Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-12
Adventure with n Grizzly Rear

AuNNutuTc Win ~ SEAZLlY heaFs
In the fall of 1860, a settlement in one of
the mountain counties of California was
alarmed and annoyed by the proximity and
predatory excursions of a grizzly bear.
Two hunters determined to rid the neigh
borhOod of this dangerous pest. Finding
one day on the side of the mountain a
heifer that had just died, they constructed
Overi, a rude sca1Olding, careiessly erected.
with the customary reckleSsness of those
mOuBtaineers, and, worse still. just over.
instead of a short distance from, the bait.
as It should have been.
With blankets to guard against the cold
nights, enough cooked provisions to last
two or three days, and their guns and am-
munition, they took up their position on
the structure.
clear bTilliancy of light peculiar TO those
regions. No frog. no bird, no animal cry
interrupts the awful stiffness OF those rug
ged solitudes alter nightiall.
A feeling of uneasiness began to creep
iLtO Hiram JOhnson's mind, which de-
generated into something like timdity, as
upon walking across the floor of the scaf-
fold. he felt it shake beneath him, and for
the first time, observed its rickety charac-
ter.
NGray," said he, "this thing amt safe.
Let's prop it up some MORE"
"Ahm exclaimed the other, "Listen!r
They could hear the rustling in the
brush some distance up the mountain, aud
were soon enabled to perceive a 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 dismay of johnson.
who felt satisfied that slight pressure of
the beasts enormous body would over
throw 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 under
the scaiiold, and commenced his repast,
rubbing against one of the posts in passing,
and thereby rocking the whole concern.
Johnson's uneasiness had now become
fear, and his whole desire was to keep per-
feetly STILL in the hope that the bear would
gorge itself on the dead animal, and then
90 away and leave them uninterrupted.
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 whispered, "don't shoot.
This thing amt built right. 1t ought to
have been little distance of, so that we
could shoot without leaning over the edge.
Now we can't get no fair shot, aud ii you
don't kill it, it'll kill u.s.
Gray's answer was only an impatient
motion with his left hand, meant for sig
nal to keep quiet, and, crawling with his
body far over the edge, so he could see well
under, he began to bring his gun forward,
and turn the muzzle under the scaffold,
preparatory to firing on the bear, which
was too much engaged in eating to notice
what was going on above. But that shot
was never fired, for the added weight of
the gun in its position and that of the own
er was all that was needed to cause the
scaffold to commence slowly settling to-
ward the side over which Gray was lean
ing.
Back, Gray; back the scaffOId's fall
ing !" almost shrieked johnson with pallid
face, striving to pull his companion toward
the center.
But it was too late. The thing suddenly
fell, and the wreck, men and grizzly, were
mixed in confusion.
johnson, conceiving he had no time to
waste in rising to his feet, Immediately
proceeded to 1Ounce out of the wreck, and
roll down hill with eelerity no hoop
snake could surpass.
Gray, now nearly as much terrified as
johnson, passed him with two leaps of
amazing stride, and had nearly reached the
bottom of the hill, when it occurred to him
to have hasty survey over his shoulder.
johnson was still rolling, but no bear was
to be seen. Astonished at this, the fugitive
stopped and faced the situation, when,
higher up the mountain, he discovered the
monster, evidently as much terrified as |
themselves, hastily entering the bush from
which he had just emerged.
Gray then enlightened johnson on the !
state OF affairs and undecisively proposed |
going up after the guns and blankets, but |
the last-named gentleman very deeisively |
said he would prefer going home, and they |