The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-06
CALLIE MeGEES
PURE PLUCK.
Her Terrible Encounter With a Big
Black Bear in Kentucky.
The Brute Chases Her for Two Miles, But
With Her Little Nieces She Escapes.
A Young Woman's Heroism.

Miss Callie MCGEE Of this place had an
experience few days ago that she will not
forget, aud in which she showed rare ceur-
age and presence of mind in the face Of the
greatest danger.
America is a small hamlet situated in Lee
County, in the wilds Of Eastern Kentucky,
and consists of two dweling-houses, coun-
try store and PostOfice.
For the past month 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 Wal
low Mountain-so called by the early set
tiers on account of the great number of
bears that formerly made it a resting place
in their migrations from tho Chimney
Mountains to the Cumberland. For several
years past, however, no bears have been
seen, and the inhabitants have long ceased
to apprehend any danger from these anil
mails. Last Saturday Miss Callie started for
her home fer the purpose of passing the
Sabbath with her mother. She was accom-
panied by her little niece, who Is only
years old.
THE ROAD BETWEEN BEAR CREEK VALLEY
And America is lonely even for mountain
road, and from the base of the mountain on
the one side to the foot on the other-a dis
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human habitation. While slowly climbing
the mountain, on the further side from this
place, the child trampled upon a sharp
thorn, and, child-like, she screamed in her
agony. While Miss Callie was trying to
pacify her she was suddenly startled by the
Iustling of the bushes at one side of the
road, and upon looking around discovered
large black bear stepping slowly and eau
tiously into the road about forty yards IN
her rear.
For moment Miss MCGEE stood gazing at
the bear too terrified to seek safety. Then,
catching up the child in her arms, she fled
rapidly up the steep mountain side. Casting
q terrified glance back TaId over her shout
der, she was appalled, to see the bear break
into numbering gallop and start in pursuit.
The child, frightened at the unusual actions
of her aunt, was screaming at the top Of its
voice, and the bear apparently redoubled
his efforts 10 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 in
tended prey. His heavy, lab0red breathing
was now distinctly audible to her ear, and
she realized that her strength was failing,
aud that 1t was impossible for her to con-
Iluu6 utE pEtStUI pdCC iuuCu iObsOLs Wasp
ing the child still more closely to her
bosom, she made one more desperate effort
to outfOot her purSuer. While continuing
her flight the child's hat, with its gay rib
bons and flowers, became accidentally dis
arranged and fell TO the ground. After
running hundred yards or more Miss Nc
Gee ventured 10 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
Miss MCGEE said that at sight of this she
instantly recovered presence of mind, and
cOOlly began to calculate on her chances for
escape and her best method of procedure.
She knew that the nearest house iD which
she could seek safety was still nearly two
and q half miles distant, 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.
She had gained perhaps 200 yards on the
bear, when, upon looking around, she dis
covered him again starting III pursuit, hav-
ing succeeded in demoliShing the hat. She
now rapidly proceeded to divest the child of
its sacque and threw it down in the road
Upon reaching the spot In the road where
the garment was lying the bear again
stopped and proceeded 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 pursuit she was
good distance ahead. As he again neared
her she threw the child's dress down into
the road, and again the attention of the
bear was attracted and few precious mo-
nentS gained.
SHE CONTINUED THIS METHOD,
Coolly waiting each time until the bear had
nearly overtaken her, then dropping some
articles 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 a mile of a
dwelling and began to feel confident of her
ability to delay the animal until she reached
1t. Her gloves were first sacrificed and
gained few moments respite from pursuit.
Her hat went next, then basque, and last of
all her dress-skrt The latter succeeded in
holding the attention of the bear until she
reached the house of Mr.. John Miller and
was once again in safety, although almost
destitute of clothing.
The bear, attracted by the squealing of
some pigs in a 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 all the
bears chances for securing young porker
seemed to be good, when Miss MCGEE took
down Winchester that was above the door,