The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-07
out and examined.

Tip Ferguson leading. They crossed
the swale in safety, and then. being
near the cache, moved with the utmost
caution and in breathless silence. Their
hearts beat violently, and for the first
time little Mr. Keely began to wish he
had gun. 1t was by this time nearly
nine o'clock, and in the first darkness of
September night While Tip Fergu-
son slowly reconnoitered and peered into
the darkness the procession halted and
the doctor lighted the kerosene torch.
Under its light the party found the tree
which in the afternoon they had pre-
pared as blind, and in few moments
all were in its branches. The cache be-
meath it had not been disturbed. HELL
come soon if we keep quiet" they said.
But he didn't come for long time.
The party ''doused' the burning Zero
sene and sat in darkness for two hours
or more. The hard seats in the branch
es, the long, tedious vigil, the quiet of
the night, and natural drowsiness soon
relieved the party of it's spirits, and the
proposition then was made to 60 home.
just then, however, commo-
ton in the bushes was heard. 1t
grew louder and louder. Then there
was roar, and pretty soon a rustic in
another direction. 1t was evident that
there was not only one bear approach
Ing, but two. This discovery was quite
enough to keep every hunter in his
perch. But the grizzlies did not come
near the tree. They seemed to meet in
tho hnchnC ohnnt fyun nd
and to be bent on having good time
until the breakfast hour. They growled
and yowled and skylarked about and
played for nearly two hours. The half
frozen hunters in the trees could see as
the early dawn approached the chapar-
raj move like waves in the sea, but they
could SEQ nothing to shoot at. An hour
Later daylight came and the bears be-
gan to think of breakfast. Slowly one
of the monsters emerged from the
brush. He was tremendous animal,
weighing good deal more than half a
ton. He came along with that lazy and
peculiar shuttle SO characteristic of the
grizzly. His companion, evidently a
female, was smaller but none the less
formidable looking. The hunters pro-
posed to open fire, but Mr.. Kelly
pleaded for just one more chance with
his lariat. This was reluctantly
granted, for all were in great haste to
end the business
This story might have had very diff
ferent ending had Mr.. Keely been refused
permission to try his lariat. 1t wa lue to
most untoward circumstance connected
with the lassOing of grizzlies, with
which Mr.. Keely was unfamiliar, that
the tale ends as it does. In order to IA
cilitate his use of the lariat Mr.. Kelly
was given the topmOst perch in the
somewhat fragile tree, and to better Sc
cure his prey when caught he had made
the ''home end" of the rope securely fast
about its trunk.
The big bear approached the cache,
unconscious of danger. When within a
few yards of the tree and just within lasso
range Mr.. Keely let fly his lariat. Alas!
he had learned his vaquero lesson too
we'll. The rope went out with fierce
swish, it gracefully unwound it's coils in
the air, and in second it's loop was
around the bear neck. Unfortunately
it caught him with one forefOOt out, SO
when taut it came around his breast and
shoulders. The bear was greatly aston
ished, and gave forth roar which sent
his mate flying to the brush to protect her
cubs Then he picked at the entangling
rope, but Mr.. Kelly, with true vaquero
skill, frightened the loop, and he could
not shake it off. Disguised and now
thoroughly alarmed, the huge grizzly
made a plunge for the brush. Mr..
keely paid out his rope with the skill
of whaleman till it brought up with a
snap and whirl which made the very
air echo. Fortunately the tree-top
gave, and the sudden check and spring
landed the bear on his back Now be-
gan struggle between rope, bear and
tree, which promised startling results
to the hunters. They foresaw this, for
Tip yelled Cut the rope; he'll have us
up Dy the roots Fire at him..
screamed the doctor, but who could fire
and hold on for dear life at the same
time? The bear was furious and
struggled with all his strength. The
rope was new and of the toughest hide.
Hes got us like trout on the end of
rod" gasped Commissioner Redding as
he grasped the slender tree and held
on. Meantime tie bears efforts re-
doubled. He pulled and tugged at the
swaying tree till it almost bent double.
At last with a mighty roar he
gave one plunge. Down came the
tree-top to the ground, and up came it's
roots The hunters jumped for their
lives. Relieved of TIE spring on the
lariat, the latter snapped like a cord,
and the bear, finding himself free,
doubled on himself and made for his en-
snarers. Then came race for life
Fortunately, the monster was impeded
by The trailing lariat and the swamp
was near. Into it pell-mell plunged the
fleeing nimrods. All were unarmed-
their guns were shaken out of the tree
early in the scene. The doctor went
into the water up to his chin and the
rest fioundered through up to their
waists. Of course the bear would not
follow them in the mud, and so ended
the contest.
sorrier-looking party never was
seen than that which, stiff, sore and
half-frozen, found its way an hour later
to Greenwood's cabin. Mr.. Greenwood
lid not chide them. He simply went
behind his cabin and laughed for good
hour. The hunters themselves had no
spirit for joking, and not one of them
would under any circumstance speak to
Mr.. Keely. Their disgust with him was
marked.-Chicago Times.
Amongst the mackerel caught q
the coast of Ireland lately was one
which contained q large live toad.