The Iola register., 1890-06-06
CHASED BY GRIZZLIES.
The Hwfld Dutchma 49, Adventure wish
Two Formidable Brutes.

Two Formidable Bfufe1.
Doctor T., or who was known as the
"Wild 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 nomsdic
life. He explored the Lower Snake
river, and after the coming of other
settlers established a 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.. 7. 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 a
couple of cows, and probably the first
two of those useful animals in that
region. There were plenty Of savage
animals as well as savage beasts in that
vicinity in those days, and the doctor
had to be constantly on his guard to
prevent a 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 a Pc
culiar character and came upon him at
a very unexpected moment. He had
built a 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 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 il not soon found some accident
| might befall them. AS he suspected.
they were not in the stable, so he pro-
ceded toward the foothills, loudly call
| ing the names of the two cows, but there
came no answer. After wandering around
for perhaps half IN hour and not seeing
or hearing any thing from them, he
started homeward, and was probably
less than seventy-fve 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 10 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.
DR.. 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
tance was only a 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 at one 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 a strong cur
rent, and of course beyond the reach Of
the grizzlies. Button 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 Dutehman"
had an sll-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
mestic kine.-St Louis Globe Democrat