then by its struggles 1t freed itself,
ind the hunter swan to the rock.
All thought of securing the eggs was
low abandoned, and the men spent
miserable night In n crevice of the
ock, the sea rising all around them.
ate on the following day they were
escued by Il passing boat.