Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-06-05
CHASED BY GRIZZLIES.

Doctor T., or who was known as the
ssWild Dutchman," was q strange char
acter, who, in early days, during the
SOS. crossed the plains and entered
what is known as the Territory of
Idaho, and for many years led nomadic
life. He explored the Lower Snake
river. and after the coming of other
settlers established sort of flying
ferry near the peak of the Seven
Devils" and where that river breaks
through the range of Blue Mountains
on its course to the Columbia. OF course
DR.. 4. did not have bonanza in the
ferry business to begin with, but when
the first gold mines of Eastern Oregon
were discovered, he found himself on
one Of the main lines of travel to the
diggings, and for awhile seemed to
fairly coin the ''needful"
Soon after the increase of his pros
perity he built house, fenced in some
wild land, and came into possession of
couple OF COWS, and probably the first
two OF those useful animals in that
region. There were plenty of savage
animals as we'll as savage beasts in that
vicinity in those days, and the doctor
had to be constantly on his guard to
prevent surprise, and at various times
his escape was quite miraculous. But
one of the narrowest escapes that he
had while in that vicinity was of Pc
culiar character and came upon him at
very unexpected moment. He had
built strong and solid log stable close
to his house to shelter and protect his
COWS, and it was his usual custom to
have them inside the stable just before
Sundown. But one afternoon he was
absent from his hut on a hunting expedi-
ton. and being delayed did not get home
until long after old Sol had disappeared
behind the Western horizon.
Putting down his trusty rife he did
not stop to prepare himself any thing to
eat, but took up his milk bucket and
rushed out to hunt his kline, fearing
that if not soon found some accident
might befall them. AS he suspected.
they were not in the stable, so he pro-
coded toward the foothills, loudly call
ing the names of the two COWS, but there
came no answer. After wandering around
for perhaps half An hour and not seeing
or hearing any thing from them, he
started homeward, and was probably
less than seventy-five yards distant from
his home when on turning his eyes to
an abrupt elevation of ground only a
few yards above him he discovered two
dark objects approaching slowly and
which he mistook for his lost kline. So
he turned about and was making brief
detour to get behind them, when 10, in
stead of his missing cattle, he discovered
that the supposed cows were two power
full grizzly bears. The bears were prob
ably also looking for the COWS, and when
they saw the owner they grew very an
CRY and sprang after him, growing saw
agely.
DIR. T. took in the situation at
glance, and, remembering that he had a
small boat loosely anchored down by the
river side, he concluded it might afford
the means of escape, and quickly threw
aside his tin pail and dashed in that
direction at his utmost speed, with the
bears in close pursuit. They gained on
him amazingly, but fortunately the dis
lance was only few rods, and as he
reached the bank the dim moonlight en-
abled him to descry the outlines of the
rude skiff, and he threw himself head
long into it atone huge bound, the bears
being SO near as to almost catch him by
the heels Fortunately, as the boat was
only slightly fastened the impetus
given to it by the doctors weight
caused it to be driven some yards out
into the stream and into strong cur
rent, and of course beyond the reach of
the grizzlies. But on reaching the bank
and seeing their prey escape they gave
vent to some most unearthly savage
growls, and gazed after the boat and its
occupant with the strangest animal as
constituent. The ''Wild Dutchman'
had an all-night perilous trip in his lit
tie oarless craft, shooting the many
rapids, but luckily escaped being
drowned, and the following day re-
turned to his ranch, where he discov-
cred that one of his cows had been
caught by the bears and eaten. How
ever, after that adventure he was never
known to mistake grizzlies for the do
nestle kine.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Extraordinary Phenomenon,
An extraordinary phenomenon popu-
larly called kamaitachi is reported from
Kitakomagori, Yamanashi Ken, in Japan,
says the Nichi Nichi Shimbun. Scien-
lists assign its cause to a vacuum due to
atmospheric changes, while the villagers
think it to be the work of devils. The
circumstances giving rise to the above
theories are as follows: A man suddenly
falls down while walking in the open
air or in a house when slit in the flesh
from one inch to one inch and half in
length and about an inch in depth is
found, the place principally attacked
being the legs. At the time not much
pain is felt, but half an hour afterward
the pain increases as the blood begins
to flow. The wounds are said to be very
difficult to cure
A professor Of acoustics ought 70
have ind ideaa