Queer Compact of Osprey and Eagle

1916

WHY FISH HAWK FEEDS KING OF THE AIR.

Bird of Freedom Watches Fisher's Nest While It Dives for Prey for Both.

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania. — Everybody who summers on the Jersey coast has seen the fish hawk at work, tho of late years the number of such birds seems to be decreasing.

The negroes down in Charles County, Maryland, in that faraway region of Rock Point, on the lower Potomac where the river broadens out like a sea and where the fish hawk is common, have a story about it and the eagle which is interesting. While the fish hawk, or osprey, dives into the water for its food, which consists of fish and eels, the eagle is a "landlubber" and would starve is he had to undertake a livelihood by braving the watery depths.

The story that has its place in the folklore of the "Black Belt" of Maryland is that one day the eagle was very hungry and meeting the fish hawk as he was flying home with a fine fat fish in his claws, said:

"Mr. Fish Hawk, you and I might as well be friends and join together and work for our mutual advantage."

"I am willing," said the fish hawk, soaring along with the eagle by his side, but keeping a tighter grip on the fish.

Fish Hawk Feeds Eagle.

"As you agree with me, I'll tell you what we can do," said the eagle. "If you will catch all the fish you can and give me half of what you get, I'll keep watch in the old pine tree next to your nest and protect your wife and children from the sparrow hawks and your other enemies while you are at work fishing."

"All right," said the fish hawk, "I will do it."

From that day on, the story goes, the fish hawk has fed the eagle. He does this in an odd and interesting manner. His eyes are very keen and he can see to a considerable depth in the water, and as he skims along over the surface of the deep he picks out the fat fish he wants. Quick as lightning he plunges down, extends his claws, and in the next instant rises with the wriggling prey in his talons. After taking a firmer hold on his victim he ascends by a spiral flight into the heavens. The eagle has been watching from a tall tree or crag, and, as the fish hawk rises, the eagle also darts into the sky above him. This is notice for all the fish hawk's enemies among the feathered tribe to retreat.

"Throw and Catch" in Air.

Just as the fish hawk gets to a point on a plane that is level with that of the eagle, he relaxes his grip on the fish and it begins to fall. It is then the eagle's time for quick action. Like a shot from a rapid-fire gun he dives and in a second or two has the fish in his claws.

The aerial "throw and catch" game between the two great birds goes on continually over the broad waters of the Potomac, much to the edification of the onlookers. Of course there must be times when the eagle fails to catch the fish as he swoops down thru the air after it, but it cannot be proved by any one who has witnessed this particular aerial feat on the part of the "bird of freedom." Nobody seems to have ever seen the eagle miss and nobody seems to have ever known the fish hawk to fail to catch a fish when he dived for it.

As the fish hawk rises in the air oftentimes, especially on a sunny day, the sheen of the fish can be seen like a piece of silver in his claws, and sometimes the "silver" can he seen wriggling, impressing one strangely as his eyes witness this tragedy in the air in which the victim can have no hope of rescue.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 7.

Hogwallow News and The End of World War I

Denton, Texas, 1918
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This is a short column of folksy musing called "Hogwallow News" from the Denton Record-Chronicle, by Dunk Botts:

HOGWALLOW NEWS

Dunk Botts

It is about time to put up the stove at the post office and the Postmaster has discovered that one joint of the pipe and two of the stove legs are missing. He says when you have to make a requisition on the government for these things you can never tell when you will get them: that winter may be over before the stove can be put up.

Those who have known Atlas Peck all those years say he looks just the same, whiskers and all, as he did when he came to Hogwallow forty odd years ago, except that he seems just a little shorter from wearing off at the bottom.

Luke Mathewsla is another one of our old and highly esteemed citizens who has been a disappointment to the undertakers for many years. He expects to spend another delightful winter around the stove at the post office.

There is some talk of the Old Miser leaving Hogwallow. It is thought his leaving is on account of his becoming too well known here.

--Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, November 11, 1918, Morning Extra, page 2.

Comment: November 11, 1918 was Armistice Day, with World War I over. This paper of Denton, Texas went with a Monday morning EXTRA, declaring across four columns, "WAR IS OVER, Armistice Signed at Midnight," and so on. Everyone's heard about the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour. The lede of the story marks the time: "WASHINGTON, Nov. 11. -- 2:50 o'clock a.m. -- The world war will end this morning at 6 o'clock Washington time or 11 o'clock Paris time." So there it is.

Then there was an afternoon paper, which was obviously their regular time for publication. Of course the end of the world war again leads the headlines. Page 2 features photos of Denton County boys who made victory possible. Page 3 is a great full page ad saying, "THANK GOD WAR IS OVER AND THE SLAUGHTERING OF OUR BOYS WILL CEASE FOR EVERMORE." It goes on in that spirit. It calls for contributions to organizations that will help the returning veterans, the ad sponsored by a list of local businesses.

Now, let's look at Dunk Botts' HOGWALLOW NEWS column for the day, to get the last word:

Tobe Moseley says he imagines Germany and her allies feel like a fellow does when he has made a bad horse trade.

--Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, Texas, November 11, 1918, afternoon issue, page 4.

The other news continues on the next page with a story on the Kaiser: "Kaiser Sacrificed Throne In Dream for World Dominion; Blame for War Placed Irrevocably Upon Ambitions of William," (page 5), interesting looking.

P.S. One other Dunk Botts note, on a more pleasant topic, fishing:

Fletcher Henstop says the fishing season is about to come to a close and that he has had the poorest luck and the mosquitoes have been the worst in his career.