Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-25
CITY & NEWS ITEMS
sATURDAY MORNING, DEC. 25, Is5s.

mttee had sent terror to hearts of desperadoes
there were some rough scenes enacted among the
Sierra Nevadas, and many an exquisite who went
from the States of civilization expecting to pick up
the gold in the streets of San Francisco, soon be-
came transformed into the hirsute miner ready tc
fight with an Indian, grizzly, or any other inter
| loper Every nation and kindred and people and
tongue had its representatives in the Ell Dorado
Eighteen stalwart boys from our good City Of
| Cleveland pitched their tent in a community about
forty miles above Sacramento, all of whom, save
one, are now, we believe, living, and many of them
in this city, and they now look back to thOserough
and ready times with many laugh at the nume-
rous practical jokes that were perpetrated upon
some hapless "greeny," who had not been long
enough In the region to 'learn the ropes" FASH
iOnable amusements were of course out of the
question, and fun and rolic ofa rough nature filed
their place Some who read this will remember
the excited race of mile to see the specimen,
as large as fist and 'not bit ofquartz in it, and
other jokes played off upon the unsuspecting. As
general thing the residents were wary and on
the look out, but occasionally got "sold" as the
following story, furnished US by one of the Cleve-
land party will show. twas carried out on Christ
mas evening, nine years ago tonight;
At thattime the camps were together, consisting
of three tents, which had been christened as tile
Weddell, the Franklin, and the New England
The inmates of the Weddell were four in number,
whose names it would not, perhaps, be proper to
give, but they were designated in camp as John
and Ed. brothers, Sam, long, lathy buitboy, and
Phil, whose waddling figure, and round laughing
visage, made sunshine wherever it was seen, who
were late arrivals in the country and had not vet
learned all the ropes, so they were pitched upon to
cut few fantastic tricks for the special amusement
of the crowd. On the night in question, the unap-
prehensive green horns had retired to their tent
the gentlemen Of the Franklin ard New England
were seated on fiat stones around the camp fire en-
gagged in conversation, the bent of which tended,
as usual, rather more to the ornamental than the
useful. Captain Bunker, who was always ready to
become the leader in any frolic. or lend his assist
anee in carrying out any project likely to make fun
proposed TO frighten the sIeepers little, whose
minds had already become considerably excited by
the fictitious stories which had been previously Oft
en- told before them of Indian attacks and sanguina
ry rencontres with grisly BEARS and further offered
the opinion that before two hours bad gone by
they could have the seepers snugy rOosting in the
loftiest branches of the o'ershadowing trees Col
Crockett, DR.. Gustavus Adolphus, and one Simon
entered readily into the project and when the part
of each was assigned, went Immediately about en-
acting the comedy.
A couple ofboys from Maine, who were encamp-
ed short distance below, were made privy to the
design, and Capt Jim volunteered his services to
take part in the party. According to understand
ing, in a few minutes he came hurrying into camp,
and, with considerable apparent agitation, told a
story of two men in the large ravine, mile or two
distant, having been attacked by grsly bear, one
of whom had his arm broken, and the other being
severely injured by the savage beast He concluded
| by saying the bear left in the direction of our
camp, and advised that sharp look out be kept
Said he, II have loaded up our guns, and if he
makes descent upon US, shall give him brace
| ofbullets before take to the timber"
Now the hOnpbres in the tent, be sure, had
their ears open, and did not lose a word o
the discourse, and by the nervous manner in which
they asked score of particulars, the actors were
satisfied the whole play could be moulded so as tc
make the finale all they could wish. 1t was ascer.
tained they had no fire arms except an Allen re
volver, which was unloaded and not in shooting
condition, so no danger from their possible resis
tance could be apprehended. Cept. Bunker and
the doctor loaded up their guns with heavy charges
of powder only prepared to resist the grisy to the
death; the bear, with buffalo robe for his hide
slipped cautiously out to take his station, and the
Col. stood prepared to climb or run as the case
might be-
The waping moon had been up an hour, ant
gave, as the scattered clouds fitted across her face
dim and uncertain light No object could be OBJ
served distinctly more than few rods, and yet i
was light enough so any body might be family
traced at considerable distance. Not breath o
wind stirred the foliage of the surrounding treee
and not sound broke the stiffness but the occa
siOnal howl of the cdyote. About ten minutes hat
elapsed when the quick, sharp crack of two rifles
followed by wild yell came startling on the mid
night air Capt. Bunker sprang forward, with ha
OF and hair stuck up for the purpose, and cried ou
in tones of thunder ''You Weddell House boys
take care of yourselves !" In an instant, with on,
simultaneous lunge, they made for the open air
their hair literally standing on end
Like quilts upon the fretful porcupine
and their eyes, in the agony of mortal fear starting
from their sockets. Just at that moment the girls
ly gave hOarse growl and appeared in sight from
behind clump of chapperal. They waited t.
hear nor see more, but each, with the bound of {
deer, made for four live oaks. the branches O
which spread out overhead. Two were in the tor
branches in thrice, but the others were not i'm
mediately SO successful. John, with desperate
jump caught the first limb, but unfortunately fol
him, it was dead and dry, and its brittle hold part
ed in an instant, and he came down poSteriori
with force which, on another occasion, would
have awakened his sensbilities but it was untelt
now, and not a pause did he make till he found
himself at least forty feet above the scene of his
rough encounter. Sam took to q tree, the lower
branches of which were beyond his reach, and he
was so frightened he coutd not climb. He clunV
around the rough stem with the strength of des
peratiOn, and kept crying in unea-thly accents
Help, boys, help d-n it, can't get up" But
hs succeeded, and in short time his dim outline
could be traced high up over all the others.
By this time the grizzly had gotwithin shooting
distance, when of the guns exploded with loud
report. The bear halted for an instant, gave low
growl, and snuffed two or three times when he
made break for the camp. Ed who from his ele.
waited roosting place, could see the monster come
rushing on, beloved out to Bunker, who stood in
advance, Run, Bunker, he's coming !" This was
too much, and the ears of the gentlemen aloft were
greeted with such an exposionof laughter as never
woke these solitudes before The Col, who had
no occasion to climb, was rolling on the ground,
Yelling with delight, and Capt. Bunker and the
others were waking the echoes of the distant hills
with their shouts. The grizzly rushed into camp,
but his savage character was gone, and in a most
unbearlke manner, he rolled and screamed with
convulsiye laughter. Astonishment kept the VIC