West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-08-11
G7UIN LIKED WHISKY.
Funny Accident Nh,ch Hado Him av
Inchrlatk FOR Life.

n EW'hN Nc'iucnb W htcN NNuo Him AN
Inchriatk FOR Life.
Way back In the fftics | was tempo
rarily handling the lines for the Sacra-
mcnto Overland Stage Company. nnd IL
was over lots of land, tell YOU, for my
rootc ran through the toughest section
of tho Sierra Ncvadns, says n writer III
the Kansas City star One night about
sunset was Gwinging along the rocky
trail NJ u pretty good pace, ns wanted
- roach Rabbit CreclS before dark.
whcrc we changed horses and got sup-
pcr
hal throe passengers, all mon, aud
tnr trcight carried barrel of gin
ot1ppcd ON behind the stage. There
was Win for Red MilSc," who ran Il
fr2V-ond-casy nt tho mining camp OF
Rabbit Croo';. Suddenly my attention
waa called by one OF tho passcnTcrs 10
a novel race which was going ON down
tho side e the raouutoin between u
minor and - grizzly bear, with the man
about u hundred feet ahead running
li';c IA door hut the bear was gaining
rcpidly aud II seemed that hc had him
sare, WHOM suddenly tho miner turned
and dartcd OF in another direction. Tho
grizzly was slow In stopping, but
whom Nc did Get Strengthened tho
way hc auuihilatcd distance was
u caution to catumounts Sew
oral Times tho miner played this
trick, Dud un each occasion gained con-
siderable ground i'm one direction, bat it
could be rVcn hc was rapidly tring and
unless something happened the bear
was dead suro to rot him: We wero
wondering what vC could do To- help
the poor fellow when suddenly tho lead
crs smcllcd the grizzly. They snortcdI
and prnuced and started oil ON dead
run. ! put ON the brake and IL was all
I.could 10 20 stop them, and wouldn't
have succeeded only tho trail was up.
grade.
Wen, when the horses made their
jump the barrel OF gin broke loose from
its fastenings and went tearing down
the mountain side toward tho mau and
bear, who were coming along on n dead
ran. The man saw the barrel coming
and avoided It,, but not so the grizzly.
He stood mp ON his hind legs and reach
ing out his paws grabbed IL. Tho way
that barrel rolled him down the noun
tain would make coyote laugh
The imprompui Journey was brought
TO n sudden ending 10y uu immense
bowldcr, against which the bear and
barrel rolled. The shock separated
them and strange TO say, the barrel
stood right up with the head broken
In and only small portion of the con-
tents was spilled. To say the bear was
surprised would bo putting IL light
lie thought he had his quarry and when
he discovered IL was only barrel his
face took on nm expression OF intense
disgust. However, as Is natural for n
Dear, lac began to lick his shaggy coat,
which had been sprinlSlcd with some Of
the gin. The tasto was apparently
agreeable, rs nc kept on absorbing the
liquor with his rough tongue until tho
flavor disappeared. Then no went over
and smclled OF tho barrel. Tho inspec-
ton was undoubtedly highly satisfac-.
tory, as he inserted his snout and took
sup, then he took long draught and
I'm lcSs than half an hour that bear wasl
drunlI as n lord.
We watched the proceedings with in
tcrcst, md after we were satisfied that
the bear had jag on we went down,
tied him up with ropes, dragged him up
thc hill and threw him inside the stage
We drove on 30 Rabbit Creek and sold.
the drunken grizzly 20 Rcd Mike" for
one hundred dollars, who claimed him
up In the corner OF his saloon and kept
him rs n curiosity 20 draw trade.
Wen, nc did draw trade. "Milso" gavc
him quart Of whisky day, and after
awhile he became 20 docilc That his
chain was removed. After tl.nt for
many years he would sleep around the
barroom, and whom ono Of the boys
would come in ard asl. the house % drink
the grizzly would walk up 30 the bar.
stand on his hind legs and wait 90 be
served with lineup fall cf whisky He
was IA source of great income, but nm
fortunately, being attacked with de-
liriun trcmcns ono day, he killed tho
bartender end "A miner with one blow OF
his powerful paw and IL required twenty
Winchestcrs and about one hundred
pounds Of lead 70 cure him Of his un-
oontrollablc passion Tor intoxicants.