Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-01-24


PEELED to leap out and swim for it. We knew,
moreover, that such an event would be certain
death to one of us at least.
"I need hardly affirm, that my companion
used his paddle with all the energy of despair.
I assisted him as much as was in my power with
the butt-end of my gun, which was now empty.
On account of the hurry and darkness, had
not attempted to reload it.
"We had shot down stream for a hundred
yards or so, and wereabout congratulating our
selves on the prospect of an escape from the
bear, when a new object of dread presented
itself to our terrified imaginations. This OBJ
ject was the sound of falling water ; but not
as before, coming from some tributary stream
No. It was fall of the river upon which we
were floating, and only very short distance
below us! .-.-..
owe were in fact, within less than one
hundred yards 1T. Our excitement, in con-
sequence of being pursued by the bear, as we'll
as the fact that the slough of the cascade a.
bove still filled our ears, had prevented us from
perceiving this new danger until we had ap-
preached it. ....-.. -.
ga shout of terror and warning from my
companion seemed the echo of one had my
self uttered. Both of us understood the peril
Of our situation, and both, without speaking
another word, set about attempting to stop the
boat ... ...
"We padded with all our rstrength-he with
the oar, whilst used the fiat butt of my rifle.
We had succeeded in bringing her to sort of
equilibrium, and were in hopes of being able
to force her toward the bank, when all at once
we heard a heavy object strike against the
stern. At the same moment, the bow rose up
into the air, and number of burning pine
knots fell back into the bottom of the canoe.
They still continued to blaze and their light
now falling towards the stern, showed us fear
full object. The bear had seized hold of the
dug-out, and his fierce head and long curving
claws were visible over the edge Il?
"Although the little craft danced about
upon the water, and was likely to be turned
keel upward, the animal showed no intention
of relaxing its hold; but, on the contrary,
seemed every moment mounting higher in the
canoe.
"Our peril was now extreme. We knew it,
and the knowledge half paralyzed us.
"Both of us started up, and for some mo-
ments, halfsat, haif-crouched, uncertain how
to act Should we use the paddles, and get
the canoe ashore, it would only be to throw our
selves into the jaws of the bear. On the other
hand, we could not remain as We were, for in
few seconds we should be drifted over the
falls; and how high these were we knew not
We had never heard of them they might be
fifty feet-they might be hundred! High
enough, they were, no doubt, to precipitate US
into eternity.
The prospect was appalling, and our
thoughts ran rapidly. Quick action was requi-
red. I could think of no other than to lean
sternward, and strike at the bearwith my club
bed rifle, at the same time calling upon my
companion to paddle for the shore. We pre-
ferred, under all circumstances, risking the
chances of land encounter with our grizzly
antagonist.
81 had succeeded in keeping the bear out
of the canoe by several well-planted blows up
on the snout; and Dick was equally successful
in forcing the dug-out nearer to the bank, when
sharp crack reached my ears, followed by
terrified cry from my companion.
"I glanced suddenly round, to ascertain the
cause of these demonstrations. Dick held in
his hands short round stick, which rccog-
nized as the shaft of the paddle. The blade
had snapped off, and was floating away on the
surface
We were now helpless. The manege Of
the canoe was no longer possible. Over the
falls she must go!
owe thought of leaping out, but it was too
late. We were almost upon the edge, and the
black current that bore our craft swiftly along,
would have carried our bodies with like veloci-
ty. We could not make dozen strokes be-
fore we should be swept to the brink it was
too late.
"We both saw this; and each knew the
feelings of the other, for we felt alike. Neither
spoke; but, crouching down and holding the
gunwales of the canoe, we awaited the awful
moment.
"The bear seemed to have some apprehen-
sion as we'll as ourselves; for, instead of con-
tinuing his endeavors to climb into the canoe,
he contented himself with holding fast to the
stern, evidently under some alarm.
"The torcn still blazed, and the canoe was
catching fire; ; perhaps this it was that alarmed
the bear.
The last circumstance gave us at the moment
but little concern the greater danger eclpsed
the less. We had hardly noticed it, when we
felt we were going over!
"The canoe shot outward as if propelled by
some projectile force; then came loud crash,
as though we had dropped upon hard rock.
Water, and spray, and froth were dashed over
our bodies and the next moment, to our sur
prise as well as delight, we felt ourselves still
alive, and seated in the canoe, which was float
ing gently in still smooth water.
sIt was quite dark, for the torch had been
extinguished; but even in the darkness, we
could perceive the bear swimming and Aoun.
dering near the boat. T9. our great satisfac.
ton, we saw him heading for the shore, and
widening the distance between himself and us
with all the haste he could make. The unex.
pected precipitation over the falls had cooled