Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-03-19
KILLING A egAn.
HsH . WHY Miner EscAped From Deat1
by Feeding it Dynamitt.

by Feedhg t Dynamite.
lDenver lCoL, News.l
"Conht Won Hoeckel," said George II.
Clark to reporter yesterday, "had q tough
enough experience with that mountain lion
at Wagon Wheel Gap, but it seems to md
that he showed very little presence Of
mini. Now, if had been I'M his place.
w3et would have done would be to set
dre to the animals bedding. The firs
would certainly have frightened hini
away"
but, perhaps, Il you were in his place:
you would not have had presence OF mind
enough about you to have thought of any,
thing of the kind"
"Well, if didn't wouldn't have been
found here, you can bet your bottom dol
lar. Why, he was ju,t as likely as not to
run on to grizzly bear"
"Would that have been much worse than
mountain lions"
"You can safely gamble that it would;
as much worse as a stroke of lightning
is than an electric spark. remember
once, when was mining up near Ereck-
enridge, that met one of these fellows.
one that would tip the beam at one
thousand one hundred easily. You SEQ,
was going up to the mine, ard nothing
could DO further from my mind than ex
pecting to meet one of these fellows at
such time and place. But it's like them.
they always turn up when they arc least
expected, and when you are most illv
prepared for them. l had no gun with
me. nor even q knife. What was worse,
or would he to a man who lacked presence
of mind, had with me a box containing
dynamite cartridges, which were to be-
used in the mine. This would of itself
have prevented me from retreatiug with
credit or dispatch, il such thing were
possible; hut it SO happened that when
l sighted the bear l had wandered from
the regular trail, having taken to a mar.
rev ledge in the hope of finding short
cut to the mine. There was a sheer
fall from this of at least five hun.
dred feet. The bear had already passed
onto this when l first saw hiu, and. as
1 never before had traversed the ledge
l had no idea how far it might be pass.
able.
when saw the bear it was evident
that he had not yet discovered my pres
ence He was shutting along at an easy
gait; apparently perfectly familiar with
the path. did not dare to run N the mar
row ledge, but got in the best licls at
walking that l knew how, and had soon
gained fair lead on the grizzly. begaR
to hope that would come safely out of the
difficulty, and was further encouraged by
the fact that the ledge appeared to be
slightly wider as l advanced. In rounding
curve, however, you may imagine nv
CONSERVATION when I saw the ledge sud.
denly terminate, not twenty feet in front
OF me, In cavern, unquestionably the hab-
ltation Of the bear. Above, the wall rosS
straight hundreds of feet, and below there
was empty space. The bear had made a
nice selection of a home saw at q glance,
and he would find here, right at his very
door, meal in me, provided l could do
nothing to avert the catastrophe.
MY mind became strangely active. The
events of my past life did not pass in re.
view before me. 1t may have been on ac4
count of the lack of space, but it is much
more likely that it was due to the greater
interest attaching to the incident in which
was soon to take prominent part.
II tried hard to think of some way out
OF the dilemma, and came so near finding
nothing to base any hope on that l almost
lost my presence of mind. did not, how
ever. Thought of everything had about
me with view to using il for my defense.
had eight pounds of candles, a jack
knife and lead pencil. 1t occurred to me
that If had sufficient candles might feed
the bear for awhile, until l could induce
him to feel that he was in a condition for
alternating, but would not be more than
able to whet his appetite with what had.
The jack-knife and lead pencil were dis
missed without moments thought. The
dynamite suggested possibilities. I hit
upon plan. Taking half dozen ticks of
dynamite, trust them among the candles.
and hastily retracing my steps around the
corner, placed the charge of candles and
dynamite in the path of the approaching
bear. The latter was but few rods awav
but appeared to be wrapped in such a.
brown study that he did not notice MY ac-'
ton. Then again retreated around the
curve and withdrew myself into the bears
cavern to await developments. / did not
nave long to wait. In less than five sec
onds after l had entered the mountain
shook as though in an earthquake, and I
knew that had succeeded. The bear had
evidently tried te eat the candles, and
found them too much for him. l rushed
out to see the result of my strategy. There
was but little to be seen, however. A tuft
OF hair here and splash of bears grease
there, splinter OF bone or two, and the
end oil the bear could only be guessed.0