Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-02-18
A BLOODY CONFLICT.

A BLOUDY CUNFLlGT.
You will see by the map that the
Salmon River, Of Idaho, has It's rise in
the Salmon River Mountains. Two
small creeks, meeting at the north end
Of the mountains, form the SALMON,
but it is not much of stream until it
receives Wild Cat, Bitter Sweet, and
other creeks down toward the Bitter
Root Mountains.
l had journeyed to the forks Of the
Upper Salmon with band Of fhunters
and trappers, and, while they had
spent the winter in trapping tor fur-
and Ielts, had developed the fact
that coal, mica, slate, marble, copper
and other minerals were to be had for
the asking in the mountains. Owing
to the depth of snow and severity Of
the weather, | had not finished my
work Of prospecting when spring
came, while the traFpers were ready
to abandon the exhausted field and
move east into the foothills ofthe Bit
ter Root.
On the first day Of May was left
alone. | had a horse, two pack mules,
rifle, two revolvers 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
mountain where there was less wind
and more sunshine. Between the foot
hills and the mountain was a long,
narrow, winding valley, varying in
width from ten to fifty feet The
snow was just leaving this valley, and
the grass Of last season had been pre-
served in palatable shape for the
horses.
Nothing of special interest occurred
morning, while cooking breakfast, a
monster grizzly, the first one seen du.
ring the winter, suddenly appeared
within two hundred feet ofmy camp
fire, coming up the winding valley
from the south. | was between him
and the horses, but the latter were 50
terrified that had they not been stout
ly staked out they would have made
their escape.
The bear halted, as l said, and as he
displayed no intention TO come nearer
! did not wish to provoke him by any
act Of hostility. He was in lean con-
dition, with his shaggy coat in any
thing but presentable shape. He
stared at me with curious eyes, shifted
the air, grew @ueasv after a few min
utes and finally numbered off down
the valley out of sight. l was thor
oughly glad to be rid of Bruin, but
before l had finished my breakfast he
returned and brought two other griz-
zlies with him, ali full grown.
Well armed as was, I realized that
I 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 as the FIRE blazed and
cracked the bears took alarm and gal.
loped of. looking back as ii to see il
they were pursued.
The presence Of the monsters an
moved me more than can explain. I
was more uneasy than if 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. He will 6ght twenty men
as soon as one. Fire al the bullets
from the chamber of Winchester
into him and not one nay strike q vi.
tai spot. The sight Of fame and
smoke had kept them from attacking
me, but I was bv no means satisfied
! that they would abandon the field.
The only plan to save the horses
was to build another FIRE above them
| In one spot the vallew narrowed until
/ it was not more than eight feet wide
and there I built solid FIRE OF heavy
limbs-one which would last for q
whole day. 4 quarter Of mile be
low the camp I found another gooC
spot, and built another FIRE, and ther
felt comparatively safe. The only
fear was that I would keep the bear
away 70 bring Indians down upon ne
The heavy smoke could be seen 70
twenty miles. and ii seen By red mel
they would certainly investigate.
| ] did not leave camp that day, De
ing busy with specimens sad in max
ing repairs 10 my clothing. and th
day and night passed without a
alarm Of any. sort. This put ne j
good spirits, aud ! permitted the IRE
to die down to great beds Of coal
which would retain their heat all day
and soon after breakfast shouldsre
nv rife and started OF down the va
ley TO prospect and investigate. 70
D may believe that ! kept my eyes ope
FOE sisht Of grizzlies, bus thsy sssms