The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-19
HERMIT OF THE CRAGS.
A VISIT TO THEIMoUNTAIN HAUNT
OF a MIG aTY HUNTER.

Do9hA0AO WnAlb, tAoI6 UNSo . Strange LTO0tleT
character named Yankee jim"
James Ferguson is his true birthright,
but SO long is it since the old fellow has
heard his correct beptismal title uttered by
human lips that he has almost forgotten 1t
himself.
This old mountaineer has lived for many
decades in the isolated spot he calls home
isolated until the railroad pushed its way
up the canyon and opened a gateway into
the great Yellowstone national park.
And now that civilization has found him
out, still it is probable that Yankee Jim
will live and die hermit among the crags
and peaks that have been his companions
for 80 many long years.
Jim Is great bear hunter, and during
his time has probably dropped more Of the
grizzly monsters then any other hunter in
the Rocky mountains.
Not long since, while scouting through
that part OF the country, l CHANGED to run
across the hermits cabin, and finding the
host out, entered and made myself COM
Portable, according to the frontier custom
of the day. The cabin 10 situated near the
DEVILS Slide, in the Cinnabar mountain, and
perched high In the air on the rocky walls
overhanging a deep and dark canyon,
which has a sheer descent of almost 1900
feet to the rocks below. 1t Is only reached
after winding around huge, lettering
powders. along breakneck paths and cork
screw trails, aud again step by step up
steep inclines until, at last, the door Of the
shack 10 attained.
JIM's MOUNTAIN HOME.
l crossed the threshold and found the
interior as anticipated. brace of polished
horns and pair of hiutlocks hung around
the wall deer horns, elk heads and buffalo
horns were suspended from pegs, and the
finest pair Of mountain sheep horns l ever
saw was nailed over the doorway.
On the floor were various skins. all serv-
ing the purpose of rugs, and among the
rest l observed huge silver tip hide that
surely must have belonged to the grand
father Of the family. While taking In these
various objects Of interest a shadow
darkened the doorway, and in strobe the
owner, bearing on his shoulders the carcass
OF a fine mountain sheep. Tossing the lat-
ter to the ground and noting my presence,
be came forward with q hearty hallol and
grasped my hand in cheerful welcome.
HEARTY WELCOME.
"Wal, you are a stranger" said he, pump
ing my arm vigorously up and down.
l met the old frontiersman once before
when on a former scout through the country.
and l was glad TO see he remembered me
right well.
"Got any tobaccyp he inquired; land
let's see your gum 2"
gave him roll of the first and then
handed him the gun; after examining it he
stepped over to the " all and took down from
peg an ancient piece of artillery which
proved to be an old-fashioned, Anticipated,
smooth-bore gun. After pointing out the
admirable flint action, the sighting appa-
ratus, and dwelling at length upon its
shooting qualities, he remarked:
Now, bless your innocent soul. don't
you believe I'm many years behind the times,
nuther.
81 began to shoot with them bankers
you see on the wall there nigh on fifty years
ago, when they was the best guns in the
country.
~ shot them old fellers and their pups
exhibiting pair of flintlock Mexican war
horse pistols until two years sback, when
a lot of fellows came along over the canyon
trail and got mo to guide them through the
park. They made me a present of this yere
Winchester (taking it from the corner) and
dead loads OF ammunition
THE STORY OF THE BEARsKIN.
That night after supper, while sitting
around q cheerful blaze booming from a
6xl0 fireplace, l asked the old fellow 20
relate the story OF the monster bear-skin
lying on the floor, and with the utmost
good nature he replied:
'I'll tell you the story Of that hide, will.
Over In those two corners you'n see q pair
of smaller skins and, hanging against the
wall, another hide. The big one belonged
to an old she devil Of silver tip, and them
in the corners were her cuts.
1.-THE hide on the wall belonged to my dog
who was killed in the scrimmage with all
three o. them cusses. It all happened about
twelve months ago, when /, like the rest o. thu
boys, got daft on the Lost Cabin niue, SAID
to be loaded with gold, and hid away some-
H.. -. Al.
aims. A fellow came here one morning
from across the range and said he kuew
where the mine was. | agreed to go with
him to hunt it up. and SO we set out together
and Travelled for a week in company, when
one night-would you believe it9-the tsrnel
cuss stole everything In camp, even to the
blankets on my bed, and | never saw him
again. / started back home to this very
cabin, and over on the eastern edge of the
park in the Hindoo mountains L ran upon
a she silver tip who was knocking
and rolling her cubs about in sort
O. clearing. Here was a chance, and l let
old Sal speak at once. Now, stranger,
there sint no use in any tenderfoot's
saving that bear is dangerous and bent on
or silver tip, or cinnamon, will run as quick
as rabbit. unless You poster them and get
in their way. I've bagged a good deal o.
bear meat in my day, and know they are
cowardly brutes, and will not fight unless
you force them. When / fired at the big
girl she turned tall and ran down the mount
ain as il Old Nick himself was after her.
One cub took to a tree, my dog grabbed
another, aud it was lively tussle for few
moments, but Shellbark tShellbark was
my dog, you know, well, that dog soon got
on to IT'S windpipe, and that ended the olb.
Now, 1t happens that cub No. 2 after the
death of it's mate, slid down the tree, stern
foremost (you know bear always comes
down tree headquarters first, and started
like streak O. lightning after its mother,
all the while uttering the most piteous bowls
you ever heard. The dam caught these walls
and came back TO the spot again like a
locomotive under full steam. I'd seen a
bear before under similar conditions and
knew it was best for me TO keep away from
Ter. jumped behind tree out o. sight,
and Just then the old she devil came bowling
along, hammer and tongs Ny dog didn't
understand the situation as well as did, fer
he was in a death grapple with the cub just
as the dam came up, and paid not the least
bit o. attention to her. With one wipe Of
her paw she laid Shellbsrk out, aud then
commenced business. You know had my
Winchester along with me, and while she was
nosirg over the cub let her have one back
OF the neck. She paid no attention to this