Don Eagle Part Two

When I last left you, I had been telling the story of one of the greatest Indian wrestlers to ever grace the confines of the squared circle, Don Eagle. He was the son of the legendary light heavyweight champion Joseph War Eagle. He had a reputation to live up to as far as science and ring knowledge. Just being the son of a great star had its burden of weight on it.

His lower back had been severely injured at the hands of the meanest man on the mats in the early 1950's, Hans Schmidt. Don was returned to his home in the Caughnawaga Indian Reservation in Quebec to heal and mend.

After nearly nine months in a complete body cast, Don started his own rehabilitation, much to the dismay of the doctors who had told him that his days of wrestling were over. Don had a great spiritual binding which help him to overcome the odds. Many friends in the reservation would come by each day and talk with him while he was in the full body cast.

He listened to the elders and chiefs of the tribe. They gave him great visions of help in restoring his body to its full level. It was during the 10th month that the cast was taken off and he began a very difficult task of self-healing... just as he was taught by his elders.

He was confined to a wheel chair and fought daily to regain the use of his limbs. Suddenly as if by some miracle, Don began to get use of his legs. He also got full use of his arms and began a more rigorous training regiment. Amazed as they were, the doctors could not stop Don Eagle from his quest.

After six months of training, Don was almost at full capacity and he knew that he had two things in mind. Number One was to return to the ring and find Hans Schmidt to repay him for the 18 months of torture he had put him through. Number Two was to repay the fans for not letting him sink into depression during his recovery time. Fans from four continents had sent him cards, flowers, money, and encouragement to not give up on himself.

Don had an amazing amount of new holds when he returned to the ring wars. He had envisioned them while confined in that horrible cast. From the time the bell rang to start the matches, Don would go forward at an alarming speed and grab opponents in so many holds and counter holds that he left them dazed and awestruck. He used a variety of moves to win his matches, including the Sleeper and the Indian Death Lock.

Occasionally, his father, War Eagle, would go with him on long journeys across the country to wrestle. Don would have his father accompany him to the ring but walked silently and with a reverence to him. Don would start the match and it would seem like he knew his opponents every move and counter attacked them with a vengeance. At the end of the match, Don would extend his hand in friendship to the fallen foes. Many knocked his hand to the side and became enraged with the loss to this great man.

Don was a big believer in kids and had aspirations of opening a camp near his home to help children with little or no funds to get into sports. One of those that did succeed was Billy Two Rivers, who started as a hockey player and eventually started his training for the mat wars.

Sadly, Don Eagle (Carl Don Bell) took his own life on March 18, 1966. He left a legacy of time that has yet to be rewritten by the best of columnists. He left a friendship and love for the business he was involved in.

We might never know why he left us in the way he did.

Only Don Eagle and the great spirits know why.

Rest in Peace, My Friend.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers