The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-26
cLAsPsp BY a BEAR.
Exctting Midnight Adventure Relates By
Railroad Man.

kxcttng Midnight Adventure Reiate1 By
1 Railroad Man.
A man who is well thought of by the
railway fraternity is Hoyt Sherman.
general agent of the Union Pacific. OF
Salt Lake. He was first brought into
prominence by an adventure which
he had on the road from Beaver
Canyon into the Yellowstone National
Park. Mr. Sherman was tourist agent
for the road. and when 4 big party
went up to the park he would accom-
pany them. The distance from Beaver
Canyon is one hundred and twenty-five
miles. and three years ago, when he had
the adventure, the road was very primi-
tive. Rough and rocky, It wound its
way through deep canyons. whose walls
rose to magnificent heights, making
the scenery awful and grand, and then
over fertile plains, through mountain
Gus country into timbered regions that
could not be excelled. There was some
thing about this drive that thrilled and
delighted passengers and made them
want to cover the distance again. But
as pleasant as they were. they were not
free from danger. 1t lurked every
where. In the assures of the
rocks were skulking mountain lions
watching the passing of the stage-coach
with cleaning eyes, while panthers,
more cowardly. yet fully us dangerous,
perched in the trees that overhung the
road on which the stage Travelled. would
give their fierce cry and perchance leap
upon its top to find that its occupants
were beyond reach. Then the silver
tipped bear and big black bruin. on his
stately round for meat, would cautious
ly pass that way. Sometimes at night
the tourists would camp for Il change.
1t was one night that they did this
that Mr.. Sherman had his adventure
one that is not new to him now. They
camped in a clump of timber below the
mountains, and corralled the horses
few rods Off 1t was about midnight
when Mr.. Sherman was awakened by
the neighing of horse. He got up to
reconnoiter and saw black object pass
near the corral. The moon was out in
all her splendor, though the trees shad-
owed the earth. Thinking that the OBJ
ject was man, and that he m.ant to
steal the horse, he took his pistol from
his pocket, and noticing that his clasp.
knife was all right, he cautiously ad.
vanced. He was looking about to sec
where the big black object had gone,
VIXEN. rs though it had risen from the
ground, big black bear stood in front
of him.
First he thought to run. but this
would be death, for one stroke from its
powerful paw would lay him low. The
pistol was small one, but he raised it
after his first surprise was over ard
pulled the trigger. 1t did not 90 of.
He just remembered that he had neg
lected to reload the weapon that even
ing after discharging all the cartridges.
When the trigger snapped the bear
looked at the pistol curiously and then
at Sherman. The latter took his knife
out and slowly backed up until he was
protected by Il tree. The bear followed
and caressinSly began to hug him. Its
hot breath was upon his face, and he
grew faint. He rallied and drove the
knife to the hilt into bruin, who. now
fully enraged. rolled Sherman on the
ground. Now it WIS fight or die. An
other plunge and the sharp edge OF the
steel went blowing up the bear. fairly
him. The struggle soon
ended, and although Sherman was the
victor, he was not altogether unframed.
The tourists heard the noise. and were
in time to witness the end of the battle.
For week after three Englishmen did
nothing but curse their ill-luck for not
being the man that the bear attacked.
San Francisco Examiner.