The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-02
A BEAR FED On HIM.
Thomas Boswell's Fight With
an Alaska Cinnamon.
DAYS OF PAIN AND PRIvATIoN.
Experiences of Seattle Msn In the
Heart OF Alaska-He Returns
Minus one Leg.


home in South Seattle rapidly recovering from
the effects Of his thrilling experiences on the
shore of Moli0r bay, the west coast OF
Alaska
Thomas Boswell and bis brother George are
two Of the drst white men 10 penetrate the in
terror Of Alaska, and we're the hrst TO discover
Lake All e Klain.
on September 10 the sealer Marguerite vss
eighteen miles from Mollor bay, and Thomas
Boswell with Henry sheftner went ashore il
search OF coal, signs of " hich the former had
discovered during a former trip in 1888 Hall q
mile from the coast large cinnamon bear
was seen. The distance was about 80
feet and both fred The animal disappeared in
the brush, but left bloody trail. Boswell
desired to prospect, and wanted to let the bear
60 as IL would bleed 10 death His companion
was bent on securing the bear, 50 they followed.
n quarter OF n mile and they came upon her.
Boswell dred and his companion went n
another direction. The bear came with unex-
pectsd eutekness upon Boswell and knocked him
down and commenced 10 chew his right leg. He
''played postum" by laying perfectly quiet, and
the bear was fooled into thinking him dead,
and went away. The hunter was bleeding
and fast becoming weak 10 was eighteen miles
10 help and half mile over 8 rough country to
Che shore. lie did not know where his com
panion was and felt that ne must reach the
shore or die from starvation. Slowly he dragged
himself over the ground, when TO his surprise
and Joy his eoEnrAde returned and helped him
along until the shore was reached Here he
was left. and Sheffner started back 70 the boat
for aid. During the night storm came up and
II rained hard The man was drenched 70 the
skin. His leg panied him, and with knife he
opened the wound and took out four pieces OF
bone. Then be took his boot and tying
q string 70 il threw il into q stream. When the
boot was full he would pull il out of the water,
drink, and then pour the remainder upon his
leg Once during the night he tainted, and was
unconscious for some time Atday break he was
in better spirits, and waited for the return of
his companion with help. Assistance came,
and he was taken 10 the boat After twelve
days OF sailing unalaska was reached, ana here
he received the first surgical aid. Or. Berryhill,
of the revenue cutter Marion, took the patient
under treatment, and did all in his power to
save the leg. but it was impossible, and the
right leg was amputated al the knee.
As soon as possible after the operation the
Marguerite sailed and Boswell arrived in Seat
tie few days ago.
When visited yesterday by PoST-ISTELLI-
sEycER reporter Mr.. Boswell was found at the
home of his brother, George Boswell. and ex-
pressed himself as being rather weak yet, but
otherwise in good spirits
'Yes," said he, "I have been in Alaska more
or less for about seven years, and the lake An
C. Klain, which Lieutenant sehwatka reported
recently as being a new discovery was, visited
by my brother and myself in the fall of 1855"
In response TO request 20 give an account of
the trip, he told the following story:
In the spring OF 1858 he left Cleveland, O., and
went 10 Juneau. From that place to Chilest the
trip was uneventful, but al the latter place a
band OF 400 miners started out to make journey
along the lakes. After making several encamp-
ments Boat lake was reached and the sleighs
were brought into use. These sleighs are made
at Juneau and cost So They are about six feet
long and built so that a sail may be rugged. On
this lake the ice was like glass and three feet
thick. The company divided up and one after
another commenced 70 sail along the smooth
surface.
soon the sleighs were scattered all over the
lake, and as the wind increased many laughable
accidents occurred. Sometimes the helmsman
would lose control and over would go the
sleigh scattering men, provisions and arms
along the way. Between this and Moose lake
were small rapids frozen over. Moose lake was
fortyfve miles long and at the outlet open. 1t
was necessary 20 break a trail three miles
in length around the narrows before
lake Tahkiehe was reached. On the
shores Of this lake body Of ice were found two
houses, uninhabited, bu. vet named Inc Big
City. Another lake named Mud was passed
when an open, swift river was met One of the
men did not want 20 travel by land. so he put
his sleigh on a large cake of ice and sailed
down the stream, which soon ran faster and en-
tered canyon. The cake swung in shore and
heianded. II he had gone eighty rods farther
the rapids would have been reached and his life
saved.
AT this point six men. including Boswell, lert
the main body and went across the country 80
miles 10 the Hotalinka river, where they win
tered, as the ice WAS still solid. When the ice
went out the party went down 10 the mouth of
the river, where they made boat. and sent one
Of the party back 10 Need lake for provisions
He M nod ~ che
Alene mining district, joined the party. By
mutual agreement the party divided and George
Boswell, Thomas Boswell and Duncan McCloud
went back up the Hotslinka to where they had
wintered. Placer mining on the bar. when the
water fell, yielded 500 day.
When they reached the point desired the
water was stil high Why the water was so
high here a. all times was mystery to the
miners. Il was decided that the Boswell
brothers should continue I'D the river and
investigate the cause. The river was too swift
~ row so they were compelled 70 "pole" il. Al
tRe end Of week the river became suddenly
low. and before they were aware
what had happened, the boat shot out
into large lake which is Al G. Klaiu
They discovered traces OF Indian camps.
Al he close Of the first days sail forty miles
had been covered End On the second day pufFs
OF smoke We're seen on the north side OF the
lake They directed their course IN that direc-
IpA sAa Nhen s2OFe was near they saw SIX
IND ans clad in inrs Thomas Boswell told his
hrotaeTs that they were making signals OF vel
GENE and thst he must FIRE a gun After a
HFe.F discussion ab7ue wasting ammunition
George fret several shots. When tho white
men landed the Indians gathered around
ana looked ID 70 their faces IN wonder Then
theF danced around IN wild giec. The Bos-
Wells were hungry and made si-us for food
The Indians consulted together and finally one
waded out ln,o the lake 10 70 his breast and
TGi.rG from the bottom some moose meat they
hsd hidden. 4 trC35er attracted much sr.ar
ron from the Indians, being greatly IN con
uaSI with their primitive means OF catch
ing nsh. The ;vcl.er used nv the
Indians was six inches long ssh wss
cut open and baund around the stuck, then a
sbarpeneae1 bone was pHt through the end 81
tie stick 81 a. srSle This sick looked Ike
mn and also acted a. a barb 90 prevent the game
from slipping of, These Indians a.Sa had s
canoe made 81 heD.oek bark stretched over
ribs II could not be lseu more than 8 t5av ~
il would soften and les the occ3rs,t.
through The way it vas fixed Was ?,
dry il IN the sla every o,ht- day. Alter >tay5r.,
one night with these Ind ans the faf,r,,..,- ~.
Tire lake wss continued. BEFORE going ,ha In
dams indicated by sand Nils and sscus al sleeo
that il would take three DAYS ana niehts ~
reach the village OF their tr.se
on the third day point Of land vas roY,r,s.4
when the two white men found themselves in
front of the village. TIE unexpected apres~-
Ence OF the queer strangers Sc the Indians
wild, and there was gres: ConnOt!nn and
now wow Thomas Boswell sad 10 Caorre
bShoot! shoot or they val all Us" Th:s n
did, and the whole town came down
e. the waters edge 10 'ogS Over
the newcomers Thomas wa pe-et n
George treat them" "on whste sail George
ssOn thar cid vinegar we've go5," replied h.s
brother. The bottle wss brought on shore. ans
with a spoon snd glass in one hand Gad tie