The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-09-21
on Carbon County. Penna September "a, 1889.

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up the hill. Both fred at the same mo-
ment, and one ball at least hit the bear.
Uttering roar of pain, the grizzly snap
ped viciously at his shoulder where the
bullet struck, and as he turned his head
he saw the two hunters, who then recog-
nized the Monarch by his huge bulk and
grizzled front. The Monarch came with
rush like an avalanche down the noun
tain side, breaking through the manza-
nita brush and smashing down young
trees as easily as a man tramples down
grass. His lowered head offered no fair
mark for bullet, and he came on with
such speed that only chance shot could
have hit him anywhere. jeff and his
son Jess did not try any experiments of
that kind, but dropped their rifles and
Skinned up tree as fast as they could
They were none too rapid, as jeff left
piece of one bootleg in the Monarch's
possession. The Monarch is not a bear
to fool away much time on man up a
tree, and as soon as he discovered that
the hunters were out of reach he went
away, and disappeared in the brush.
The two men came down, picked up
their guns, and decided to have another
shot at the Monarch if they could find
him. They knew better than to go into
the brush after a bear, but they hunted
cautiously about the edges for some time.
They were sure that the Monarch was
still in there, but they could not ascer-
tain at what point JEFF went around to
windward of the brush patch and set fire
to it, and then rejoined Jess on the lee
ward side TO watch for the temperance
of the Monarch. The wind was blowing
fresh up the canyon, and the fire ran
rapidly through the dry brush, making
a thick smoke and great noise. When
the Monarch came out he came rapidly
and from an unexpected quarter, and
the two hunters had just time enough to
break for their tree again and get out of
reach.
This time the Monarch did not leave
them. He sat down at the foot of the
tree and watched with malicious pa
| tience. The wind increased and the fire
spread on all sides, and in fewmoments
| it became uncomfortably warm up the
| tree. The bear kept on the side of the
tree opposite the advancing fire, and
waited for the two men to come down.
JEFF and Jess got little protection from
the heat by hugging the leeward side of
the trunk, but 1t became evident that the
tree would soon be in blaze, and unless
they jumped and ran within the next
| minute or two they would be surrounded
by fire. They hoped that the grizzly
| would weaken first. but he showed no
| signs of an intention to leave. When
the flames began crawling up the wind
ward side of the tree and the heat be-
came unbearable jeff said:
"Jess, which would you rather take
chances on, grizzly or fire2''
"Dad, 1 think I'll chance the bear"
replied Jess, covering his face with his
arm.
"All right. When say go, jump and
run as though you were scooting through
hell with keg of powder under your
arm"
Jeff and Jess crawled out on the limbs
and swung by their hands for moment,
and at the word they dropped to the
ground within ten feet of the bear, and
lit out like scared wolves. They broke
right through the burning brush, getting
their hair singed as they went. The
bear started after them, but was afraid
to go through the fire, and while he was
finding a way out of the circle of burn
ing brush and timber jeff and Jess struck
out down the mountain side, making
about fifteen feet at a jump, and never
stopped running until they got to the
creek and out of the bears sight. True
Flag.