Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-12-22
A Grizzly Bear.

The train was delayed several hours
There was but half dozen passengers al
told, and they all got out on the station
platform. In looking down the valley
from the station (Truckee Is away up il
mountain on the main line of the Centra
Pacific Railroad) We could see some kinC
of an animal coming down out of the tim
Der and making its way over the top of the
snow toward the river. II looked like 1
steer or a mule, and none of the passen
gers thought 1t was anything else. The
snow was four feet deep and frozen so hare
that one could walk over the top without
breaking through. Captain Vincent Yore,
of St. Louis, man yell-known in steam
boat circles both il st. Louis and Pitts
burg, and in fact all along the river, was
one Of the passengers.
The station sgent, who was at once the
express agent, ticket agent and baggage.
man combined, went into his little office
and brought out a beautiful breech loading
rifle. Handing it to Yore, he said sar.
castically, Here's gum" Captain Yore
took the gun and started toward the end
of the platform. The passengers, of course,
never dreamed he was IN earnest.
The station agent called him back when
he had gone down one of the steps, and
bringing out rat terrier dog of the hight
woolly Scotch pattern, said:
''Here, you'll want dog when you go
bear hunting"
Captain Yore turned back, picked up
the dog, and putting 1t under the flap of
his coat, started down toward the bear.
The grizzly had by this time got out far
enough to be plainly seen, as he made his
way across the narrow valley. He looked
to be the size of horse, and did not seem
to care whether there was anybody within
short distsnce of him or not. The Rocky
mountain grizzly is the largest and when
aroused the most ferocious of all animals
in western North America. Travellers on
the Union and Central Pacific Railroad are
familiar with the specimen that is Gagged on
the platform at Lathrop, an eating station
on the California end of the line. 1t has
u foot like the fifteenth amendment" and
is as large as Kerry COW.
The bear kept quietly in his course, and
Captain Gore went straight toward him.
The station agent realized the danger Yore
was in, and his anxiety was quickly COM
munlcated to the passengers. They got
closer and closer until they were only about
the length of train apart. Yore stopped,
took out the little dog and set HIM down.
The terrier made for the bear at once, and.
going behind him, bit him on the heel.
The bear turned round to see what had
scratched him on the foot, and the minute
be turned 1ore, who had been standing
motionless, watching the bear as 1t came
face toward him, brought the rifle up TO
his nose and flashed it at HIM. The bear
Immediately slapped himself on the
shoulder with his paw and went toward
the captain. The passengers, who were
watching him, were now wild with excite
ment. 'He has hit him." said the old
Californian on the train, ''and now he must
look out for him." Yore never moved.
The little snipe of dog bit the bear on
the heel again, he turned once more, and
again Yore unloaded on him. The bear
slapped himself on the shoulder aud
Strengthened up as if to &C quickly for
lore. Then the beast broke through the
snow and almost disappeared from our
sight. He tumbled and rolled and waltzed
around. The Old Californians were almost
breathless with fright. ''Ihe bear is
trampling out place to fight, run, run,
run!" they screamed TO Yore; but he stood
motionless as a statue. The little dog flew
around the top of the pit the bear had made
and barked.
Presently the bear put out his head TO
get his assailanrs position, and, fixing his
eyes on Yore, he crawled out of his hole
in the snow. He had Just steadied himself
on his four legs when the dog bit him once
more, and Yore let him have it again,
quick as a flash, the moment h turned.
Another time the grizzly slapped himself
with his paw, indicating he had been hit.
He started on a trot toward Iore, who now
had four loads left in his rifle Twice
again the dog bit the bear, and at each
time when he turned Yore unloaded into
him, bringing the rifle up to his face as
quickly as If he threw a weaver's shuttle.
After he had fired the fourth load the
grizzly's pace was not s.ackened up much,
as you could scarcely notice him limp.
Yore turned to move back a few PAGES,
and as he did so he broke through the snow
and went down to his armpits. The pas
sepgers, expecting every moment to see
the infuriated monster crush poor YOre,
covered their eyes in perfect terror.
The bear had got within few yards of
Yore, and but few seconds would decide
it. The dog bit him again, and Iore, who
had the rifle firmly sighted, poured it into
him, two loads in quick succession, and
stretched him as he was almost al the end
of the rifle. The whole thing occurred in
less time than it takes to tell it. The pas
sengers rushed down with shout. They
brought the immense bear up to the station
and dubbed together and bought the nfe
for Captain Yore, and the captain laid
down $40 gold piece for the little dog,
which he brought back with him to st.
Louis, for, said he, THAT dog saved my
I;fa