The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-02-16
WORE HIS HAIR POMPADOUR

George T. Leidig, the proprietor of
Grants Springs hotel, Mariposa coun-
ty. who arrived here day or two ago,
says that game of all kinds is very
Plentiful in his vicinity and few miles
away in the high mountains
The bears are as numerous as has
been known for some years, while
grouse, pheasants and quail swarm
everywhere, Mr. Leidig has been in
the hotel business for more than
twenty years in California, and tens
of thousands Of people have met him.
Il have known of some curious
things in reference to the various wild
game OF MarIposa." he said to Chief
Clerk George Warren and one or two
others. as he leaned over the counter
and toyed with the leaves of the regis
ter. but | never knew of stranger
thing than happened to my son
George and Stage Driver Joe Ridge
way, of the Yosemite line, some time
since. George, you know, is engineer
on the Central Pacific railroad, on the
division between Wells and Carlin.
well, he and Ridgeway thought
they would go up above Glacier point
one day and have a look around. You
know that to get to Glacier point you
must climb about $500 feet, and do it
all in but little more than two miles.
It's hard task, and when you get up
there you look sheer down as it We're,
from a balloon upon the world Be
fore you are spread the waterfalls of
the MERGED river, the snow capped
cones Of the Sierras, and everything TO
make up a garden Of wonders Prob
ably in the world there does not exist
a grander sight.
1T is within the confines of the
celebrated Mariposa grant, to which
the dauntless explorer, Col. John G..
Fremont, once had title, but which
he finally lost after much litigation.
This was for many years known as
the home of large numbers of grizzlies
the most formidable to be found any
where. Since there were 50 many OF
them not all the hunters that have
gone into that region have succeeded
IN wiping them out
when George and Joe had finally
succeeded in getting to the top and
they had gazed upon the panorama
before them they started to the south
on a shoulder Of the mountain. They
had not proceeded far when there
were indications of bear. Their great
tracks were visible in some places
along the trail and they kept sharp
eye out for them. They thought with
out noticing much that they were the
tracks OF black bears. There were
some birds, and altogether the boys
were enjoying themselves.
Just as they began to descend a
winding knoll on the ridge they heard
a thrashing in the bushes as Of some
one whaling them with a long club.
The two had become separated Ridge
way was where he could get the best
view, and be suddenly caught sight
OF big, grayish, black object lying on
a log. He knew at once that it was a
grizzly, and he let fly at him
"Whether he hit him or not was
never found out, but immediately
there was more thrashing and a shrek
from the bear that made the tall pines
ring. Then there began a journey
of that bear toward George. 1t was
rapid, for grizzly can run like a
wild buffalo, unwieldly as he looks.
Ridgeway could see that he had
shifted George or caught a glimpse
Of him through the bushes, and be
yelled to him to look out as the griz-
Fly was after him. Then he took to
his heels himself George had scarce
ly got the warning when the bear was
almost upon him. He turned and
flew down the mountain.
1T was a terrible race. Now it
would look as if George would evade
the bear and then it would appear
that there was no escaping his paws.
George zigzagged over stumps, fall
len trees, and through bushes, the
bear was still after him, and finally
fell down d rocky declivity where for
time he lay half dead. The great
brute had finally given up the chase,
luckily for the young man he was
after, and at length Ridgeway got to
George and helped him to stand up.
Now here a strange discovery was
made, to which | call your attention.
You have heard Of peoples hair turn
ing white in night, as though a man
had lived lifetime in few hours?
"N hen George got down to my
place his hair, which since his birth
has been fiat on his head, stood up
like stubble. as though it was waxed
and -combed up, More than that. 1t
stayed SO for two weeks before he
could get it down to where it was
formerly.
THE terrible race he had with the
bear had caused it. We all took no
tlce of 1t, and talked about it during
the whole two weeks. | suppose this
may seem impossible to some and they
may not believe it, but it is entirely
true. Nothing any of us could do
during the fortnight could make the
hair stay down.
George is as brave as ANYBODY.
but he couldn't help knowing the
awful danger he was in, and when his
hair rose up the consciousness of the
danger was SO great, and remained so
long with him, that it took this length
81 time Tor 1t to get down again. Since
then he Is having no use for bears,
grizzlies, and those familiar
with the dangerous race he had d 10
not at all wonder at it,
A man was appointed superintend-
ent of Sunday school much against
his own desire. He had been a very
profane, worldly man in his early life,
out had experienced religion and had
attempted to reform in every wav.
" hen the appointment of superintend
mt of the Sunday school was suggest
ed he demmred He was afraid he
might lapse into profanity or into
some of his old ways. But he was
inally urged and persuaded to take