The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-01
THE BIRD WON THE FIGHT.
Am Attempt TO Rob AN Eagles Nest
That Did Not Succeed.


Am Attempt to Rob am Eagles Nest
That Did Not Succeed.
Those who seek to rob birds nests
sometimes repent of their deed, espe-
cially II the bird happens to be an ca.
gle as fierce as those on the California
coast. These birds are seldom shot,
and consequently they have increased
In numbers but the eggs are In de-
mand by collectors, and few adven-
turous spirits make, 4 business of try
ing TO secure them. SIR. c. F. Holder
tells In the New York Commercial Ad-
vertiser OF an adventure wherein two
egg hunters had trying experience
and the eagles came of victorious.
The nest was on rocky pinnacle.
perhaps 100 feet in height. completely
separated from the shore. In storms
the waves rose. a 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 a boat would be
huAk bhtb OtCE u9 kAF btAL
wave.
One quiet day the men approached.
They rowed about the rock for ten min
utes. then. the sea being level, rushed
at II. With all their care, however, the
boat was dashed on a ledge, and they
found themselves prisoners on the rock
with nothing TO eat-the provisions hay.
Ing been lost -overboari--and the bot.
tom Of the boat crushed In.
They rescued rope and a can Of wa
ter. and. being stiii determined 10 try
for the eggs. they turned their attention
to the nest. aiiaying 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 II impossible to climb
nearer than forty feet from the nest.
One Of the adyenturers decided 10 at
tempt that last forty feet after the
fashion adopted by south Pacific na-
tiyes In climbing trees. A leng rope.
doubled. with a stone attached 20 the
doubled end. was hurled over the rock
20 that 1t fell on the other side. thus
encirclIng II. Then the egg hunter be-
gan climbing barefooted. not going up,
but gradually circlins the pillar and
hifching the rope upward.
In one circuit OF the rock be had gain
ed ten or twelve feet, and the footing
vas growing better The second
brought him twenty-five feet up. He
was reaching down 10 raise the rope
when he heard cry from his compan-
Ion. and then came n sharp. whtstllng
sound. q rush. and something fllled the
air In front Of him, striking fierce
blows and throwing him from his feet,
10 that be hung for second 10y the
rope. faint and bewildered.
II was the mother eagle that had
plunged down upon him from a great
height. She was driven of for a time
by the man below. who hit her squarely
on the breast with stone.
The hunter. stIll undaunted. proceed.
ed to climb. this time with his knife be-
tween his teeth. When he was within
I've feet Of the top, the former expert
ence was repeated.
A short. sharp fight ensued. The bird
fell away. but Immediately returned.
The man struck at 1t with his knife
missed II and then. while one OF Its
claws was fastened IN lSis 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
caught in his clothing saved the hunt
er's life. for the eagle, as soon as II
struck the water. began TO try 10 hy
and actually helped the man out OF the
kcip bed into which he had fallen.
Then by Its struggles 1t freed itself.
and the hunter swan 10 the rock.
All thought OF securing the eggs was
now abandoned. and the men spent n
miserable night In crevice of tie
rock. the sea rising all around them.
Late on the following day they were
rescued by passing boat.
--------------