New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-24
NUMBER 100.
CRESCENT
THE NEW ORLEANS DAILY CRESCENT.
An Adventure with Grizzly /;
or, MY PROSPECTING TOUR.

An Adventure with a Grizzly;
OR, MY PROSPECTING Toua.
In the summer Of 1850 was working, with
two partners, q claim on the North Fork Of the
American River. in California. Our lead. which
had been pretty good one. was running out.
and we had for some time been discussing the
propriety Of leaving it and going prospect
ing. This movement l had opposed for some
time, thinking that, as long as we could do
reaionably well where we were, it would be bad
policy to leave our claim and roam over the
country in search Of better diggings. One even
ing, however, when the results of our united
days labor were declared to be five dollars,
came to the conclusion that perhaps we could
not do better than make a little trip in the
neighborhood for the purpose of prospecting
So, after Q little discussion, las, of course, it
would not do for me to come round too sudden
ly,) it was decided that we should try the ex-
pertinent the next morning
The morning dawned, and after slowing away
our surplus possessions in the tent, we took our
picks and pans, with our blankets and several
days provisions, and, separating, sailed in diff
ferent directions. 1t was understood that we
should return in three or four days to the tent
and report progress. After travelling several
hours, ! sat down to rest during the heat of the
day, intending to resume my journey in the
afternoon. Stretched on my back under an
oak its cool shade and the stiffness of the scene
around me soon calmed me to sleep. When
awoke it was late in the afternoon, and jumped
up, somewhat alarmed, as had intended max
ing camp some twenty miles off my stopping
place for that night. Readjusting my blankets
on my back, / was about resuming my journey,
when my attention was arrested BY some singn-
lar looking foot prints on the trail. Bending
over, | examined them closely, and came to the
conclusion that they were those of grizzly
bear. As may be imagined, this discovery was
any thing but pleasant one. had never seen
grizzly, and was not particularly desirous Of
making the acquaintance Of one, even armed
but now, with nothing but pick, the thought
was any thing but enlivening. Ihad frequently
ridiculed such of my friends as were in the
habit of Sc Juggling round rifles, Colts revoli
vers, etc., and laughed at the idea of encum ber-
ing ourselves with such useless baggage But,
at the discovery of these tracks, my sentiment
underwent an entire change. A whole armory
would not have been an unwelcome companion
to me then. On examining the tracks, found
that they led in the same direction in which !
was going, and that, consequently, / stood d
good chance of oyertaking my four-footed friend
if hurried land if loitered would be obliged
to spend the night alone in the mountains
Moving along slowly, calculating the chances
observe that / was descending into httle
ravine, through which small stream ran, tin
| stood on the edge Of the creek. / had worked
long enough in the diggings to know some of the
indications of the existence Of the precious
metal, and as soon as my attention was directed
to the stream, made up my mind that the dirt
was worth ''panning out,'' by way of trial, q;
once. All thought of the bear was gone. Gold
was more potent than grizzly for the nonce. and
hastily unslnging my blankets, I got out my
pick and pan from my luggage and went tt
work. My success astonished me- Two ounce,
from the first pan, and one from the second
Visions of immediate opulence swan before my
eyes. Shall | own it 7 For a moment-only
one-I hesitated whether should go back t
my partners, or retain the secret for my ew1
benefit. ss4.I 81
By the time l had recovered my senses sufh
GENTLY to leave the bright visions Of the future
and calmly consider my present condition, tht
sun was sinking behind the hills OF course
had no intention of going any further tha
night, as, by leaving the location in the dark,
might fail to find it again; and was in n,
humor to run any such risk. should hav,
mentioned before that was not travelling o.
any trail, but over the mountains, with M
guide but my compass and the sun. On feelin,
in my pocket for my matches to light fire,
found that had neglected to bring them. Nut
tering slight anathema on my folly in no
| carrying firearms, | mtinched a piece of hard
bead for my supper, and laid down in m,
| blankets for the night. | lay awake some tim
looking up into the heavens as the blue yaul
grew darker and darker, and the stars came ou
one by one / remember thinking, Just as
went to sleep, that it was the darkest night
had ever seen, and dreamt that 1 made seFera
millions in the claim / had been prospecting, th
whole of which | devoted to lighting the mine
with gas.
1 1t must have been midnight when l awokt
| My throat was dry and parched, and got u
/ to quench my thirst at the stream Bendin
over, drank freely, and bathed my head i
cold water | heard q rustling in the bushe
behind me, and turned to see what it was
Maria Sdnfissima q huge black animal wa
standing on my blankets, devouring my proyis
/ ions! / once had doubts in regard to the poss
bility of the human hair assuming under sth
influence of terror, the erect position asserte
4 by the worthy ghost of Mr.. Hamlet's father
but they exist no longer. 1t seemed to me as
n whole forest stood upon my head Now wins
was to do The slightest movement woul
attract the beasts notice, and the idea of fun
nishing him with petit souper at my expens
was not at all to my liking. I stood in til
bushes, looking at the animal half an houl
when, feeling somewhat fatigued, | thought
tention. In the performance of this maneuye
q few briars and sharp sticks quite plainly not
fed me that my shirt was my only garment;
fact which the chilly night air would have mao
apparent but for my fright, which engrossed a
1 my attention. By this time Mr. Bruin ha
composed himself to slumber in my blankets
and l could hear his deep and regular breath
ing distinctly. The night was SO dark that
could hardly see him, but came to the conclu
sion that he was not so large as some of whom
enough, however, in my estimation, to cut 0
your humble servant in the flower of his you'll
Gold is powerful, but would have given a
quietly sleeping in some house or tent With
the borders of civilization at that time
In about an hour-it seemed long week
me--my visitor got up and walked down to Il
water, where l heard him drinking, while
indulged in some pious wishes for his strang,
lation was then rejoiced to hear him plung
into the Water and force his way through IL
bushes on the other side Shiyering, / crawle
into my blankets again and tried to compo
myself to sleep, No sooner had the drowsy &C
youchsafed me the slightest wink of slumbe
when splash went something into the watt
again, and the next moment the black form
my tormentor emerged from the bushes.
thought my hour had come, Home, wife an
children, all fitted before my eyes. No kin
friend to break to my relatives the tidings
my antimely fate! No comforting assurance
of Christian burial! But here, in the wildel
ness, my form must lie, the prey of the vii
beast; and as my bones grew white with e,
posure and erumbled into dust, my friends,