Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-02-14


Countess had appeared, and that the honor
of comforting name on the little pledge of
affection" had been given to me, as it is of
the female persuasion" am saved from the
egotism of naming it after myself, and not till
after due consultation with some of my lady
friends shall make a selection of name for
this scion of American democracy engrafted
on the noble branch Of English aristocracy
From the Mountain Democrat
Fight with Grizzly.
During the summer of '52, I was engaged
in packing provisions to the miners on the
North Yuba. l had employed for the pur-
pose of assiting me in managing my pack an
imals, colored man, fine, stout fellow,
and although black as the ace of spades, yet
he possessed many redeeming qualities, both
mentally and bodily, which made him quite
an agreeable and useful companion, while en-
gagged in my then arduous and somewhat dan
gerous occupation. In disposition, Tom was
good-natured, frank and jovial, and had an
excellent voice for singing; and many are the
wild melodies, after camping for the night
and before retiring to rest" In point of
courage, too, he was brave and fearless
Many incidents transpired during our sojourn
together which served to confirm this opinion
of his character in my mind, one of which,
on recalling it to my recollection, causes a
shuddering sensation that naturally follows
the sudden intimation of our being at the
moment in immediate danger, to come over
me.
We had Just finished the ascent Of high
rugged mountain, by the zig-zag trail that
wound like spiral stairs among the high mas
ses of granite that occasionally projected
from the now heated surface of the mountain
upon which the sun, during the middle of the
day, shone with burning splendor," aud af
ter stopping to rest moment, had entered
upon level space of ground over which the
trail passed, and were quietly jogging along
as usual, when Tom being in the rear heard
a rustling in the thick chapparel on his right
Turning to discover if possible its cause, he
ascertained it to originate from the efforts Of
a large grizzly in making its way through the
thick underground; and as soon asthe sable
visage of Tom met his view he made up his
mind to feast at his expense, and at once
made for him.
Tom had often heard that this animal or
his species at least, was possessed of natur-
al prediction for "culled pussons," but he
never could be made to believe it, nor that
they were at all choice as to the hue of the
individual upon whom their thoughts were
cast. This adventure, however, served to
change his opinion upon this point.
All the weapon in his possession, when at
tackled, was small hand axe used in cutting
the projecting limbs that would occasionally
interfere with the packs upon the animals
nor would he ever carry any other, notwith-
standing my frequent advice to the contrary
and perhaps in this instance it was well, for
had he stopped to discharge q shot, which he
would have done no doubt had he been arm
ed, he would scarcely have had time to save
himself by fight, which he endeavored to do
on the first appearance of his bearship's
physlognomy from the chapparel One glance
was sufficient for Tom to satisfy himself that
every effort in his power to distance his pur-
surer would be unavailing, as the bear was
already close at his heels, and would in the
next moment be upon him. Fortunately for
Tom, there was standing at no great distance
from the trail small pine, into the lower
branches of which could he but throw him
self, he calculated to delay if not get rid en-
tirey of nearer approach of his trouble
some assailant. But the bear had no notion
of thus allowing the poor fellow to escapes;
for as Tom, on arriving at the foot of the
pine, threw himself behind its trunk the bear
struck at him with his powerful forearm, but
owing to the distance between the pursurer
and the pursued, did no other damage than
TO deprive the latter of his faded blue cotton
oyeralls. As Tom swung himself behind the
tree, the bear not being able 10 make so short
turn, on account of his unwieldly form, a
considerable distance was in moment placed
between them; although the separation last
ed but moment, yet it was of sufficient du-
ration to allow Tom to draw his axe from his
belt to which it hung at his side, and prepare
himself for the next onset.
| The bear now renewed the contest with
fearful savageness and energy AS long as
the tree remained between them, there was
hope. This Tom kept in view, and as the
circlng race commenced had the life of the
poor fellow been the ferfeit, could uot have
refrained from smiling at the artistic figure
he cut while passing in momentary review be-
fore me, with no clothing on but red wool
len shirt, lit sticking out behind at an angle
of 80 deg. from his body serving as an ex-
cellent fan for the excited countenance of his
pursuer which, with month open wide, still per-
sisted in making closer acquaintance with
the negro who, owing to his superior turning
faculties, was soon enabled to come up with
/ the bear in the rear. In moment | saw