The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-03-21
WESTMINSTER MD. THURSDAY MARCH 81 1867.
Adventure with a G rizzIy Bear.

Adventure with a G rizzly Bear.
In the fall of 1860, settlement in
one Of the mountain counties Of Cali
fornia was alarmed and annoyed by the
proximity and predatory excursions Of
a grizzly bear. Two hunters dcte.min-
cd to rid the neighborhood of this dan
gerous pest. Finding one day on the
side Of a mountain heifer that had just
died, they constructed over il rude
scaffolding, earelessly erected, with the
customary recklcssness of those noun
tainecrs, and, worse still, just over, in
stead Of short distant from, the bait,
as it should have been.
| With blankets to guard against the
cold nights; enough cooked provisions
to last two or three da;s, and their guns
and ammunition, they took up their po-
sition on the structure.
| Atiprk the full moon arose with a
soft, csear brilliaucy Of light peculiar to
those regions. No frog, no bird, no AN
imal cry interrupts the awful stiffness
OF those rugged solitudes after nigh
fall.
A feeling Of uneasiuess began to
creep into Hiram johnson mind, which
dcgcnerated into something like timid
ty, as upon walking across the floor of
the scaifold, he felt it shake beneath
him, and for the first time, observed its
rickety character.
Gray" said he, this thing amt
safe. Let's prop it up some more"
Ah " exclaimed the other, Listen
They could hear rustliug of the
brush some distance up the mountain,
aud were soon enable to perceive huge
grizzly bear making his way down to
their hut.
When he had arrived within about
twenty feet he observed the hunters, and
raising on his hind feet, advanced as if
determined upon an attack, to the dis
may of johnson, who felt satisfied that
n slight pressure OF the beasts enor.
nous body would overthrow their frail
structure, and place them at the mercy
of this savage enemy.
The bear, however, after few steps.
abandoned this threatening movement
and dropping on all fours, walked un.
der the scaffold, aud commenced his re-
past, rubbing against one of the posts
in passing, and thereby rocking the
whole coacern
Johnson's uncasncss had now become
fear and his whole desire was to keep
perfectly still, in the hope that the bear
would gorge itself on the dead animal.
aud then so away and leave them uniH.
tcrrupted. This fear deepened into
terror, as he saw the big whiskers.
shaggy hair and burly form OF Gray,
gun IN hand, creeping to the edge Of the
platform.
Gray" he viii pered, don't shoot.
This thing amt built right 1t ought
to have been little distance of. SO that
we could shot without leaning .ovcr
the edge. Now you cant get no fair
shot, and ifyOa don't kill it, it'll kill
u.s."
Grnys answer was only an impatient
motion with his left hand, meant for a
signal to keep quiet, and, crawling with
his body FAR over the edge. SO he could
well see under, he began to bring his
gun forward, and turn the muzzlo un.
der the scaffold, preparatory to firing on
the bear, which was too much engaged
in eating to notice what was going o.
above. But that shot was never fired
for the added weight Of the gun in its
position, and that of its owner, was all
that was needed to cause the scaffold to
commence slowly settling towards tho
side over which Gray was leaning.
Back, Gray, back the scaffold'
ialling' almost shricked Johnsoo, with
pallid face, striving to pull his compau.
ion towards the centre.
But it was too late The thing sud
denly fell, and the wreck, men and griz
ely, were mixed in confusion.
/ johnson, conceiving he had no time
to waste in rising to his feet, imnedi
ately proceeded to founeo out of th,
wreck, and roll down hill with a celeri
ty no hoop snake could surpass.
Gray, now nearly as much terrified as
Johnson, passed him with two leaps O
amazing stride, and had nearly reach
ed the bottom Of the hill, when it occur
r;d to him to have hasty survey ovet
his shoulder. johnson was still rolling
but no bear was to be seen. Astonish
ed at this, the fugitive stopped aud ia
ced the situation, when, high up III,
mountain, he discovered the monster
evidently as much terrified as them
selves, hastily entering the bush from
which he had just emerged.
Gray then enlightened johnson OF
the state Of Affairs, and undccisivel,
proposed guiug up after the guns an,
blankets, but the last named gentleman
very dccisivcly said he would prefer 70
Ing home, and they went, without an,
! unnecessary waste Of time
Their information in regard TO scaf
ford architecture in connection with
grizzly bear hunting, had received tho
light OF some valuable experience.