Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-03

short distance. thinking they had gone
into camp after an unusually long
march from far beyond the pass, and,
being burdened with only few furs,
might bring their guns and thus
frighten away or kill The bear; or even
II they did not bring them, when the
bear was seen or his presence known
they could easily return and get them
In the meantime the Others held
council of war, while their companions
were gone to start the signal-smokes.
Many expedients were proposed, but
most OF them partook OF the nature of
the mice bclling the cat, and but few
were attempted.
At last plan was proposed, more TO
pass away the time until the Tahkheesh
should arrive than with any hope OF
success. One Of the shrewder Indians
proposed that with the hand-ax they
would chop OF all the limbs of the foot
log on that part of the ground where
they stood, and which prevented the
log from turning or rolling over, except
enc strong vertical limb, and to the top
CT this they would tie strong lashing,
and some four or five OF the strongest
men would get on the ground near by,
the bear would be coaxed on ; to his old
position on the log, and by pulling on
the rope the log could be turned around
and possibly their enemy might be
spilled of into the boiling water be-
meath, especially IL it was done quite
suddenly. And even II failing the first
time, the limb. when reaching the
ground could be seized vigorously and
showed into the air, the rope thrown to
another lot OF Indians on the other side,
who would jerk the limb TO the ground,
and this could be kept up backward
and forward until tho boar had been
upset into the water or had backed on
to the stump again, and which they no
tioed always took him quite awhile to
accomplish, and increased the chances
of their singular scheme. Everything
was done as indicated, the limbs
chopped of from the part of the log
resting on the ground except the up
right one, and il was tested. showing
that it would not break or in turning
the log, however quickly done. TIE
rope was lashed to the outer end Of the
branch some twelve feet long. and the
two bodies Of men took their assigned
DO ilions on the two sides of the log op-
posite the erect pole. One Indian then
| walked for two or three steps on the
| foot-log until the bear was induced to
make one more Of his charges, stop
| ping rs usual where the limbs intertered
with his progress. The second he reached
| this place the Indians on one sido Of
the log pulled down the erect limb by
| the rope until they could reach it with
| their hands, when it was lowered TO
| the ground, all being done in less time
| than it takes 10 tell Il. This threw the
log quarter of the way round and the
bear with it. and, although he was not
| thrown OF, he had very hard scramb-
ling to keep on, and at once started to
| back out No sooner had the limb
touched the ground than It was showed
to an almost erect position. the rope
passed over to the opposite crowd. and
they pulled and pushed it 10 the ground
on their side. This turned the log
half way over, and It vas just by the
skin Of his tech that the bear hung on
and crawled N the top as il went over.
Backward forward 1t went this
way the beal Ising up nearly all his
time trying to keep on, and finding but
little during which he could back out,
yet slowly gaining toward the stump.
The Indians worked like demons, with
uproarious laughter at the bears fran.
tic Jumps. He was nearly back to the
stump, where he could gain the shore,
when an unusually active half turn was
made by the Indians, and the bear
scrambled around so very lively "a
countcract IL that he tore oil the thick
bark from that side in great sheet
covering half OF the butt of the tree.
and bark and bear went rolling into
the seeth ng waters below, while the
Indians sent up a dea!oning yell al
their victory. The moment bark and
bear touched the white sheet of foam
away they went rolling over each other
in the swift stream, followed by shouts
from the Indians craning their neck:
over the edge Of the canyon. The
bear was borne down some fifty yards,
where he managed TO seize project
ing snag and crawled out upon it,
bowling furiOusly, and 'clinging to II
despite the stoning he got from his en-
emies In few moments a Talk
heesh Indian came up with a gun, and
shot at him from the shore, breaking
his shoulder, which so enraged the AMI
NAL that he once more jumped into the
water, but. not having counted 90 hi'
broken, useless shoulder, be was carried
away in the rushing torrent heaC
over heels, and was never seen again
- Lieutenant +. SchW1tkd, iH Chicago
Times