Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-11-27


lea is small hamlet situated in Lee
county, in the Wil!s of Eastern Ken.
lucky, aud consists of two dwelling
houses, a country STORE. and post
ONCE. For the past month Miss Callie
has been teaching school in the Bear
Creek" district, which lies on the
waters of Be;1 Creek. In yoin. to and
returning from school each week she
is Obliged to pass over Bcur Valley
Mountains called by the early set
tiers on account Of the great number
OF bears that formerly made it rest
ing place In their nigrations from the
Chimney Noun ans TO the cumberland.
For several years past, however. no
bears have been seen, and the
inha bitants have long since ceased TO
npprehend amy danger from these ami
mnia On SATURDAY., Aug. e., Miss
Callie started for her home for the
purpose OF passing the Sabbath with
her mother. She was accompanied by
her little niece, who Is only years
old. The road between Bear Creek
Valley and America is lonely, oven for
mountain road. and from The base OF
the mountain on the one side to the
loot on the other, distance OF three
miles there are no signs of human
habltation. While slowly climb bling
the mountain, on the further side from
America, the child trsmpled upon
sharp thorn and screamed In agony.
While Miss Callie was trying to paci-
fy her she was suddenly startled oy
rustling of the bushes ut one side Of
the road, aud upon looking around dis
covered large black bya. stepping
slowly and cautiously INFO the road
about forty yards in her rehr.
Tor u moment Miss Mciee stood gaa.
ing at the bear, too terrified to seek
safety. Then, catching up the child
In her arms, she fed rapidly to the
steep mountain side. Casting :; terri
fed glance back over her shoulder
she was appalled, to see the bear
break into numbering gallop and
start III pursuit. The child, frightened
Ut the unusual actions Of her aunt, was
screaming at the top OF her voice, and
the bear apparently redoubled his ef-
forts to catch them. Painting and
gasping, for breath. she at length
reached the top OF the mountain, al
most exhausted. and upon looking
back discovered the bear still in Dur
suit and rapidly decreasing tho dis
lance between them, being now
scarcely twenty yards behind. Oc-
casionally the bear gave on angry
snort. Is If ea-agod 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 falling and that
1t was impossible for her to continue
her present pace much longer. Clasp
ing the child still more closely to her
bosom, she made one more desperate
effort to ontfoot her pursuer. While
continuing her fight the childs hat,
with its gay ribbons and flowers, b.
came accidentally disarranged and fell
to the ground. After running ono
hundred ynrds or more Miss McGee
ventured 10 LOOK back again, aud her
relief may be imagined when she saw
the pear biting and tee ring al tho hat
lying on the road.
Miss McGce says that Mt sight Of
this she instantly recovered presence
OF mind, aud cody began to calculate
on her chances for escape and her best
method of procedure. She knew that
the nearest house in which she could
seek safety WAS nearly two and halt
miles distant. and the chances of meet.
ing any one a Die to assist her ON that
lonely mountain road were very few
She knew that she could not keep ur