The Boy Who Wrestled an Eagle

Four young American eagles were captured early in the week near Central Ferry, on the Columbia River, by Johnny Lashbrook, the 11-year-old son of Edgar Lashbrook. Father and son, in company with J. J. Phelan, all of whom reside in Coeur d'Alene City, were on a prospecting tour with teams and camping outfit. Johnny is rather small of his age, but as full of courage as a lion. The eagle's nest was sighted early in the afternoon. It was in a craggy butte about thirty feet from the ground, on a projecting rock 300 feet high. The mother bird was unobserved by the party until the boy had almost completed his perilous ascent. Then the old bird suddenly came to life and with a piercing cry circled in the air and swept down upon him. Phelan, holding the horses who became restless at the mother bird's shrieks, ran for his rifle. The bird in the meantime struck viciously at the boy, who held his precarious footing and fought it off with his hat. Three times the bird swooped down on him. The last time a bullet from Mr. Phelan's rifle reached its target and the boy proceeded to the nest and brought down the birds safely. During the ride into town he held them alternately on his knees and in his hands. They have become quite used to their captors.