River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-23

had arrived at this conclusion,
he came upon a large, hollow
sycamore log. or. rather. the greater
part Of a trunk. lying PROSTATE across
little piece Of level ground by the
side Of the creek, the waters Of which
had evidently undermined its roots
years before. He looked the surround
ings over and then unrolled his lunch,
crawled into the ample opening at the
upper or little end of the trunk, from
which the branches had been torn
away no doubt when the tree crashed
down and further rOtted by years of
rain and sun. Lying prone upon the
rifle by his side, he not only enjoyed
the simple corn bread and ham with
which his better half had provided
him. but got very acceptable rest.
How long he had lain there whel he
was aroused he SAYS he doesn't ext 81
~ know. He thinks that on his tramp,
the hearty food. and the lulling patter
of the rain upon Ills shelter made him
sleepy. and he may have dozed a little.
suddenly he fell the hollow old she'll
vibrate. heard a muffIed. scraping.
shutting sound. and raising his head
quickly from where il had rested upon
his folded arms he saw the aperature at
the further end OF the log suddenly
closed. There was subdued smiling
and then loud snort. He knew in an
instant that it was nothing less than a
bear. which had come in At what might
be called the front entrance of his
place of refuge, and he judged it to be
bear Of very good size. The bear,
too. was evidently aware that the syca-
more had some other tenant and re
manned Ominously still. Slowly bring
ing his gun from alongside his body
Ia his shoulder he took careful aim by
the faint streak of light that showed
between the bears body and that con-
cave surface of the tree trunk aud
fired. There was violent motion that
shook the old sycamore from end to
end. a loud .'woof, wool. and then all,
was STILL
The hunter, happy over his unex-
pected good luck, started to back
from his end Of the log with an idea of
going around and drawing his victims
carcass from the other end. but just rs
he made the first movement toward do
ing 50 he heard cOmmOtiOn behind
him. Turning his head as far rs pos
siblc to one side he looked back and
].
other bear within yard of the circu-
lar opening. Acting upon the impulse
he crept two or three feet further into
the log.
The bear came to the opening and
paused The hunters mind was now
swiftly-turning Kaleidoscope Of
thoughts His gun was not loaded,
and in his cramped and narrow quar-
tiers he could not run charge home.
To emerge feet foremost under the
very nose of a large bear was suicidal.
II the bear would only turn away-but
no: it was already pushing its way into
the tunnel. which now became almost
totally dark Could the now desperate
man creep forward, push the presuma-
bly, dead bear from the other end of the
log. and 20 make his escape? Doubt
fui. Still he crept forward, slowly,
painfully, endeavoring, though vainly,
in the meantime To load his rifle. He
could hear the bear behind him labori-
ously squeezing it, huge body into the
cylinder. could hear the rattling aud
tearing Of its claws upon the half
rotted wood, and could almost feel its
breath.
Il felt almost as unpleasant" he
said. las / did when | was hangin' by
that durn snakes tail over the ninety
three foot ledge"
Suddenly the strained nerves give a
great throb In drawing the knife his
hand happened to strike the prison
wall almost above his head. II sounds
thin, lie thrusts his knife into
through 1.-THE soft rottcd wood comes
down in fragments. and dust in his
face aud eyes. There is hope. The
bear is slowly but surely forcing it,
way toward him. How eagerly he
thrusts his knife and twists it in the
unfeeling wounds in the sycamore
shell He strikes upward with his
clenched fists and tears furiOusly with
his fingers until they bleed \ large
piece comes rafting down. He tears.
pounds clts. slashes more vigorously
than ever. Yes. it is large enough,
He draws himself up and energies
from what threatened to he his tomb,
the place of horrible and revolving
death. and is safe.
And now hc began relOading his
rifle. and the second bear. a. il crawled
through the log and shifted moment
at the hole from which the hunter
emerged. was shot through the head.
Them bears, he said. "as he mopped
his face. weighed almost 'zactly eight
hundred pounds-One leetle more an
focr hundred. an one "A leetle less. -
Cor. Philadelphia Times