The Tucson citizen., 1902-04-17
THF BIRD WON THE FIGHT.
Am Attempt to Rob an Eagles Ness
That Did Not Succeed.

Am Attempt to Rob an Eagles Ness
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 ea-
plc Ms fierce as those on the California
coast. These birds are seldom shot,
and consequently they have Increased
in numbers. but the eggs are III de-
mand by collectors, and few adven'
turous spirits make business OF Try
ing TO secure them, Mr.. G. II. Holder
tells In the New York Commercial Adj
yertiser OF an adventure wherein TWO
egg hunters had trying experience
md 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, splendid mass or
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.
rhcy rowed about the rock for ten MN
utes, then. the sea being level. rushed
at II. With all their care. however. the
boat was dashed on ledge. and they
/ found themselves prisoners on the rock
with nothing to eat-the proyiaions hay'
ug been lost overboard-an1 the bot
tom Of the boat crushed in.
They rescued a rope and can or wa
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 on.
! The rock. however. proved slippery
! from long accumulation of guano. and
/ the men found II impossible to climb
! aearer than forty feet from the nest.
/ One OF the adyenturers 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
i doubled end was hurled over the rock
! 80 that it feil on the other side. thus
| anclreling IT, Then the egg hunter be-
gan climbing barefooted, not going up.
| but gradually cIrcling the pillar ant
hltching the rope upward.
| In one circuit Of the rock he had gain
al ten or twelve feet. and the footing
vas growing better. The second
brought him twenty-five feet mp, He
was reaching down to raise the rope
when he heard cry from his compan-
,on. and then came sharp. wliistlng
sound. rush. and something filled the
air In front OF him. striking fierce
Blows and throwing him from his feet.
80 that he hung for n second by the
rope faint aud bewildered.
1t was the mother eagle that had
plunged down upon him from great
| leight She was driven of for a time
| oy the man below. who hit her squarely
III the breast with stone.
( The hunter, still undaunted. proceed
ID to climb. this time with his knife be-
ween his teeth. When he WAS within
! i've feet Of the top. the former expert
Ance was repeated.
/ n SuOEts Slidlp AlSht eilSueu. lie DiTU
fell away. but Immediately returned.
| I'he man struck at it with his knife,
| missed 1t and then. while one Of its
claws was fastened in bis 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 il
struck the water. began TO Try TO fly
and actually helped the man out Of the
kclp bed into which he had fallen
| Then by It's struggles il freed itscl.
and the hunter swan to the rock.
All thought of securing the eggs was
now abandoned. and The men spent a
miserable night In crcycc of the
rock. the sea rising all around them.
late on the following day rhry were
rescued by passing boat.