The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-08-22
er1w,xT BEAR AND peEc,pIce.
Strategy Saved q Georgia Mans Life Whe
He Was Hard Pressed.

Strategy Saved q Georgia Mans Life When
He Was Hard Pressed.
The following story is told by Mr..
w. FL. Minerey, who has returned
from Towns county:
II visited the commencement of the
Young Harris institute. Having en-
joyed the exercises, decided to take
trip through the mountains on foot,
and, being unable to persuade any
one to accompany me, proceeded
alone. BY the time the sun had
reached it's zenith / had left the wav-
ing fields of grain behind and was
among the mountains. l sat down
upon fiat rock by the side of a
streamlet, which murmured by, dash
ing down a little shoal just below.
Here. after resting short time, /
pursued my journey and travelled on
until 2 o'clock, when | saw to my
right mountain towering high above,
its summit almost kissing the sky.
decided to ascend.
"I had not proceeded far when q
perpendicular cliff about seventy-ive
feet in height confronted me, but /
decided to flank it and pursue my
way Turning TO the right, / came to
a place where the cliff was more slant
ing, and here and there grew a few
|. pesrshrpAsrasaAi ~ sae]ee ~ sezaaszys
the creviees I began the task 81
climbing, which / found difficulty in
accomplishing, and was soon apprised
of the fact that when once up would
not be able to descend at that place,
but by the aid Of my walking cane
and pulling to the vines, grass and
bushes, / soon succeeded in reaching
near the top. But | was much con
fused when saw another perpcndicu-
lar cliff, about twelve feet high, still
above, shutting in on all sides. Look
ing around for some way to escape
from this prison into which | had
rambled, was delighted to see a mar
row passage leading out above the first
cliff which had impeded my progress.
Taking this narrow passage, which
was the only way TO escape, | had not
proceeded far until discovered that
the upper cliff became nearer and
nearer to the edge of the lower one,
until the passage disappeared.
II had gone about fifty feet, where
the passage was about four feet wide,
and was directly over the frightful
precipice below; but the cliff above
had gradually become lower, till il
was about breast high where | was
and could with ease spring to the toy
| of it and proceed without difficulty as
| the surface was almost level for some
distance above, and overgrown with
weeds and shrubbery about waist high
II leaned back against the cliff te
rest and view the country, when lsud
denly heard a rustling behind, ant
quickly turning was Mortified to see 6
huge, shaggy bear approaching Ris
| ing on his launches he began growl
ing, Struggling his shoulders, anG
showing his white teeth and ugly
claws, as it were, to make known wha
| had to meet. There was with ne
weapons save walking cane and 6
penknife. There was no hope in flight
To retreat was death; to go forward
the same.
ITO throw myself down the preci
pice would be an easier death than t.
be torn to pieces-but that would b
suicide. The monster was within ten
feet of me. fell upon my knees, no
to pray, but to escape the sight of thu
monster. In order to put into effec
the stratagem upon which ! had fallen
jerked of my coat and hat and PLACED
them upon my cane. BY this time th'
bear was almost ready to leap upoI
me. Ipitched out my cane with tn,
coat and hat upon it, as if it were my
self making a spring to get away. Th,
bear, with q roar, made clumsy leal
at them, and over the precipice h
went, carrying coat and hat in hi
embrace.
In the height of ecstasy ] callet
out, 'Good-by, old fellow. Take goo'
care of my coat and hat, | will g.
down after them after bit
Il leaped to the top of the elf
above, and, going around some dis
tance, got down there at last an,
found the bear had no further use TO
the coat and hat.
II went to house some miles dis
tant and told the man about what ha'
happened. He told me to make my
self at home and he, getting up SOM
others, went for the bear. They cam
in next morning with him and CAV
me the skin, which l shall keep al
my life, and dying, mention it in m.
will, bequeathing It as rich legacy t
my posterity. Atlanta Constitution