Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-05-20
TWO NARROW ESCAPES.
THE BEAR AND WILDCAT HUNT
THE HUNTERS.
A Yarn From tho aIalns wlidS-ThIs
Was Sport, But At Left the sports
men Almost ms stifr as tho
Nanquishsd Animals.

Il alexander McDougalI left town last
October on hunting trip in tho
region Of Eagle Lake. north OF Moose
head Lake, They relate tale Of
narrow escapes experienced in ono
day that completely silences the local
| Nimrods and fills them with envy.
The story is best told in MIR, Penncys
own words, says the New York Re-
/ corder:
"After we had been in tho woods
some two weeks, and had only shot q
fox and few partridges. We started
in one morning to explore deep
gorge that led away from our little
shanty in the direction of the lake
/ shore.
I'VE had not proceeded more than
mile and half along ii when
shower OF small stones and dirt came
.'attling down about our heads, as il
someone had thrown them purposely
Looking sharply up we saw they
must have been dislodged from the
top by the movement of some person
or animal. for both sides Of the can
yon were composed OF solid lodges Of
rock, with never loose bit OF earth
visible anywhere.
"A little further on the sides be-
came more inclined. and finally wa
struck spot we'll covered with tim
ber. whore, by using the butts OF our
rides here and there as poles. We
managed to climb 10 the summit.
From here we caught sight Of a
bears track leading the opposite
way. We turned and followed ii, and
had not gone 500 yards before we
came suddenly upon as ugly a specl.
men Of the brain tribe as IL has ever
been my chance to soc. sitting on his
launches and giving his entire atten-
ton 70 his face, which he was rubbing
with his paws, after tho fashion of
house cat cleaning herself
II fired, but as the guide had gwen
me no directions. iired at the bruts'-
forehead. With a bit 81 shake
the huge animal rolled over on IT..
side. as thought dead.
'Whoop, remember saving
'How's that for shota Then stood
my rifle against tree and ran for.
ward to have look at him. McDou-
gall doing the same. But ho said,
little dolefully. as he drew his hunt
ing knife and gazed down at the still
king Of the Maine woods: That's tho
first Of his race | ever saw pass IN his
checks so quietly. Didn't give Us
even little bit OF fun guess YOU
fetched his heart that time, sure.
Then he leaned Owe the carcass and
gave the bear prick, preparatory 10
skinning II. With snarl and one
bound. that dead bear was on his feet.
madden than creation, bent Ga fight
ing. as il the intended Insult 10 his
hide had been more than even his
sluggish nature could stand. ana
right between as and our guns
Run" shouted McDoupall. and
run did, going two feet TO the
guides one, | In my top boots. Me-
Do@gall in his mocCasins. with the
bear not ten PAGES in our rear. Then,
IN moment. to my dismny. found
myself on the very verge Of tho
gorge, over which went like a Jack |
rabbit, before | could stop myself.
catching sight as I did 50 OF the
guides legs in the air, as he followed
me.
when I recovered enough 10
realize / was still alive. looked
around for McDougall. At first / (
could not see him; then 4 voice close |
by said: Are you hurt 10 there? 1
Slip into the next tree il you can; get /
along to where we left the canyon and /
grab ride I'm fixed 80 / can't |
move When peersd through the
branches this was what saw:
Below me, little to the right, a |
small tree had been blown over in .
such way that II iainmed between
the two sides Of the gorge. forming q 4
sort OF natural bridge. in the center
Of which hung McDougau. with his
arms and legs clasped around the
trunk OF 1t, monkey fashion. At one
end was Bruin. who had found his
way down, the deuce only knows how.
and who was performing o sort OF
jubilee dance on two legs, so sure did /
he feel now Of his prey. Az the 9TH
or end the cliff rose fifty feet above
him and 100 feet below, 80 that he
could neither advance nor retreat.
while, TO add to the gravity Of the
position, every movement made by
the bear caused the tree to turn half
over, as though 1t worked on a pivot.
so that one moment the guide would
be above and the next below.
"Once down ! made all speed for
the point whore we had climbed the
gorge, clambered to the top, secured
a rifle. and arrived at the edge where
had taken my unintentional ny
through the air just in time TO see
the bear. who doubtless had got tired
of waiting, advance on McDougalI. II
took just five shots to settle him; then
he loosed his hold, and with a snort
that might have been curse or
prayer no fell crashing to the ground.
Eat 10 o'clock that night, wearing
our heavy coats, and with q couple Of
we started of for moose In
the canoe down tbe lake MrI1ottoratt