The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-05-25

From Several points we had beer able
10 look down into the valley itself So
deep was 1t that groves Of pine and
larch seemed patches OF meadow and
the falls-such as we were able To make
out-were SO foreshortened as to be
hardly discernible. except by their
sparkle and the occasional flashes OF
light thrown ont.
The month was August, and all was
green, blooming and delightful - the
springtime OF these grand mountain
heights. Our camp was on brook that
lower down was probably tributary OF
Indian canyon. We judged so. az from
hill we in the morning saw about OPP
posite us--away on the south side OF the
Yosemite valley-points where flashed
and sparkled the vernai. Illilouette and
Nevada falls.
1t was superstition among miners In
the early days that q colored man or
woman in mining claim or pro-
specting party brought good luck. For
this reason and because he was good
cook, an experienced mountain man and
o tireless prospector we had enlisted
with us jerry Hawk. Leaving the super.
stition to take care of itself. old Jerry
was desirable and valuable acquisition
to such an expedition as that upon which
we were engaged. He was over SIX feet
In his stockings. handsomely featured.
black as coal and perfect Hercules in
strength. Jerry was good natured and
the life of the campfire His stories OF
life in Virginia in the old slave days
were racy and apparently inexhaustible.
After supper. when pipes had been pro-
duced and all were reclining at ease
around the campfire. Fred Towne, after
eying Jerry for some time to study his
humor. ventured to say to the old black
mountaineer: "Uncle Jerry, this even.
ing when wanted to go and shoot the
bear you said you could tell of a fight
with a cinnamon bear that would make
my hair getu on end. Suppose you give
us that story; my hair feels pretty lively"
"Oh. pshaw. boy, on'y wanted to skeer
you outen goin up de gulch an gittin hurt
wifi de barr
But, Uncle jerry" persisted the
young man, "you must just then have
had in mind one of your old time bear
fights, for you said it was an old she
bear. and it might be well for me to
hear what a cinnamon bear can do"
"Yes, an den yer see dat yer go'n ter
do jis' as yer please arter all and git
yerse'f chawed up. Sides, boy. dis yere
scrape wat l had in mind don't mount
ter much arter all-dat is on de side OBJ
de bar. Come ter look it ober. Ize rad
der shame of dat cinnamon De crit
ter oughter done better" said the old
man with a sigh as he slyly watched
Ben Arle out Of corner of his eye.
Come, Jerry" said Ben kindly, "let
us have the bear story"
This invitation from the leader of our
party was just what Jerry had been
diminishing for.
"Sartin. Cap'n Arle. but rze feerd yell
be disappointed, sab. De bar didn't do
herself justice. I'ze done tole you boys
bout all de biggest an best OBJ my bar
fights.
well. never mind that. jerry" said
Uncle Bob Temple; "let US have the
story"
"Mistah Temple, de bar didn't have
fair show, an maybe she didn't git fair
play: still, sab. de skrimmage was a
little curious an RAIDER outer de regular
line"
No need to be backward, Jerry" said
Uncle Bob.
This settled it with Jerry. The old
man had been fishing to get critical
Uncle Bob to commit himself by asking
for the story.
"Arter ALL" hesitated the old man.
who was like some singers and piano
players-hard to start and difficult to
stop. "Arter all, faint har'ly tit story
to tell afore de boy. Kaise de ole bar
didn't do herself justice; but SIGH as it Is
turns it in"