Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-10-11

Dear or frec1plccs
Atlanta Constitution
The following story is told by W.
II. Winery. who has just returned
from Towns County:
81 visited the commencement of the
Young Harris Institute. Having en-.
joyed the exercises | decided to take
a trip through the mountains on
foot, and being unable to persuade
anyone to accompany me, proceeded
alone. By the time the sun had
reached it's zenith had left the fields
OF waving grain behind and was
among the hills. saw to my
right n mountain towering high
above, its summit almost kissed the
sky. decided TO ascend.
II had not proceeded far when a
peculiar cliff about seventy-fve feet
in height confronted me, but | de-
cided to flank it and pursue my way.
Turning to the right l came to o.
place where the cliff was more
slanting and here and
there grew few vines, shrubs and
punches of grass in the crevices. I
began the task of climbing, which l
found difficult of accomplishment,
and was soon apprised ofthe 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 vine, grass and bushes, / soon
succeeded in reaching near the top.
But was much confused when saw
another perpendicular cliff about
twelve feet high still above, shutting
me in on all sides. Looking around
Tor some way to escape from this
prison into which had rambled, I
was delighted to see a narrow pas
sage leading out above the first cliff
winch had impeded my progress. TAX
ing 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
Il had gone about fifty feet, where
the passage was about four feet wide,
and was directly over the frightfui
precipice below; but the cliff above
had gradually become lower, till it
was about breast-high where was,
ana could with ease spring to the
top OF 1t and proceed without diff
Guilty, as the surface was almost level
for some distance above, and over
grown with weeds and shrubbery
about waist high.
II leaned back against the cliff to
rest and take n view OF the country.
when | suddenly heard u rustling be-
hlnd, and quickly turning was horri-
hed TO see huge shaggy bear APP
preaching. Rising on his launches,
he began growing, shurgging his
shoulders and showing his white teeth
and ugly claws, as it were, to make
known what l had to meet. There /
was with no weapons, save walking
cane and a penknife. There was no
hope in fight. To retreat was death;
ogo forward the same. To throw nv
self down the precipice would be an
S.''''Si uC|oi Clitll 10 De torn TO
pieces, but that would be suicide.
The monster was within ten feet of
me. jerked off my coat and hat
ana placed them upon my cane. BY
TINS time the bear was almost ready
to leap upon me. pitched out nv
cane with the coat and hat upon it.
as II 1T were myself making a spring
to get away. The bear, with a roar.
made q clumsy leap at them, and
over the precipice he went, carrying
coat and hat in his embrace
In the height of my ecstacy
called out: Goodbye, old fellow.
Take good care of my coat and hat;
L will go down after them after bit
Il leaped to the top of the cliff
above and, going around some dis
lance, got down there at last, and
found the bear had no further use
Tor my coat and hat.
II went to n house some miles dis
tant and told the man what had
happened. He told me to make nv
selfat home, and he, getting up some
others, went for the bear. They
came in next morning with him and
gave me the skin, which shall keep
all my life, and dying, mention it in
my will, bequeathing it as rich
legacy to my posterity."