Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-30
SET A BEAR ON FIRE.
The Bear Set a Creek to Blazing
and There Was a Fiery Time
GeperalIy.

Generally.
"Folks may not know it," was the
remark OF "A man from the oil regions
TO "a New York Sun man, 'but bears
can swim like ducks. l don't know
whether they can dive or not, but il
they can one bear that 1 remember
made the mistake OF his life once by
not diving, and that not only but in
not swimming under water from one
bank OF the stream he was in to the
other bank before he came out again.
The fate OF that bear was fearful one
and warning to all Of the bear family
to stick TO terra firma in the oil
regions.
IL was one OF the first seekers after
riches that went up along the Cherry
Tree run in Venango county TO put
down oil wells Good paying territory
been found anu number OF wells put
down in the vicinity OF Cherry Tree.
Trout fishing was excellent in those
mountain streams then, oil not having
yet been produced along them in
sufficient quantities to mingle with the
water and spoil it for fishing. | was
an enthusiastic trout fisherman, and
one day in June, early in the days Of
the rush to the Oil Creek valley, n
friend of NINE and | went very near to
the headwaters of one OF the small
creeks that emptied into Cherry Tree
run for big days fishing. 1t was get
ting along toward dark by the time we
had fished To the mouth OF the creek,
and we were loaded down with trout,
and about as near tired out as two
vigorous young men could we'll be. In
fact, we were so near tuckered out that
we concluded to camp at the mouth OF
the creek for the night, although we
were within three miles Of the shanty
where we were sinking a we'll. We ate
a hearty supper OF trout, built big
camp fire. and lay down on the ground
by the side Of it to sleep. The fire
threw a glare clear across Cherry
Tree run. which was wide and deep
there.
II wasn't long in falling asleep.
never knew what woke me up, but l
awoke suddengly in the night, sudden
~ and wide. The campfire was still
burning brightly, and as lay there
looking at the broad pathway of light
where the light rested upon it sudden
~ become agitated, and | soon became
aware that some big object was swim
ming the stream and coming direct
ly toward where We were lying. 1t
was spoolly sort OF situation, and to
tell the truth, | was scared, so much so
that couldn't stir | lay there scarce
ly daring TO breathe, with my eyes fix
ed on the approaching object. 1t pull
ed deliberately across the creek, and
as it crawled out on the shore | discov-
cred that it was an enormous bear.
He didn't pause for a second, but
slouched right on toward the fire, evil
IDENTIFY prompted by genuine bear curl
osity. The spot where he had camped
wasn't more than twenty feet from
either stream. The appearance OF the
big bear and his advance upon our
camp broke the spell under which
had been lying and Isprang to my feet,
grabbed n blazing stick from the fire,
and hurled IL at the approaching ami
NAL, which was then almost an arms
length OF me. The brand struck the
bear. If had been frightened ut the
first apsearence OF the animal in the
run | was simply terrified when the
burning stick hit him, for like flash
of gunpowder the poor beast burst into
flames from snout TO tail.
with howl that filled the wood 8
with frightful echoes and brought my
sleeping friend 10 his feet i'm terror the
blazing bear turned and fled to the
creek and jumped into the water. II
he had expected to find help there he
was wofully mistaken, for in an instant
the creek from bank to bank and fal
above and below us became line OF
leaping fire, lighting up the gloom Of
the forest for rods on either side ano
forming one of the most awful specta.
Giles / ever with essed and such a one n.
l never hope to witness again. There
came from that roaring stream OF flame
one long, unearthly wall OF agony
For second we saw the blazing form
of the wretched bear writhe in torture
in the burning creek. Then we saw
and heard him no more. The terrib ID
heat from the fire drove US back into
the woods, where we remained for ar
hour or more, two terror-stricken
trembling spectators of that sudden ap
partition of fame Then it died grad
ually away and became extinct, leaving
upon us such a sense of gloom and
ghostliness that neither OF us had the
courage 70 remain longer on the spot
and we lost no time in making our wa,
in the darkness to our shanty up the
creek.
1--WE learned, on reaching there
that an oil tank had sprung leak tina
evening, and before it could be stopped
great quantity of oil had run into tn,
stream and foated down on the surface
The unfortunate bear had struck thi
infammable stuff when he swan the
creek. and his fur had become saturat
ed with it My firebrand had igniteG
it instantly, and in jumping back int
the creek, all ablaze, the bear had Sc
the whole oily surface on fire, and me
his frightful fate