The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-03
SAILED TOWARD TIE EMPYREAN,
The Tragicsl Fate Which Overlook an
Inquisitive Bear IN Montana.
Prom the San Frqnctsco Call

The Tragicsl Fate Which Overlook an
Inquisitive Bear in Montana.
Prom the San FTancisc0 Call.
Few OF the workmen engaged in the cons
| struction Of the Great Northern railroad in
Montana but knew Jim Robinson, or, as he
was more properly known. Dynamite
jim" He gained the soubriquet, by report
becoming current that be was in the habit
| Of carrying dynamite cartridges in his
| clothing, which made several Of the more
! t1morous OF bis fellow workmen refuse 70
sleep in the same tent with him at night.
An explosion. which, luckily, caused no
| loss OF life, but damaged considerable trestle
work, was attributed to RObinson's careless
ness ID handling dynamite, which made the
contractor discharge him.
rlndlug II impossible to get any more
work on the railroad. Robinson started for
Choteau, town about eighty miles distant.
de took an old trail which skirted the
left bank of the Good Medicine creek, and
toward evening he reached place much
frequented by hunters during the summer
season, as bears are said 10 be very plenti-
full In that region, but Robinson was not
aware of that fact.
Feeling tired he camped for the night be-
meath the shade Of large cottonwood tree,
about 100 yards from the east bank Of the
river, and within full view Of the snow
capped summit Of the Rockies.
Leaving his blankets on the ground he
collected "deedwood" with which TO make
fire, for the nights in that region are cool
even in summer
When the fire was built and lighted Rob-
inson sat down and began to eat canned
meat aud crackers.
The second mouthful be swallowed be
was startled by hearing a growl just behind
him. which made him drop the food on the
ground and brought him to his feet with a
jump.
Looking, be saw coming toward him at a
rapid gait aud with mouth wide open huge
cinnamon bear.
BE gave bound for the cottonwood tree,
which he climbed with a rapidity which
afterward astonished himself. As luck
would have it, the tree was a large one and
had a convenient fork about twenty feet
from the ground. Before the bear reached
the tree Robinson had climbed into the
fork, and, throwing his arms about the
limb, chung to It with grim determination,
while the bear put his huge fore paws
against the trunk and shook the tree like an
aspen.
Failing to shake Robinson out Of the tree,
the bear uttered several deep growls and
then went shifting toward the fire and be-
gan to eat Robinson's little store of pro-
visions.
Robinson took advantage OF the bears ab-
sence, and getting a rope out OF his pocket
tied himself firmly to The tree.
After devOuring Bobinson's supper the
bear began to tear the blanket, in which he
found hard. shiny substance, which he
tried to eat, but finding too hard he dropped
it between his two fore paws and then
brought it down with a smash on a rock be-
side the fire.
A terrific explosion rent the air, while
bear, cons of earth, and pieces Of rock went
skyward like q zach.
A short while afterward a party Of hunt
ers who were camped IN the vicinity we're
attracted to the scene by the noise of the
explosion. They found Robinson in dead
faint in the troe.
One Of the party climbed up to him, and
cutting the rope, lowered him to the ground,
where be soon recovered. Strange as it
may seem, he sustained no injury, but his
clothing was literally stripped from his
body by the force OF the explosion.
A few pieces of flesh almost the width Of
mans palm were all that could be found
OF the bear.
The cause of the explosion was a large
cartridge Of dynamite which Robinson car
Iied in his blanket and which the bear ex-
ploded by concussiou.
Robinson received a suit OF clothes from
one Of the hunters aud after ward resumed
his journey.