The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-01-28
A Bear Slain With Dynamite.

remember once when / was mining
near Breckenridge that met a grizzly
bear-one that would tip the beam at
LOO easily. You see. I was going up
TO the mine, and nothing could be furth-
er from my mind than expecting to meet
one of those fellows at such a time and
place. But it's like them; they always
turn up when they are least expected.
and when you are most lily prepared for
them. had no gun with me, nor even
knife. What was worse. or would be to
a man who lacked presence of mind,
lad with me a box containing dynamite
cartridges, which were to be used in
the mine. This would of itself have pre-
vented me from retreating with credit
and dispatch, if such thing were pos
sible; but it so happened that when |
sighted the bear | had wandered from
the regular trail, having taken narrow
edge in the hope of finding a short cut
20 the mine. There was a sheer fall
rom this of at least 500 feet. The bear
had already passed on to this when !
inst saw him, and, as | had never before
traversed the ledge. / had no idea as to
now far it might be passable.
When / saw the bear it was evident
hat he had not yet discovered my pres
ence. He was shuffiing along at an easy
gait, apparently perfectly familiar
With the path. did not dare to run on
he narrow ledge, but | got in the best
ticks at walking that knew how and
nad soon gained fair lead on the grizz-
". l began 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 |
advanced. In rounding a sharp curve,
however, you may imagine my conster-
nation when | saw the ledge suddenly
terminate not twenty feet in front of me
n a cavern, unquestionably the habita-
ion of the bear Above the wall rose
straight hundreds of feet, and below
there. was empty space. The bear had
made rice selection of home, saw
at a glance, and he would find here,
tight at his very door, meal in me,
provided could do nothing to avert the
catastrophe.
thought of everything | had about
me, with view of using it for my de-
tense. l had eight pounds of candles,
iackknife, and a lead-pencil. 1t occur
red to me that if had sufficient candles
| might feed the bear for while until |
could induce him to feel that he was in
condition for alternating, but would
not be more than able to whet his appe-
tite with what l had. The jack-knife
and lead-pencil were dismissed without
a moments thought. The dynamite
suggested possibilities. | hit upon a
plan. Taking half dozen sticks of
dynamite. | thrust them in 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
0ut few rods away, but appeared to
De wrapped in such a brown study that
ne did not notice my action. Then |
again retreated around the curve. and
withdrew myself into the bears cavern
TO await developments. | did not have
long to wait. In less than five seconds
after / had entered the cave the noun
tain shook as though in an earthquake,
and l knew that had succeeded The
bear had evidently tried to eat the cand-
les and found them to much for him. |
rushed out to see the result of my strate-
gy. There was little too be seen, how
ever. A tuft of hair here, and a splash
Of bears grease there, splinter of bone
or two, and the end of the bear could
only be guessed. -DeaUer Ne10S.