The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-13
A Combat Above the Clouds.
From the Salt Lake Tribune.

From the Salt Lake Tribune.
Chas. F. Blackburn, famous prospector,
who, incidently in his travels among the
Rockies, has killed forty-three full-grown
bears, furnishes the Tribune with the fol-
lowing narrative We were on prospect
ing tour. Rangers Hank" Hank Worm
wood, Texas ranger, and myself left camp
one morning just at daybreak. We were
out to examine the country for quartz
lodes above timber line. 1t was during
August. We reached the snow by 10
o'clock We were bound for that famous
peak known as the "Russian Crown"
The Crown is the highest mountain be-
tween Clark's Fork and the Yellowstone
River. We reached the summit at 2 o'clock.
1t was tiresome journey; still, we never
regret climbing such mountains The Rus
sian Crown is nearly $4,000 feet high. l
will not attempt description of the
scenery, but tell about the bear.
While looking carefully over the snow
fields we discovered eighteen fullgrown
bears and ten cubs. Leveling the telescope
on them we could see the monsters in all
their glory, lying lazily around in the snow
some asleep, some playing and some feed
ing on grasshoppers; these insects flying
over the range get chilled when near the
snow, and those that fall on the snow-felds
never get away. All of the bears except
two were several miles from u.s. Nearly
mile down the slope, on the mountain that
we were on, we observed two large bears
and resolved on attacking them. Looking
at them through the glass we soon found
that they had no knowledge of our pres
ence. We were within hundred yards of
them, and then standing we both shouted
to rouse the bears. The grizzly observed
us first (the other was cinnamon). I'm
mediately after seeing us the grizzly jump
ed up from the snow and came charging,
growing at every step.
Hank had Sharps rifle and a good six
shooter; had Winchester and full belt
of cartridges. We let the bear come with
in fifty PAGES; he commenced snorting and
began to show his teeth; his long shaggy.
hair began to stand up, and he was mad
grizzly. We felt safe and kept cool; hav-
ing good breech-loaders, we were brave.
Bruin was brave, too; he came right along
evidently bent on having square meal
from an individual of the genus homo.
We let Mr.. Grizzly come within thirty
PAGES and now he began to loom up like
Mississippi steamboat. Hank says "Let
me crease him. 1 said: "Give it to himl"
Hank shot bruin through the top of the
neck; he was not hurt, but he growled
loud with rage. We both opened fire and
the bear would fall at every shot. Seeing
that the other bear had started for us l
took careful aim at the grizzly's head and
fred, killing him instantly; he went rolling
down the snowy slope and did not stop
until he had rolled out on the ice of a
frozen lake 1000 feet below.
As the dead grizzly rolled away the live
cinnamon moved bravely up. When with
in hundred yards we commenced on him.
We could not shoot fast enough. The
bear was soon between us and it was dan
gerous to shoot at all. In less than two
seconds the bear made for Ranger Hank,
knocking him down and instantly jumping
on him. Hank lost his rife, but made
good use of his revolver, shooting the bear
in the mouth and brain, killing bruin in
stantly. The bear dropped and being
squarely over Hank, mashed him deep in
the snow. 1t was not long until l rolled
the bear off Ranger Hank, and Mr. Bear
went tumbling down the snowy slope, land
ing alongside the grizzly on the frozen
lake. Hank and 1 concluded to kill no
more bears that day.