The morning call., 1890-07-21
A THRILLING
ADVENTURE.
In n Cave With a New Mexican
Cinnamon Bear.
A Psrilous Situation-A Prisoner for Three
Days in a Mountain Recess.
Rescued at Last.

day.
He is about As years old, and. notwith-
standing he served four years in the lost
cause and underwent many hardships and
privatious, he is perfect specimen of ply
steal manhood, and is as hale and hearty as
when he stood beardless boy in the front
ranks of the Forty-fourth Alabama at Get
tysburg. Mr.. Hosper is an Alabama boy,
and was raised in Randolph County. about
fifty miles from Atlanta. George, as he is
Familiarity called by his friends, has great
weakness for frontier life and wild adven-
ture, and has had as many hairbreadth
escapes perhaps as any man in New Mexico.
The most thrilling adventure of his life,
writes Duncan (Ariz) correspondent of
the Atlanta Constitution, occurred a few
days ago.
Mr. Hosper is a very modest man, and
though he delights In relating his many
wonderful adventures, he always manages,
If possible. to make some one else the hero,
and touches very lightly on his own ex-
ploits. He lives on the ella River, where
farming is carried on altogether by irriga-
ton. He owns a little farm, which he and
his children cultivate principally in garden
truck for the Calvin market. Cinnamon
bears are numerous here, and Mr.. Hosper's
lufG VI adventure Olleu uTIVeS ulm from
his well-tilled farm and causes him to
spend weeks in the mountains in search of
his grizzly foe.
About eight miles from Mr. Hosper's is
mountain known far and wide as '.Steeple
Rock" 1t has two peaks rising high
toward the heavens, that very much re-
semble church steeples. There were for
merly three of these spires, but in 1882 an
earthquake demolished one of them, and
the tumble-down rocks around its base
very much resemble the pictures of some
old demolished Scottish castle. A deep
canyon meanders through this mountain,
and numerous uneXplored caves can be
found between its base and summit
A few days ago Mrs. Hosper informed her
husband that the meat was out, and, as
is usual on such occasions, he shouldered
his Winchester and struck a bee line for
the Steeple Rock Mountain, fayorite re-
sort for the cinnamon bear. He generally
MAKES THE EXCURSION ALONE,
But on this occasion. and for the first time,
he took his son, a lad of about II years.
Whether providence directed him to do
this matters not, but as the sequel will
snow the lucky circumstance of taking the
boy was the means of Mr.. Hosper being
rescued from horrible and lingering death.
This is perhaps the toughest country on
the globe, and all hunting is done on foot.
A burro is generally taken along to carry
the grub and bring back the game, and is
taken as near the hunting grounds as POSI-
BILE and "staked out"
Mr. Hosper and his little boy penetrated
Steeple Rock Canyon to suitable camp
Ing ground, and, taking out their burro,
started out in search of game. About a
mile from camp he sighted large cinna-
mon bear about 1000 yards distant on the
mountain side. Directing his son to keep
close in his rear, be crawled to within
about 200 yards Of the bear, and taking de-
lioerate aim, fired. At the crack of the gun
the bear hastily disappeared over a small
emlnence, and when Mr.. H0Sper went to
the spot where the bear stood he found the
blood so plentiful that he readily supposed
that the wound was fatal one Follow
ing the trail of blood about half a mile he
found that the bear had entered one of the
numerous caves that abound in the canyon.
The entrance to the cave was about six
feet in diameter, and appeared to widen as
1t extended under the mountain. Mr.. Hos
per waited some time, hesitating whether
TO enter the cave or not. A small stream of
water was running from the cave and
Fastening down the mountain side to the
picturesque valley below. After consulting
with his son, the conclusion was reached
that the bear must be dead and that it
would be no difficult matter TO find him and
bring him out. Gathering up a lot of the
Spanish dagger for torch, it was lighted
and the exploration began. The boy went
in front with the light closely followed by
should the bear prove to be yet alive.
For about thirty feet the cave widcned
out until 1t was about II feet wide and per-
haps Or 10 feet to the ceiling overhead,
then it spread out in different directions,
and from the best observation that could be
made with the dim light it appeared that
the different apartments terminated at no
great distance ahead. Selecting the apart
ment on the right, the party proceeded for
ward, and had not gone more than ten feet
when they distinctly saw the bear crouch
ing in the corner of the cave. That he was
not dead was evident, for he arose from his
recumbent position, and with growl was
approaching his purSuers. There was no
time for consultation or elaboration now
it was eminently
TIME FOR ACTION,
And the man who had stood the "racket"
in a hundred battles did not waver now.
As quick as flash the trusty Winchester
was discharged, and the bear lay a corpse
at his feet. The son, who had shown no
signs of finching during this trying ordeal,
approached the bear with his torch and
found that it was really dead. 1t was a
very large one, and required the eXertions
OF the two to drag 1t from its lair.
A short rope was tied to each hind foot
and to this was fastened the gun for the
two to pull by. Mr.. Hosper says that he
had just fastened the rope to the center of
the gun barrel when he heard a rumbliDg
SOuuu lIOui TIC uiItCLlUH Ol lile cave en-
trance. Hastily dropping his gun, he
cIasped the boy by the hand and ran toward
the entrance. When he reached the caves
mouth he found that large amount of
loose rock and rubbish had fallen from over
head and that the entrance to the cave was
about half filled up. They got out as soon
as possible and with thankful hearts for
their preservation were starting for home
when Mr.. HoSper thought of his gun. To
abandon this trusty friend was heartrend-
ing, and before doing so another consulta-
ton took place. Returning to the entrance
of the cave and examining it carefully Mr..
Hosper decided to wait an hour ana if no
more rubbish fell from the ceiling to re-
enter the cave, quarter up the bear, and
bring 1t and his gun TO the entrance. AT
the expiration of the hour everything re-
manned quiet and wisely leaving his son
on the outside he returned TO the bear,
and cutting off ham he shouldered his gun
and fastened toward the front. He had
not proceeded far when a repetition of the
horrible rumblins was heard. fastening
toward the entrance, he was soon Mortified
to find the opening closed up, and appar-
emily hundreds of wag0n-loads of earth and
rock obstructlng his way. The man who
had stood in line of battle and faced the
foe without culver, now stood appalled,
when he realized his perilous situation.
Here. shut up in dismal cave, with no
hope OF rescue, destined to starve or
smother, it was enough to make the stout
est heart quake with fear. He could hear
no sound from the outside. and as the last
spark Of light was eXtinguished, and he
was left in Egyptian darkness, he fell on
his knees and prayed as lie had never
prayed before He shouted at the top of
bis voice until he was hoarse. thinking his
son might hear his voice and give an an
swering shout, but the duh echoes of his
own voice was all the sound he heard.
Fearing to move lest he should encounter
some wild beast trying to make its exit. he
again fell on his knees and sent up his sup
plications to God.
After some time he became convinced
that he was the only living being in the
cave. and now feeling a sense of security
he arose to his feet and began to move
around in his small prison. Cropping his
way along he found the carcass of the dead
bear, and thought with satisfaction that he
had the means of prolonging his life for
many days to come. Knowing that some
where in the cave was the fountain-head of
the little rivulet he had seen in front he be-
gan the search for water, and soon found
small stream emerging from one of the
chambers.
Knowing that at least four or five hours
must elapse before his son could go home