[ Sporting Magazine ]


The Sporting Magazine (1792 - 1870) is considered the first general sporting magazine, though in its later decades it gave considerable emphasis to fox hunting. But it published all manner of sporting-related material, from news stories to poetry to calendars of upcoming sporting events. The subtitle of this magazine was "Monthly Calendar of the Transactions of the Turf, the Chace, and every other Diversion interesting to the Man of Pleasure, Enterprize and Spirit." [more at Wikipedia]


The December, 1816, issue includes a brief item, "The Eagle and Newfoundland Dog," about a Newfoundland's very painful encounter with an eagle:

The following occurrence took place not long since on the coast of America, not far from the Gulph of St. Lawrence.
A Gripe or Sea Eagle (by some also called the Fishing Eagle) struck itself against a projecting rock with such impetuosity, when dashing at a wild mallard, that it died as it were on the spot. A Newfoundland dog sent immediately over a small intervening river to fetch it, apparently seized the bird (the eagle) and held it a long time, howling however extremely. The spectators called to the dog, thinking the howling proceeded from his inability to move the body, and comply with his master's commands. Not so; the eagle in its last agonies had with its claw seized the dog by his head, and died holding him in this position. Assistance being procured, the dog was released, when it was found tbe talons of the bird had nearly met through tbe socket of one eye and the cartilage of the nose. Before the dog was released, the mallard floated down tbe river lifeless. — (We are indebted to a valued correspondent for the anecdote above related.) (109)



The story was accompanied by the following image:

newf image


The image is credited "From a Sketch by Cooper."


For another story of a Newf getting into it with an eagle, see this account here at The Cultured Newf.




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.sporting magazine - december 1816