The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-30
SANS TROPHY.

Among the first who built thor cabins
ON the shores of the beautiful ossipee lake
was a man by the name of Sam Harding,
Alone with his wife apd child he had
threaded the forest tb~t lay between set
Elements ut Dover point and the lake, and
be built his cabip and set about his work
at once for clesdnR up a homestead.
For many years there has been suspend
ed from a Gnoke-stained beam above the
broad fireplace a trophy of the early DAYS
\ he had spent on the shores Of the lake. II
was an Indians scalp.
This is his story.
"When ! first came up here to settle on
the banks OF the Ossipee il was n bowling
wilderness for miles and miles on every
side. l hadn't but one white man for a
neiRhbor, and he lived two miles away, al
the foot of the bay.
l had plenty OF another kind.
There were wild beasts and savaRes on
| every hand, and there we're times when
] they both gave me lots of trouble. With
tne beasts could get along pretty well.
spend q few days in hunting and get them
lin J peace VII, ~. ..,,..,..
emf.
you see. the way il came about was
tssA u DtSh IIiuSltT DltIltf
that fall, and at one time l thought that
they would destroy everything / had
raised. i had been pretty busy about the
clearing, but l see AZ last that I had to
\ drop everything and take time TO thin
em out. l put of the job until one MORN
ing, and then when | see what they had
been up to during the night, was so mad
mat took down my rifle and told my
VIE that | was going TO the woods and
would not be back until l had punished at
least one OF 'em.
"A big bear, one whom | Judged by his
track would weigh at least SOC, had been
ihto my corn, and the way he had finished
y was enough 10 make anybody's temper
rise.
"For good two hours | followed along
the track, which led right up among the
mountains yonder. When he struck into
,em he ollowe the course of a small
brook which came down the bottom of a
narrow valley over which the rocks hung |
as though they were about to topple down |
upon your head. The valley grew mar
rover and narrower as they went up, I'M
III at last the rocks came SO close together
that they shut out the sunshine and a kind
of twilight filed the place.
- had Just made up my mind that |
should find his bearship not far from
here, when all at once | heard a deem
erowl only a little ways afore me.
The next minute l saw him-he had
seen me and was sitting up on end to give
me a hugging when l came near enough.
, III was a good nance for a shot, and
bringing my rifle to bear ] took rood aim
Tor the spot right between his fore Shout
uers and fired. The next IN he was
kicking among the dry leaves, giving up
the ghost. i knew that there would be no
need OF another shot, so l did not stop to
load my rifle again, but rushed right up to
the spot.
~ want long in getting there, and when
did l u hat there was somebody be-
fore me.
"A redskin whom 1 had had some
with before was standing over the
bear, who was just gasping his last. and
the varmint had sent an arrow into il.
and j knew in a moment thai he meant TO
claim the carcass for his own. But / had
no intention of being cheated out of INV
Iresh meat in this way, so / walked up To-
he bear and whipping out my knife cut
1.-THE redskin looked as ugly as pizen.
and IN broken English wanted to know
what l did that for. The bear was his.
md he was going to have il, he said.
Il showed him that il was my bullet,
4ot MS arrow, that had killed il, but that
Fid not make the market any better.
"'White man, let il alone, or Inpin
tnife.
"'You'l have to take it first, you thiey-
ng redskin,' said |. !
II had not hardly got the words out of
ny mouth before he sprang upon me.
Sut l was ready for him. | knocked aside
ms han1 which he meant To twist into my
lair, and we closed together.
FOR about a minute il was as hard a q,
'issle as ever ! had in my life; but at last =
managed to trip him up, and down we
across the carcass of the bear, AS
'ood luck would have il / came upper- I
most, and the next minute plunged my d.
'niie To the hllt into his heart. .
THAT did for him, and / rolled his car.
ass oil the bear N went to work a skim
Png II. took as much of the meat as
build carry and the scalp of the redskin 9
"a started for home. When l got there i,
u nn .ne scalp up where you see il, and =
Dnn0Eo x.Axe