The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-08-06
MET ON THE TRAIL.
The Path so Narrow That Neither
Gould Pass His Foe.
- .ath Was Inevitable for One. and He
Chose His Own wsy-A Thrilling Trag-
edy In tho Pinal Mountains OF
Southern Arizona.

SOutneru ArHouh.
We had followed the right-hand side
of the gorge up to noon, when we built
fire and prepared for dinner, writes
correspondent of the Detroit Free Press.
At no time were we less than one hun
dred feet above the bottom, and some
times the height was doubled.
have spoken Of it as gorge. 1t was
one of the great riffs in the Pinal
mountains of Southern Arizona - in
some places valley half mile wide
in others narrow, deep and dismal can
yon not more than fifty feet across.
Opposite US as we rested, and not over
a quarter OF mile away, the wall of
the canyon was almost straight up and
down and entirely clear of tree or bush.
1t twas higher on that side than on ours
a fall of two hundred feet to the rocks
below. We were slipping our coffee,
when we suddenly caught sight Of an
object moving along the face of the OPP
posite cliff We could not see it, but there
was evidently ledge which furnished
foot-path. We at first took the object
for bear, but no sooner had the old
trapper got on his feet than he observed:
''It's only a mountain pony, boys"
1t was chestnut-colored pony weigh
ing about five hundred pounds, with a
very shaggy coat. He was descendant
of the wild horse of the plains, but in
stead Of following them over the prai-
ries he had taken to the hills. His
breed used to be as numerous in the
Pinals as goats, and they had the COM
pany of large numbers of buffaloes
which never descended to the valleys.
The ledge must have been a very mar
row one, for we saw the pony move
slowly and with caution. He had come
almost opposite us when second OBJ
ject moved out from behind a rock to
the east of us. We at first supposed it
to be another pony, but the trapper no
sooner set eyes on it than he whispered:
"It's big cinnamon bar, and we are
going to see some fun!'
No sooner had the bear moved out
than he was face to face with the pony,
though a distance OF some fifty feet
separated them. The pony threw up his
head and uttered snort of alarm, while
the bear sat up and looked at him.
That was not che first wild beast the
pony had seen in his roamings through
those lonely mountains but it was the
first he had seen under such circum-
stances. The ledge was not wide enough
for him to turn about. What would
he do?
The bear was in no hurry. lie
seemed to he sure that he had his din
ner safe and perhaps a close view Of the
pony was novelty to him. Two of us
got ready to shoot, hoping to drive him
away, IL not kill him, but the old trap
per motioned us back and said:
"It is the way God ordained; let His
rules stand"
The pony had perhaps seen US from
the first. He now looked over, seem
ingly in appeal, but he found only pity.
lie started to back down the trail by
which he had come, but he had not
moved more than yard when the idea
was abandoned. The trail was too mar
row. He advanced to his former posi-
lion, and then looked straight across the
gorge into our faces.
God made it Sole made it so.
~hispered the trapper, as he heard a
movement on our part.
For perhaps five minutes the bear and
the pony faced each other and we could
not see that either moved in the slight.
est. Then the bear began a slow ad.
vance. The pony stuck his head out on
line with his body and uttered a sort
OF whistle through his nostrils.
''He'd fight il he had show, but he
hasn't got one," whispered the trapper
The pony's under lip fell down and
showed his teeth, and his ears were laid
back like an enraged cats. AS the beal
drew nearer he raised one fore-foot and
then the other, and struck them sharp
Iy on the rocky path.
Nearer Nearer! Nearer!
The bear did not walk, but hitched
himself along foot by foot, while he
kept his great paws swinging in the air
He evidently suspicioned that the pony
would attempt to jump over him. Now
they are fifteen feet apart-now ten
now only five. Now the pony utters 8
scream Of alright or anger and the
snOrts OF the bear come plainly to oui
ears. They face each other for full
minute, and every one of us is trembling
as If personally menaced.
Swish! The bear gathered himsel
and made a rush, roaring loudly as hi
did SO. Quick as he moved, the pom,
moved quicker. 1t was death on tn,
trail ahead-death on the great bould
ers in the bottom Of the gorge. HI
choose the latter, and as the bear rushed
he reared up, wheeled to the right, ant
sprang far out into space with such
cry of terror as human beings have ut
tered when they went down to an awfu
death. Peering over the rocks, we saw
his dead and mangled body on the crue
rocks below.