The Red Cloud chief., 1886-02-05
A BLOODY CONFLICT.
A Three-Correred Fight Between
a Men. Indians and Bears.

Oh CASAS
a Man. Indians and Bears.
You wiu sec by tho map that the
Salmon River. of Idaho. has its rise in
the Salmon River Mountains. Two
small creeks. mc.HSg at the north end
OF the mountains. form tho Salmon,
bit it is not mach of = stream until it
receives Wild Cat. Bitter Swee: and
o.her creeks down toward the Bitter
Roo. Mountains.
I had %jcurneyed to the forks OF the
Uppe. Salmon with n band of hunters
and trs.pers. and. while they had
spent tho winter in trapping for furs
and pets. I had developed tho fact
that coal. mica, slate. marble, copper
and other minerals were 10 be had for
tie asking in the mountains. Owing
to the depth Of snow and severity of
the weather. I had no: finished my
work Of prospecting when spring
came. while the trappers We're ready
Z .sD1HuUu SuC CAustuSlcu utlu ahu
move cast into the foothills of the Bit
ter Root.
On the FIRST day Of May I was left
alone. L had a horse. two pack mules.
a rifle, two rcvolvers and plenty Of food
ard ammunition. Az soon as the men
left me | pulled up stakes and moved
nynruA In fho o~cf o:lo ne Ahn n,nru<
ain where there was less wind and
more sunshine. Between the foothills
AMI the mountain vas . long. narrow.
win,Esg valley. varying in width from
ten to Fly feet. Tao now WAS just
leaving t1is valley. and tho grass of
last eassn had been preserved in pal
a:sb.c shape for tho hsrses.
Nothing Of special interest occurred
un;a tho Second Of June. On that
moraing. while cooking breakfast. a
monster grizzly. the first n seen dur
ing the winter. suddenly appeared
within TIVE hundred feet Of my camp
fire, coming up tho winding valley
from tho south. 1 was between him
and the horses. but tho latter were so
terrified that had they not been stOutly
staked out they would have made their
escape.
The bear halted. as I said. and AS no
displayed No intention TO come nearer
/ did not wish to provoke him by any
NC: Of hostility. He was in lean con-
dition. in his shaggy coat in anything
but p-escntablc shape. He stared at
me WITH cxrious eyes. shifted the ar.
grew uSossy after = few minutes and
riually NusAs-ed of down the valley
out OF s,yat. was thoroughly glad to
he rid of Eruin, but before l had fir
ished ny Nreskfss: no returned and
brought two other grizzlies with him.
all full grown.
, We'll armed As I was. I realized that
stood NO show against tn" three. The
horse was wild with terror. and the
mules were SO overcome that they lay
down with weakness. 1 piled n the
.brrsn, and rs the fire bl.zed and
cracked the bears took alarm and gal
loucd Of. looking back Is If to see II
they were pursued.
Tho presence Of the monsters an
moved mo moro than l can explain.
was more uneasy than 81 if had dis
covered three Indians prowling about
A grizzly bear is tho natura! foe O
everything that lives. He is withou
fesr. His strength is something as
founding. He will fight twenty mel
rs soon - one. Fire all the bullet
from tho chamber Of = Wincneste'
into him and not M may strike vita
spot. TIe sight Of fame and smoke
had kept them from attacking me. bal
Twas 6y no means satisfied that the!
would absndon the field.
The only plan to ; the horses "a
to build suether tire above them. II
one spot tho valley narrowed until j
was no. mere than eight feet wide. an'
here 1 bailt q solid fire Of heavy limb
-ouc which would last for a Who'll
+. dsv. A quarter of \ mile below tt
camp 1 fssnd another good spot, AM
bull. another FIRE. and then felt com
parativcly safe. The only fear Was tina
Iwould keep tho bears away to brin'
Indians down upon me. The heav,
smoke could be seen for twenty miles
and ii see. BY red men they would Gel
-tainly investigate.
did net leave camp that day. bein
busy with specimens snd IN making n
pairs to ny clothing. and the day an
night passed without IN alarm OF an
sort tbs pat mo in good spirits. an
Ipermisted tho 6res 70 die down {
~re.s beds q ceals. vAiss would retail
their heat n dsy. and soon after breai
f,st shosidered ny ufe y started Q
nn tAs valley 70 prospect and inve'
- Yea msy believe tha: kel
nv ~ $50 for eight Of Grizzlies b
4asy seemed - have lefs the ne;ghSo
hood for god.
a, Ii. nd d aso't I've miles u