The Turnbo Manuscripts
by Silas Claiborne Turnbo
1844-1925
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SEEING AN EAGLE KILL A FULL GROWN DEER
By S. C. Turnbo
In the early fifties a man by the name of Jeff Baize lived in the Buck Bottom. This land is situated in Keesee Township in Marion County, Ark., and is known now as the old Elias Keesee farm. Some distance up Big Buck Creek which flows Into White River at the lower end of the Buck Bottom is a pool of water in the channel of the creek called the Seven Elm Pond which took its name from seven elm trees which stood on the bank of the creek at this pool of water, which is known now as the John Stephens place. Mr. Baize said that on one occasion while he lived in the Buck Bottom he rode up Buck Creek to hunt for a milk cow that had been gone from home two days. "On arriving near the Seven Elm Pond, It said Mr. Baize, "I saw an eagle attack and kill a full grown deer. I had noticed the eagle which was a grey one before I observed the deer. The eagle was sailing a circle in a threatening way just above the tops of some trees which stood on the east side of the creek some 30 yards below the pool of water. Believing, that the big bird intended to pounce onto something I halted my horse and scanned the ground with my eyes beneath where the eagle was flying and saw a deer feeding under the bows of a black oak tree apparently ignorant of the near presence of the eagle. With the exception of the trees the creek bottom and on each side of it was open only tall grass and weeds covered the ground. When the deer had fed from under the tree the eagle suddenly swooped down with great power and struck the deer just back from the top of the head. The deer bounded forward at once and bleated, which resembled that of a calf when took on surprise. Then it reared up on its hind feet and fell backward on the eagle. After it had struggled a few moments it turned on its broad side. The deer in its struggles did not break the hold of the eagle’s talons, but the latter spread its wings and flopped them rapidly to balance itself. But the moment the deer fell to the ground the eagle raised up and seemed to sink its claws deeper into the deer’s neck. I had no gun with me, but when the deer turned on its side I felt great pity for the animal and urged my horse forward into a gallop to frighten the eagle away. Thinking I would save the deer’s life. As I approached the eagle released its hold and flew up into a tree nearby. But the deer was dead when I reached it. I was determined now that the ferocious bird should not have its victim and dismounting I loaded the deer onto my horse and carried it home. This appeared to be an insult to the eagle and it looked at me in an angry way as I rode off down the creek with the deer."
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