Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-10-20
COOL AND COURAGEOUS.
HOW A KENTUCKY GIRL oUTWIT-
TED AND KILLED A BEAR.

A School Ma'am Who Taught Lesson on
How to Circumvent Bruin-she Blocked
Him with Wearing Apparel Until She
Could Get to Shelter and a Gun.
Miss Callie MCGEE, of this place, had
an experience that she will not forget.
and in which she showed rare courage
and presence of mind in the face of the
greatest danger.
Miss Callie has been teaching school
in the Bear Creek" district which lies
on the waters of Bear creek. In going
to and returning from school each week
she is obliged to pass over Bear Wallow
mountain-so called by the early settlers
on account Of the great number of bears
that formerly made it a resting place in
their migrations from the Chimney
mountains to the Cumberland. For sew
eral years past, however, no bears have
been seen, and the inhabitants have long
ceased to apprehend any danger from
these animals. Miss Callie started for
her home for the purpose of passing the
Sabbath with her mother. She was ac-
companied by her little niece, who is
only three years old.
THE RACE BEGUN
The road between Bear Creek valley
and America is lonely even for a
mountain road, and from the base of the
mountain on the one side to the foot on the
other-a distance of three miles-there
are no signs of human habitation
While slowly climbing the mountain on
the farther side from this place Miss
Callie was suddenly startled by rus
ting of the bushes at one side of the
road, and upon looking around discov-
cred large black bear stepping slowly
and cautiously into the road about forty
yards in her rear.
Catching up the child in her arms, she
fed rapidly up the steep mountain side.
Casting terrified glance backward over
her shoulder she was appalled, to see the
bear break into numbering gallop and
start in pursuit. The child frightened
at the unusual actions or her aunt, was
screaming at the top of its voice, and
the bear apparently redoubled his efforts
to catch them. Painting and gasping for
breath she at length reached the top of
the mountain almost exhausted, and
upon looking back discovered the bear
still in pursuit and rapidly decreasing
the distance between them, being now
scarcely twenty yards behind her.
Occasionally the bear gave an angry
snort, as if enraged at being baked of
his intended prey. His heavy, labored
breathing was now distinctly audible to
her ear, and she realized that her
strength was failing, and that it was i'm
possible for her to continue her present
pace much longer. While continuing
her fight the child's hat, with it's gay
ribbons and flowers, became accident
ally disarranged and fell to the ground.
After hundred yards or more, Miss Nc
Gee ventured to look back once more,
and her relief may be imagined when
she saw the bear biting and tearing at
the hat lying on the road.
COOL CALCULATION.
Miss MCGEE said that at sight of this
she instantly recovered presence Of mind,
and coo1ly began to calculate on her
chances of escape and her best method
of procedure. She knew that the near
est house in which she could seek safety
was still nearly two and a half miles dis
tant, and the chances of meeting any
one able to assist her on that lonely
mountain road were very few. She
knew that she could not keep up her
present rate of speed much longer, SO
she moderated her gait, although she
still made good time.
N bod caiY,o1 ,,orbopo ON xrorIo IN
the bear when, upon looking around,
she discovered him again starting in pur-
suit, having succeeded in demolishing
the hat. She now rapidly proceeded to
divest the child of its sack and threw it
down in the road. Upon reaching the
spot in the road where the garment was
lying the bear again stopped and pro-
ceeded to destroy it before continuing
his pursuit Miss MCGEE made good
use of the time lost by the bear, and
when he again started in pursuitshe was
a good distance ahead. AS he again
neared her she threw the child's dress
down into the road, and again the atten-
ton of the bear was attracted and few
precious moments gained.
She continued this method, coolly
waiting each time until the bear had
nearly overtaken her, then dropping some
article of wearing apparel into the road,
until the child was entirely Invested of
clothing; then she began upon herself.
She was already within less than mile
of dwelling and began to feel conf
dent of her ability to delay the animal
until she reached it. Her gloves were
first sacrificed and gained a few mo-
1nents' respite from pursuit. Her hat
went next, then basque, and last of all
her dress skirt. The latter succeeded in
holding the attention of the bear until
she reached the house of John Miller and
was once again in safety, although almost
destitute of clothing.
The bear, attracted by the squealing
of some pigs in pen near the road,
made no effort to effect an entrance into
the house, but left the road and went to
the pen for the purpose of procuring a
pork dinner. Mr.. Miller was not at
home, and the bears chances for secur-
ing a young porker seemed to be good.
when Miss Magee took down Win
chester that was above the door, and
despite the entreaties of Mrs. Miller the
plucky teacher proceeded to the pen. AS