The San Francisco call., 1910-03-01
GOLDEN EAGLES ARE NOW
THOUGHT TO BE EXTINCT
Great Birds Have Vanished
From Old Haunts

When the pioneers entered the Black
hills 80 years ago golden. eagles; We're
as common as are English sparrows at
present, but with the death of old Sem
tinel that occurred a. few days ago it
is believed that the birds have become
extinct, says the Duluth News-Tribune.
Unlike eagles of other sections of the
country, the golden eagles were much
larger, more fierce, swifter of flight and
of different color. The feathers and
plumage of the back were almost yell
low. hence the name.
In the early days of the hills the
birds were so numerous that they were
considerable of a menace TO the settlers.
Frequently they would swoop down into
the ranch lots, pick UP a. lamb or a
small pig and fly away to-: some crag;
where they would devour the catch or
carry it TO their young. Many stories
are told of: golden eagles: having at :
tackled small children.
Old Sentinel had been+one of the
pioneer landmarks for more than a
quarter of a century and during all this
time he occupied the crest OF one OF
the highest of the peaks of the Ragged
Top range. There, upon a shelf of
rock, 1000 feet above the valley below
Old Sentinel and his mate made their
home until about five years ago, when
the latter died and the male bird be-
came a wanderer. After the death of
his mate Old Sentinel would make trips
to the southern and western hills, fre-
quently being absent for weeks. Many
times he was shot at; but he seemed to
bear a charmed life, for the bullet was
never cast that was to end his career.
Recently e. N. Norman of the United
States land office at Rapid City went to
Deadwood, S. D., determined, If possi-
BILE, to capture the golden eagle alive.
He realized that Old Sentinel was the
last one of his race in thevhills and that
in his capture he would secure a prize
well worth effort. Going out to the
Ragged Top range with small party
of friends, he was told that Old Senti-
nel that had guarded the peak for
years, had not been. seen for more than
a month.
Norman concluded that trip to the
lofty home of the eagle was worth the
trouble, and climbed to the top of the
mountain. There, covering space OF
more than 20 feet square, were the
bones of almost all kinds of small do
mestic animals lying about in heaps.
Not far away was the skull of an in
FAINT whitened and polished by the
storms of years. Bones that were taken
for those of the legs and arms were
also found, indicating that perhaps the
stories of Old Sentinel and his mate
carrying away children were not
wholly untrue.
In a crevice of the rocks, some
30 feet below, was the body of the
eagle. Ropes were put about one of
the men and he was. lowered and pulled
back, bringing with him the prize, not
a live, but dead eagle Making an
examination, Norman became con-
vinced that the eagle must have been
fully 100 years of age and that his
death was due to old age. The body
was taken down and brought to Dead
wood where the skin will be mounted
and probably become the property of
the. Historical Society of South Da-
kota.
The measurements of Old Sentinel
prove that he was one of the largest of
the birds of America.