Butte record., 1854-03-04
An Adventure with a Bear,
sr rHR AurHo. OF 'rHr AMERICAN BAcKwoop.. y

attentively, for he was known as tie best
contour in the whole 'range')-I was
about fifteen years of age at the time,
and was then young, active fellow,
when five of us, belonging to Vincennes
on the Wabash, went down the river in
a canoe, crossed the Ohio, and soon found
ourselves in the then celebrated hunting
grounds of Kentucky. There was plen-
ty OF game, and the bears ran about like
the dogs at home. After a few DAYS
hunting on the Ohio then, went out one
morning-lt was in winter, in February,
and bitterly cold-at sharp trot through
the woods, and was not far from me a
hollow tree, with large opening at the
top. Hang it, I thought, the tree
looks just as if made for the winter quar-
ters for one of the black rascals.' Iwent
up, looked at it on all sides, and found
distinct tracks that bears had climbed up
and down; so I thought to myself, you'll
climb up too, and take smell at; if it
smells of bears, you'll fetch assistance,
We'll throw fire in, and if theirs nothing
in it we shan't want waste our time. |
climed up with the help of a young tree
which stood close by, and got my head
over the hole. 1t smelled very strong
of bears, but higher up there was anoth-
er opening in the trunk, so I climed up
to stick my nose into that as well.-
While doing so, trod incautiously on
the edge of the first opening in the trunk;
a piece Of rotten wood broke, I fell and
ratified away, as easy as bullet in rifle
barrel, right down into the hollow tree.
When 1 arrived down safely, my first
care was to find out what l had under
me, for l did not feel very comfortable
at the thought of sharing the narrow
space with bear; but I was soon calmed
in this respect, for soft rotten wood was
all stood upon, and into which I had
sunk up to my knees. The interior of
the tree convinced me, however, that it
either served as an abode for bear, Or
had done so very shortly before; the
rank smell, in the first place could not be
mistaken, and the trunk itself was in
wardly scratched and rubbed so smooth
and clean, that it felt almost as if it had
been planed.
When [ had examined everything
carefully, I thought of beating a retreat;
but who could describe my horror, when
| found that my descent had certainly
been very easy but the claws and strength
of bear were required to get out again.
| would not wish my worst enemy enc
my the feelings of that moment. A cold
perspiration broke out on my whole body,
and l covered down to reflect what 1
could do. Shouting would have been
nonsensical; there was no house within
circle of at least thirty miles except on
the other side Of the Ohio, and only the
merest chance could lead one of my COM
rades hither. Besides, we had agreed
the previous day that we would 90 far
ther down the river, and the others
might fancy I had preceded them, while
| was destined to perish here miserably.
The thought of starvation crossed my
mind like lightning; I sprang up, and
tried once again with the strength of des-
pair, to climb up the perpendicular hol-
low, but in vain found no projections,
and the trunk although narrow towards
the top, was at the bottom where 1 was,
too wide for me to lean my back against
one side and work my way up in that
fashion, I fell back in despair. Wild
thought of suicide crossed my brain, and
my real consolation was my knife, which
[ felt at my side; I knew at any rate 1
was saved from death of hunger.
While I was sitting here buried in
these reflections, and clutching my hands
together convulsively, I faneied heard
something moving and scratching on
the outside of the tree. 1 held my
breath and listened. 1t was on the tree,
and as it seemed somewhat higher than
where 1 was. tried to shout, but at
this moment the opening grew dark above
my head, and complete obscruity sur
rounded me but the thought forced itself
upon me, it is the bear, who is returning
to its bed, which. as you know, it often
leaves this season, in order to drink.
What to do now' Struggle with him
for my life-it was scarcely worth the
struggle; still plucked my knife from
the sheath, and waited for the bear, who
was coming down slowly and comforta-
bly,, (the tree was at least thirty feet
deep and who probably did not suspect
what company he would find below. But