The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-03-05
A BEAR STORY.
BIZ A LILO RNIAH.

sas.az
It has long been asserted and the pre-.
valent opinion seems TO be, that the in.
domitable and merciless seourge Of the
Sierra Neyadas--the grizzly bear--is in,
capable of ascending a tree let the fol
lowing incident show that the exploit
while often attainable, is merely discard
ed as q custom through the animal,
fear. I was descending, at the close o.
one afternoon, towards one of those dense.
ly wooded rayines which abound il the
mountainous regions of California, when
sight of one of these monsters, full
grown advancing directly in my path,
drove me to the usual refuge of the
nearest tree. There seemed at least
the distance of a quarter of mile, for
the apparently slow and awkward crea-
ture to accomplish; ye. the very few
moments occupied to attain the height
of twelve or fifteen feet, were not more
than sufficient to save me from his ra-
venous jaws. As I heard bis heavy
steps and his low and angry growl di-
rectly beneath me, and felt, or fancied
I felt the tall tr.e quiver with tho weight
of his huge paw, my rife fell and I ga
thered myself on the lowermost bough
in season to see the faithful weapon ma.
liciously abused. However, consider
ing myself in security, I half enjoyed
the rage and perplexity of the beast,
till after repeatedly endeavoring to dis
lodge me by shake of the tree, to my
horror he began to ascend. Retreating
upon the limb, / measured the height,
with the idea of making leap and run
for life. But sudden thought certain
ly preserved me for stationing myself
in a crotch above the bear, I patiently
waited till his hot breath was felt in my
face, and then poured quantity of pow
dered tobacco into his fiery eyes. His
grasp instantly relaxed, and with roar
of anguish he slid rapidly to the ground,
where was enacted scene of the most
extravagant frenzyi he tore the frozen
sod and capered ereI the area Of a mile
in circumference in the most confirmed
disorder returning at last desperately
resolute to the conflict. Ny hopes be-
gan to fail. At best Twas inexperien-
ced; my last means of defence had gone,
and not knowing to what extent my be-
seiger might venture, I half anticipated
most horrible death but the emergen-
cy was to come. Glancing about me
with scarce hope of relief, discovered
savage at no great distance, and at
tracted him to the spot by my outcries !;
but before he arrived I was driven out
among the branches, while my tormen-
tor took possession of the crotch. My
limb, as the sagacious animal proved by
testing it with an advanced foot, was far
too fragile for his enormous weight,
though perfectly adequate to my own; !;
but tie satisfaction to his cruelty was
not to be so easily forgone, and he i'm
mediately shook the limb so violently,
that it was broken at the trunk and fell,
while I seized bough above and hung
suspended in the air.
At this moment I heard the savage
call; but he was unintelligible while
suiting the instruction to my ewn wish,
I attempted to swing myselfupon sup
port, but tore the twig from its suspen-
sion, and fell upon the limb beneath.
My antagonist was now descending the
tree, aud rushed upon me the moment
he reached the ground, but the Indian.
.leaping TO the rescue, drove his lance
into the animals breast, andturned the
struggle upon himself Selling the oc-
casion to secure my rife, which fortu-
nately was charged, and not seriously
damaged, as the beast passed me in pur-
suit of the savage, placed the muzzle
at his head and fred. With redoubled
fury he again turned upon me; but with
we'll aimed blow, the lance was driven
to his heart, and he staggered aside, as
his heavy paw grazed my arm. He had
seized my weapon, however and also the
lance: but even by his own efforts the
latter was made his torture, while the
Indian almost cruelty blinded him, by
prieking his eyes with an arrow and he
was shortly after dispatched.-B Boston
Bes.