Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-02-25
A BLOODY CONFLICT.
A Throo- Cornerod Fight Between
n Man, Indians and Bears.


You will see by the map that the
Salmon River. of Idaho, has its rise in
the Salmon River Mountains Two
small creeks. meeting at the north end
at the mountains, form the Salmon,
but il is not much of stream until il
receives Wild Cat. Bitter Sweet aud
other creeks down toward the Bitter
Root Mountains.
had journeycd 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 pelts, had developed the fact
that coal, mica. slate. marble. copper
and other minerals were to be had for
the asking in the mountains. Owing
10 the depth OF snow and severity of
the weather, had not finished my
work of prospecting when spring
came, while the trappers were ready
90 abandon the exhausted field and
move east into the foothills Of the Bit
ter Root.
On the first day of May was left
alone. l had horse, two pack mules,
n rifle, two revolyers and plenty Of food
and ammunition. As soon as the men
left me pulled up stakes and moved
around TO the east side Of the mount
ain where there was less wind and
more sunshine. Between the foothills
and the mountain was long. narrow,
winding valley. varying in width from
ten TO fifty feet. The snow was just
leaving this valley, and the grass of
las, season had been preserved in pail
atablc shape for the horses.
Nothing of special interest occurred
until the second of June. On that
morning, while cooking breakfast. n
monster grizzly, the first one seen dur
Ing the winter. suddenly appeared
within two hundred feet of my camp
fire. coming up the winding valley
from the south. l was between him
and the horses. but the latter were so
terrified that had they not been stoutly
stakcd out they would have made their
escape,
The bear halted. as / said. and rs he
displayed no intention TO come nearer
1 did not wish to provoke him by any
net Of hostility. He was in lean con-
dition. with his shaggy coat in anything
hut prcsentable shape. He stared at
me with curious eyes. shifted the air,
grew uneasy after few minutes and
finally numbered of down the valley
out of sight. l was thoroughly glad to
be rid of Bruin, but before had lin
ished my breakfast he returned and
brought two other grizzlies with him.
all full grown.
Well armed as was. realized that
stood no show against the three. The
horse was wild with terror, and the
mules were so overcome that they lay
down with weakness, piled ON the
brush. and rs the fire blazcd and
cracked the bears took alarm and gall
lopcd oil. looking back as IL to see II
they were pursued.
The presence of tho monsters an
noycd me more than can explain. 1
was more uneasy than as il 1 had dis
covered three Indians prowling about.
A grizzly bear is the natural foe of
everything that lives. He is without
fear. His strength is something as
founding. lie will fight twenty men
Is soon as one. Fire all the bullets
from the chamber of n Winchester
into him and not one may strike avital
spot. The sight Of flame and smoke
had kept them from attacking me- but
j was by no means satisfied that they
would abandon the field.
The only plan to save the horses was
20 build another fire above them. In
one spot the valley narrowed until 1t
was not more than eight feet wide. and
here | built solid fire Of heavy limbs
-one which would last for a whole
day. A quarter of mile below the
camp found another good spot, and
built another fire. and then felt COM
paratively safe. The only fear was that
iwould keep the bears away to bring
Indians down upon me. The heavy
smoke could be seen for twenty miles,
and il seen by red men they would GER
tainly investigate.
I did not leave camp that day. being
busy with specimens and in making re-
pairs TO my clothing. and the day and
night passed without an alarm OF any
sort. This put me in good spirits, and
Ipermitted the fires to die down to
great beds Of Goals, which would retain
their heat all day. and soon after break
fast shouldered my rifle and started OIL
down the valley to prospect and inves-
tigste. You may believe that l kept
my eyes open for sight Of grizzlies. but
they seemed to have left the neighbor-
hood for good.
At the end OF about five miles the
valley suddenly broadened or de-
bouched into another. This larger val
ley opened in from the broad plains,
and was mile long. 1 had no sooner
rounded mass Of rock and earth and
brought the larger valley into view
than my ears were greeted with terri
Die yell. Right before me, and not
over quarter Of a mile away. were
seven or eight Indians surrounding
small camp fire. with their ponies graz
ing near by.
Az such time as that men think and
oct quickly. IfIran back up the val.
'ey such action would uncover my