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


thoy are forced to Chamber in getting
through the pass, and. having reached
q little olump Of dwarfcd pine, they took
a short rest from rhoir fatiguing march.
The snow being passed. most Of them
had taken off their snow-shoes and were
hiding them away in the dense ever
green bushes where they could be found
on their return. A few Of them had
collected some dry pine and spruce
boughs, and had built a roaring fire,
before which they dried their moccasins,
saturated with snow-water from the
pass. When the fire was at its height
half dozen armfuls Of green boughs
cut from the live trees were suddenly
thrown on the high-reaching flames,
and these, as they burned and sim
mered, sent up great volumes of black
smoke high in the skies, and that from
the mountain side could evidently be
seen for many miles in the valley
stretched out before them. This was
the signal smoke Of the Chilkat traders
TO their Tahkheesh patrons, so that il
any Of them were in the upper part OF
the valley, or within sight Of the ascend
ing smoke, they could give answer in
the same way aud let the Chilkats know
their presence and exact whereabouts
They very seldom encountered the
Tahkheesh so far toward the head of
the river, however, they being further
down the stream catching salmon, and
they hardly expected an answer from
them, and OF course were surprised
and delighted when they saw an
answering smoke ascend some eight
OF ten miles farther on. They
once more threw their bundles on their
backs and trudgcd along on their wca y
way, hopeful that the Tahkhecsh party
might be large, and that their burdens
would be lighter and their riches great
er after meeting them. They had prob.
ably gotten four or five miles along on
their way, and were considerably strung
out the strongest leading, when they
were compelled to cross the mountain
torrent OF tho swift river again. Their
well-beatep trail for il was passed over
twice a year both ways by sixty TO
eighty Chilkat traders) leading down
the valley was often forced 10 cross
this large mountain stream at the head
of the river by high, perpendicular
bluffs, against whose steep banks the
river would plunge, leaving no way Tut
TO cross it or Chamber high over the
mountain spur, which was not very
pleasant with hundred pounds on n
tired persons back. Like all such
mountain streams. 1t often spread itself
in sheet Of white over vide gravel
bars. At such points pract cable
ford could be made and the Indians
would wade across even with their
heavy burdens. At this particular spot,
however, which l was Just mentioning.
the river, instead Of broadening. had
contracted into rather deep canyon
about ne-third to one-fourth its usual
width, and the deep river fairly roared
through this contracted space; here IL
| would be certain death for any living
thing however good a swimmer, TO
| fall into its seethiDg waters. This can.
yon was probably thirty or forty feet
across, and, approaching it as one as
cends the valley. the Indians had from
this side chopped down q huge spruce
tree that reached across and was used
as a foot-log by the travellers on this
trail Like all trees growing in thick
forests, there were no limbs for about
twenty feet from the ground, where the
largest one commenced. When the
tree had been felled these large branch
es, trimmed OF their smaller ones, had
been left as good supports to take hold
Of in crossing the smaller part of the
log where they grew.
The Chilkats in carrying their heavy
loads do so by two straps passing tC
the 'front.' one over the breast and one
over the forehead, and in keeping the
latter strap taut and watching the path
directly in front of their feet they cau
see but very short distance in front
OF them. The leading Indian, quite q
distance in front Of any of the rest
had gotten about quarter OF the way
across the foot-log. or about halfway
through the projecting limbs, to which
he was holding, when he heard a low
growl ahead of him, and saw a huge
Alaskan brown bear rise up from be
bind the stump from which the foot-lol
had been cut, and as he turned 70 ill
the animal sprang on the log in pur
suit Gaining the shore, he threw
away his pack a. quick as he could di
vest himself of il, and started with tn,
agility of a squirrel to ascend lhe al
most perpendicular bank of the bluf
near by, using the projecting stone
| Anu hMAlAt4 hnNutn 10 NN~ANk MN til
only a man flying for his life can
Looking back, he saw that the brown
bear had charged only halfway across
the foot-log and seemed unwilling tt
attempt u "worm his way arounC
the thickly-studded branches 10 ge
over the other half especially afte
looking al the frothy waters below, tn,
import Of which, in case he fell int,
them. he fully seemed to realize. Her,
he crouched, growing and showing hi
teeth, and as the long log bent q littl,
under his heavy weight he SLOWLY
backed out TO the stump again, bu
would retreat no further. " hen tn,
next packer came up, his companion
ahead of him shouted 10 him how mat
ters stood, but the beligerent bear haC
seen him before he comprehended mat
ters and made another rush across tn
log. only to stop when the brstlin,
limbs were reached, and this man, too
had sudden desire to drop his pacl
and climb up the side Of the biuii
when the bear once more retreated 4
his abiding place back OF the stump
IL was now determined 10 wait unit
all the Indian packers had arrived
about twelve in number, when it wa
thought that the sight of so man
might induce the bear 20 depart a
sometimes happens; but the fear dis
played by the first arrivals had so EN-
boldensd him that be firmly stood hi
ground, even with this great display o
force, and yentured 10 charge them /
irritated TOO much, which they wer
loath TO do unnecessarily. fearing h
might at any one Of these rushes com
all the way across.
The Chilkats, while packing aeros
the mountain pass, never carried thei
guns with theDI as this weight ten o
twelve pounds-put into trading mate
rial meant a goodly number Of valuab'
furs, and these transmontane trader
were shrewd enough to see this Ais