The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-10-14

The Death-Stroke.
Sometime in the latter part of May,
says the Leadville Chronicle, Mr.. Camp
bell left Leadville for the Eagle River
mining district He was well outfitted,
having a pony, rifle, and the necessary
grub to keep him supplied for some weeks.
The first mishap that befell Mr.. Camp
bell was caused by his pony. He was
leading the animal by rope, when the
pony became frightened and started on
run. Mr. Campbell held the rope in
such manner that it became tangled
around his finger, from which he could
not release it. The result was that when
the pony freed himself he carried along
with him the little finger that had once
been valuable member of the gentle
man S hand. He hastened to the nearest
doctor, who amputated the stump of the
finger. Pursuing his way in search of
the precious metals, he was not long In
meeting with another adventure that
compelled him to return to Leadville.
After prospecting for some days on the
Eagle River, and going some distance
from all other prospectors, he struck in
dications and went into camp. For sew
efal days he worked at some claims he
thought of locating if they panned out as
he was led to believe from surface indi-
cations. On the morning of the fifth
day he started in the direction of his
claim, intending to be gone but few
minutes, and taking no weapon with him
except his hatchet, which he had belted
to him. He had gone but a few rods
when he was somewhat startled to see be-
fore him a bear. The bear, apparently,
paid no attention to him, and he decided
to beat hasty retreat Scarcely had he
started on his backward march than the
bear started for him. The gentleman
increased his speed and SO did Bruln.
There were no trees convenient, and it
looked for a minute very dubious. The
bear raised on its hind feet and prepared
for friendly embrace. There was moth
ing for Campbell to do but fight it out,
and he awaited Mr.. Bears coming with
his hatchet, ready for close work. The
hear reached him, and they struck
simultaneously. Campbell struck the
bear between the eyes with the hatchet,
and the bear struck Campbell on the
head. He remembers nothing more for
some hours, although it was evident
from his wounds that Bruin played
with him for a second or two after he
was down. When he came to he found
that he was the only living occupant Of
the field, the bear lying some feet dis
tant with his head split open. Making
his way painfully to camp-the journey
of few hundred yards occupying sew
eral hours-he doctored himself as well
as he could. He was SO badly injured
that his only wish was to die as soon as
possible. The evening of the day sue
ceeding his encounter ne was found by a
couple of prospectors. They took care
of him for several days, and kindly as
! sisted him back to the nearest camp.
Here they left him, and for many days
he was considered "as good" as dead.
He finally recovered sufficiently to stand
a Journey to this camp, but it will be
about next summer before he will be
enabled to prospect again.
They Can't Help 1t.
There is limit beyond which the
housewife who has eagerly plunged into
the canning and preserving season can
not go. There are only 1,500 known
methods of putting up peaches. It may
take her sometime to get to the last one,
but she'll reach it in time. The latest
estimate places the number of fruit jars
on sale in this country at 30, 0O0,0 No
housewife can secure more than her pro-
portion of these. After she has asked
her husband seventy-eight consecutive
times to "send up another dozen of those
cans. there must come alull. She may
then demand her share Of the crooks
and jars and jelly tumblers Of this great
and growing country, but winter is only
three months away. By and by there
will come an end to this asking for can
other twenty pounds of that same kind
of sugar" The stock on hand in this
country will not allow any family to con.
sume over 5000 pounds in putting uI
preserves. The woman who goes be-
yond that must do so at her peril. While
the average husband feels thrill of ex
altation as he realizes that plums are
played, he must not be plunged into
despair to learn that peaches will go dowr
to fifty cents before the last of the croI
is in, and that pears were never known
to be so plenty. No cellar can hold more
than it can. After the jugs and jars ano
cans and pitchers are stacked from fiooi
to joice, the wife has either got to lay of
her big apron and quit or else rent space
from the neighbors, and the chances viii
be that they will have none to spare. Ii
two weeks more she'll have to give up Oh
peaches and pears. Then she'll begi1
on tomato pickles and catsup, jump tx
cucumbers-slide off on apple butter
work up a bushel Of ounces dow
barrel of cider, and then sit down ant
give up the unequal struggle. That il
she'll suddenly remember that every cal
and jar and jug must be lifted up or taker
down and opened and heated over, ant
if perchance she finishes the job befor'
spring the mince-pie season will serve tx
keep the house stirred up. They wer'
born that way, and men must suffer ant
endure. re.-Dctroit Free Press.
IN a Whales Mouth and Escaped Wit
His Life.
Here I met Captain Wood, who ha
been in whales mouth. After edginI
carefully toward the matter, a friend in
duced him to tell about it-probably fo
the ten thousandth time.
eyes, L was standing in the bow Q
the boat, but with the iron in my hand
said he, "looking around for his majesty
for thought we had given him his deaf
blow Suddenly up he came right ahea'
of me, and lie struck the boat under
meath with his prolonged lower jaw
knocking it out from under me, and
fell straight over into his mouth"
"What did you think then ?" asked
listener, as the Captain paused.
Thought was goner," answere
the Captain, Especially when he shu
his mouth on me But he WAS. fo,