Hartman Shoots Eagle

HARTMAN

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 5/15/2008 at 23:40:15

Jackson Sentinel, March 27, 1884.

Captured an Eagle.

About dusk Sunday evening, Mr. John Hartman, who resides near the old Singer place about 3 miles northwest of Maquoketa, espied a large bird in a tree near the premises, and supposing it to be an owl or a hawk fired away at the feathered monster. It undertook to fly, but a bullet wound brought it to the round with a whiz and a whir. When John and his companions rushed up to gather in their game they were surprised to see that it was a genuine, bald-headed eagle, and full of fight. It tackled the dog at once, and when one of the boys undertook to pick him up he fastened his great sharp talons on him with such a tight grip that it was difficult to get loose from the bird of prey. The boys brought the eagle to town on Monday where it attracted considerable attention. He weighed 14 lbs. and measured 6 feet 9 ¾ inches from tip to tip of wings. The gunshot wound is wholly in the left wing which is broken at the joint. It is a very fine specimen of the bald-eagle, having a white head and tail with a dark brown body.