Connecticut western news., 1886-01-27
A Three-Cornered Combat.

 mon River Mountains Two small oteaks, meeting at the north end of the mot1n- tains, form the Salmon, but it is not much of stream until it receives Wild Cat, Bitter Sweet and other creeks down toward the Bitter Root Mountains.
 had journeyed to the forks of the Upper Salmon with a band of hunters and trappers, and, while they had spent the winter in trapping for furs and belts, I had developed the fact that cohl, mica, slate, marble, copper, and other minerals were to be had for the asking: fin the mountains. Owing to the depth of snow and severity of the weather, hao' not fin ished my work of prospecting when spring came, while the trappcrs were resdy to abandon the exhausted field aud move east into the foothills of the Bsrer Root. On the first day of May was left alone. l had horse, two pack muleA rifle, two revolvers, and plenty of food and ammunition. AS soon as the men left me pulled up stakes and moved around to the cast side of the mountain, where there was less wind and more sunshine. Between the foothills and the mountain was long, narrow, winding valley, vary ing in with from ten to fifty feet. The snow was just leaving this valley, and the grass of last season had been preserved in palatable shape for the horses.
 Nothing of special interest occnrred until the 3d of June. On that morning, while cooking breakfast, monster grizzly, the first one seen during the win. ter, suddenly appeared within 200 feet of my camp fire, coming up the winding valley from the south. I was between him and the horses, but the latter were SO terrified that had they not been stout ly staked out they would have made. their escape.
 The bear halted, as I said, and as he displayed no intention to come nearer, l did not wish to provoke him by any aoS of Aospitility. He was ia lean conditiops, with his shaggy coat in anything brt presentable shape. He stared at me w7sh curious eyes, sniffed the air, grew uneag after few minutes, and finally numbered of down the valley out of sight. was thoroughly glad to be rid of Bruia, but before l had finished my breakfast he re- turned and brought two other gsizzlies with him, all full grown.
 We'll armed as I was, l realized that l stood no show against the three- The horse was wild with terror, and th 6 mules were so overcome that they lay down with weakness. I piled on the brush, and as the fire blazed and crackled the bears took alarm and ganoped of, look ing back as if to see if they were pur- sued.
 The presence of these monsters annoyed me more than can explain. was more uneasy than as if I had discovered three Indians prowling about. A grizzly bear is the natural foe of everything that lives. He is without fear. His strength is something astounding. He will fight twenty men as soon as one. Fire all tho bullets from the chamber of Winches- ter into him and not one may strike s vital spot. The sight of flame and smoke had kept them from attE2Sing me, but was by no means satisfied that they would abandon the field
 The only plan to save the horses was tc oh Tn spot the valley narrowed until it was no more than eight feet wide, and here built solid fire of heavy limbs--on, which would last for whole day. 4 quarter of mile below the camp L found another good sopt, and built another fire and then felt comparatively safe. Tn only fear was that would keepfhe bear away to bring Indians down upon me The heavy smoke could be seen for twen ty miles, and if seen by red men the, would certainly investigate.
 I did not leave camp that day, bein busy with specimens and in making re pairs to my clothing, and the day an' night passed without an alarm of an sort. This put me in good spirits, and permitted the fires to die down to grea beds of coals, which would retain thei heat all day, and soon after breakfas shouldered my rife and started off dow the valley to prospect and investigate You may believe that I kept my eyt open for sight of grizzlies, but the seemed to have left the neighborhood fc good.
 At the end of about five miles the va ley suddenly broadened or debouche into another. This larger valley opene in from the broad plains, and was a mi long. had no sooner rounded @ mass rock and earth and brought the larg' valley into view than my ears were gree ed with terrible yell. Right before m and not over quarter of mile ava were seven or eight Indians surroundir small camp fire, with their ponies gra ing near by.
 At such a time as that men think ar
 act quickly. If rar back up the wall
 such action would uncover my camp al
 lose my animals. There was no place
 hand to make successful defence, wi
 the odds so much a~ainst me. As t
 Indians sprang to their feet turned
 the right and dashed into vine opt
 ing into the mountain itself. There W
 stream running down it rom the nc
 ng suow, but presently found fai
 .bvn1m pakh running along up ths fAvi