Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-11-10
A Yellowstone Bear story.

The Fire Hole Hotel is located on the
west side of the lower basin at the foo (
of the mountain, near good spring of
water, and from which can be had a
fine view of the valley. Marshall, the
proprietor, has thirty years lease from
| the government, and will add to his
house as the business of the public de-
mands. This is the only house in the
Park beside the one at the entrance. 1t
is wild and solitary place to spend the
winter, which Marshall and his wife,
with young lady companion, did for
the first time last winter, and in this
connection he told me bear story. He
said that after visitors ceased coming to
the Park last fall he went to Virginia
City for his winter supplies, leaving his
wife, children and the young woman in
charge of the place. Near the house, in
the rear, was situated dug-out or root
house, where he stored his potatoes,
etc, to keep them from freezing, and to
ventilate which he used JOINT of stove
pipe. One morning during his absence
his wife looked out of the window and
saw bear pulling down the pipe and
trying to dig into the root house, In
which they had also stored most of their
provisions. The women were at their
wits end as to what course to pursue.
They at first threw tin cans from the
windows and managed to disturb bruin
for few moments, but he soon returned,
as he had already shifted the good things
of that ground cellar, and he did not
propose to be scared off with tin cans.
Mrs. Marshall, brave enough to be left
alone, did not intend to have all of her
provisions taken before her eyes, and
proposed to load the rife if her COM
panion would fire it at the bear, which
being complied with, good charge was
soon placed i'll the gun, which was laid
across the window sill and discharged at
his bearship, but the aim, not being ac-
curate, did not strike him In a vital part,
although his actions showed that he was
hit. He retreated to the hillside, sat
upon his launches, took a view of the
situation, and then disappeared in the
bushes. where he remained. The wo-
men were not satisfied and they went
after that bear-avery imprudent thing,
to say the least but nevertheless, they
went, for (as they expressed it, they
were afraid he might come back again
in the night, and, as they were satisfied
he was wounded, they wanted to finish
him. Loading the rifle again, they went
cautiously up the hillside, until they
discovered the bear standing In small
clearing, when the women prepared for
action by laying the gun across log
and taking deliberate aim, hitting the |
animal behind the foreshoulder, when |
he came rolling down the hill. The |
women did not stop to see whether the |
bear was rolling or running imag |
ined the latter-and both ran for dear |
life, dropping the gun as they went for
the house, which they reached before
casting a glance in the rear. When
safe in the house they took view of
the situation, and could see bruin dou-
bled up and giving his last kick. He
finally became quiet, and they ventured
out and got possession of their gun,
which was loaded, and a third charge
put into the bear to make sure he was
not playing 'Possun. When Marshall
came home he weighed the bear, and
it brought down the beam to $50 pounds.
He tells the story of the acUion of the
brave women with great deal of pride,
and the young woman who did the
shooting has become quite heroine.