On
22 April 1910, an unnamed but 'well known' Staffordshire artist was
sketching some ruins near Hanley on this Friday afternoon, when he
was attacked by a large turkey and endured a running battle with the
bird that lasted a quarter of an hour. The turkey approached the artist
perhaps more out of curiosity at first, but when he man tried to
simply shoo the bird away it attacked him. Using his sketch
block the artist aimed a blow at the bird's head, but missed and
after using his stool and artist's palette with no greater success,
he sought refuge behind a tree. The turkey pursued him and the man
was forced to try and fight the bird off by kicking at it, shouting
for help as he did so. Eventually a party of golfers and a farmhand
heard his cries and came to the rescue, driving the turkey off.
Though badly shaken and exhausted by the encounter, the artist was
not severely injured.
Reference: Staffordshire
Sentinel,
26 April 1910.
