The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-01-11
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
A HUNTERS AWFUL FLIGHT DOWN
A MOUNTAIN.
chased by n Hear and n snow Slide
A Five Vile Trip at Lightning
SDcCd.


Speed.
A Denver (Col) correspondent of the
Philadelphia Times is responsible for the
following extraordinary story.
1t seldom happens that such com
bination of tcrrors are met with as were
encountered by George T. Clark, OF this
city, in his recent trip to Breckenridge,
near which place he has some valuable
mining property.
81 started out one morning." Mr..
Clark said, 'to visit mountain located
about six miles southeast of Breckcn
ridge. l went on horseback to the base
of the mountain, tied my horse, and
went up the side on snow shoes, carry
ing a rifle and staff. The snow was two
feet deep. The walk was good stiff
one of two and a half miles. | attended
to the work / had in hand, and as the
day was fine | determined on enjoying
somewhat more extended hunt than !
had originally intended. l slirted
around clump of aspens on the north
east side of the mountain. keeping the
location of my horse in sight, and passed
over the range and struck up through
some struggling pines for a mile or more,
keeping close to the ridge. l got
on the fresh track of a
bear, and followed this up
close to the timber line, and finding that
the game had crossed the ridge, l deter
mined to follow. l again passed over
the ridge, and for the first time discov-
cred that l was much higher than l had
any desire to be. STILL there was good
decline before me, nearly five miles,
over which | could skim on my snow
shoes like bird on the wing. 1t was
very steep, however, and had l been less
expert in the use of snow shoes | should
have hesitated to attempt the descent,
but bracing my staff under my arm, set
ting my course for the direction of my
horse, and singing my rifle in such a
manner that it could be readily brought
into use IN case | caught sight of the
bear, which | observed had taken the
route that | was about to follow,
started.
''The snow was Just right for coasting,
and | swept along like the wind down
the mountain side. | had only proceeded
about quarter of mile however, when
/ was forced to slightly deviate from my
course to avoid thick clump of trees.
Suddenly the head of huge grizzly bear
pushed out from under some wild rose
bushes, on the seeds of which bears feed,
almost directly in front of me, and not
more than ten rods away. Quick as a
flash brought my rifle to my shoulder
and fired. knew that had struck the
bear, for he gave a roar Of pain and
rushed after me. | went by like flash.
Settling back on his launches and placing
his fore paws in front Of him. he started
after me. | was not much alarmed at
this, however, as l had frequently seen
grizzly bears slide down mountains in
this way, and felt certain that could
beat one of them. But in the rush he
had loosened a lot of snow, and the fear
of a snow slide shot across my mind. |
took a quick glance over my shoulder
and saw that my worst fears were real
lied | knew that nothing could stop
the slide. If it were not for the pursuit
of the bear | could have stopped at the
the start and allowed the comparatively
light rush of show to pass me, but it was
already too late for this and the bear was
gaining on me. The bear roared with
pain from the wound had inflicted upon
him, until his voice was gradually
drowned out by the increasing roar Of
the snow slide, which was already an
awful aNdldnCnc. ulCt nOI ulTc 10 look
again for several moments, during which
| shot through half amile of clear spruce
and struck through a clump of heavy
pines. Occasionally a boulder which
had become discngaged from the m ain
mass of snow and debris would come
alongside of me a:d then leave me in
the race, carried on by its greater gravity
Entering the clump of pines, again
glanced back momcntarily, and through
the mist of flying snow, not more than
rod behind, | saw the cleaning eyes of
the grizzly. Then all my attention was
required to steer my course safely at the
mad gait at which | was going through
the trees.
ain an instant had whisked through
this forest, the trees of which appeared
to be flying up the mountain in grand
charge against the now overwhelming
mass of snow and rocks, and in another
instant they had joined the conquering
avalanche. and were engaged in the pur-
suit of me and the bear.
81 could scarcely see on account of the
binding drift of looscned snow which
had been aroused and the speed at which
was sweeping down the mountain side.
Suddenly found myself flying through
the open air, and then again | struck the
mountain. had passed over a dreadful
gully at least hundred feet in the clear,
and the thought flashed across me that |
had at least got rid Of the bear. But hot
breath upon my neck convinced me of
my error. The bear had also crossed the
gully in safety and was still gaining upon
me. He evidently felt that he had me,
and gave a savage roar of triumph which
sounded above the roar and din of the
avalanche, ! was saved by miracle. !
glanced over my head Just in time to see
huge boulder crush the bears skull and
bound harmlcssly over my head. But
while the bear was out of the race the
odds were largely in favor of a snow
slide for winner. Already the drifting
snow was above my knees, and Iexpccted
momentarily to share the fate of the bear
from some of the boulders hurled out of