Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-02
GOLD ABE" AND OTHER EAGLES.
Military Career Of the Muscat Of 9th
Wisconsin Volunteers.

One Of the interesting features In the
review of the G. A. r. Wednesday last
was the eagle carried in the parade by
Of this eagle was in commemoration OF
"old Abe" carried by Company c, sth
Wisconsin Volunteers. The bird was
present in many of the battles fought
during the civil war and escaped injury
with the exception Of having been wound
ed in one of his wings. Having survived
the war he died at Eau Claire. Wis. 1t
seems that he had been kept in badly
ventilated room and contracted an af-
lection Of the throat, disease to which
eagles are subject. 1t was then stuffed
and mounted with outstretched wings and
placed in the museum Of the capitol and
when that building took fire all that was
left Of this famous bird was entirely de-
stroyed. 1t has been claimed that odd
Abe" was a misnomer. as 1t was not that
kind of a bird. 1t having belonged to the
sex of suffragettes. While on the sub
ject of eagles. Audubon quotes the fol-
lowing from Benjamin Franklin's letters:
For my part, says he. in one of his let
tiers. I wish the bald eagle had not been
chosen as the representative OF our coun-
try. He Is bird of bad moral charac-
ter" He is. therefore, by no means
a proper emblem for the brave and honest
Cincinnati of America" The large bronze
eagle surmounting the staff on the Mills
building was modelled after a description
of ''Old Abe" which was a very large
specimen of its species. measuring seven
feet from tip to tip of his wings.
The bronze eagle, being on a larger
scale. measures nine feet from tip to
tip of it's wings. 1t is very probable
that the Wisconsin bird was of the fe-
male persuasion, as most authorities
state that the female bird is consider
ably larger than the male. When "Old
Abe" was carried into action on a
perch, being unfettered with manacle,
it would sometimes take flight, and,
like a biplane. would soar away out of
sight and be gone for some time; it
would then return to its bearer and as
sumo it's original position in the regi-
ment, and it finally became necessary
to secure him with cords to his perch.
One popularity of the eagle Is that it
sieze on the surface of the water an
object almost as heavy as itself. 1t is
also capable of turning upside down
while in flight and Selling an object
from another bird. 1t is said that the
eagle sometimes attains the age of
forty years. The eagle is distributed
the world; at one time they
were quite numerous about the city of
D. c. There are several
specimens preserved in the Smith
SOHidh lHstltulIOH tOdt were ODldln6Q IN
the Washington market This is not
the only country of which the eagle is
For instance, the double
headed eagle of Austria. One of these
heads looks toward Italy, the other to-
ward Russia: in fact, the heads are
grilled eagle of Russia with a double
head. On this continent our little sis
ter republic that was. Mexico, has an
eagle for it's insignia. and the bird
seems to be having quite struggle be-
tween the cactus plants and a serpent
which it holds in it's beak. Note the
eagles Of ancient Rome; likewise the
eagles of France. The most abnormal
eagle is that of Saint Gaudens on our
twenty dollar gold piece. The most
on the silver dollar of 1886. designed
by Gobrecht.
This eagle is also on the penny of
1856. incidentally. this coin is now
valued at IS: At one time the lamps
on the so-called Avenue of the Presi-
dents were each surmounted by a
spread agile. They have Disappeared:
probably they were driven off by the
naughty little English sparrows. Their.
is cute little eagle in the pediment
about the size of Bryan's dove of
peace" 1t will be observed that
is pointing in the direc-
ton of this bird. The spread eagle
adorning the pedestal of the Won Steu-
ben statue has the appearance Of hav-
ing passed under a steam roller. There
are many fables and stories about the
king of birds. but time and space will
not permit of further narration. 1t
was a country rube who stopped the
wagon of the Eagle bakery to inquire
the price of baked eagles "Other
birds fight in focks. but the eagle
lights his battles alone" Rather sig
nificant! The passports issued by our
bear a seal on which is an
eagle. In one claw he has thirteen
arrows, in the other an olive branch
thirteen olives. All Of our
coins are impressed with the eagle
There is nothing new under the sun
Two thousand years ago the Romans
ssued coin on which an eagle appears.
FRANKLIN STEELE