Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-04-20


and watercress about the springs. The
meadow was surrounded with dense
growth Of tamarack Qarch) and young
FIR trees. Had we searched tho noun
tains for days we could not have found
better camping placs than this TO
which Jerry Hawks bear tracks and
mountain lore had led us.
We were prospecting party from the
California camps Of Campo Seco and San
Andreas. We were now headed for rich
placer mines Just discovered QS59D near
Neono lake. on the eastern side OF the
Sierras. We were trying to follow a
trail over which not dozen persons all
told had preceded us through the noun
tain wilds. All day we had been in the
highest of the high Sierras, passing along
the north side of the Yosemite valley
high above all the falls and noted peaks
From several points we had been able
to look down into the valley itself SO
deep was it that groves Of pine and
larch seemed patches of meadow, and
the faIls-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 out.
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, as from
q hill we in the morning saw about op-
posite us--away on the south side of tbs
Yosemite valley-points where flashed
and sparkled the Vernal, Illilouette and
Nevada falls.
1t was superstition among miners in
the early days that colored man or
a woman in a mining claim or pro
specting party brought good luck. For
this reason and because he was good
cook, an experienced mountain man and
q 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 esse
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 fight
with cinnamon bear that would maze
my hair getup ON end. Suppose you give
us that story; my hair feels pretty lively.
"Oh, pshaw, boy, l on'y wanted to skeel
You outen goin up de gulch an gittin hur
wifi de bar"
But, Uncle jerry" persisted tn.
young man, ''you must just then hav'
had in mind one of your old time beal
fights, for you said it was an old sh'
bear and it might be we'll for me tt
/ hear what cinnamon bear can do"
"Yes, an den yer see dat yer go'n te
!, do jis' as yer please arter all and gi
yerse'f chawed up. Sides, boy, dis yer
scrape wat had in mind don't 'moun
ter much arter all-dat is on de side ol
8 de bar, Come ter look it ober. rze rad
q der shame of dat cinnamon. De crit
ter oughter done better, said the oil
!, man with sigh as he slyly watches
0 Ben Arle out of q corner of his eye.
g Come, Jerry" said Ben kindly, ''le
us have the bear story"
This invitation from the leader of ou
{! party was just what Jerry had beel
!, skirmishing for.
= ''Sartin, Cap'n Arle, but Pze feerd ye'l
g be disappointed, sab. De bar didn't d
s herself justice. rze done tole You boy
g bout all de biggest an best OBJ my b'a
r fights"
"Well, never mind that, jerry" sal
a Uncle Bob Temple; ''let us have th
g story"
q "Mistah Temple, de bar didn't have
fair show, an maybe she didn't git fai
+ play; still, sab, de skrinmage was
little curious an radder outer de regla
d line"
r mo need to be backward, Jerry" sal
e Uncle Bob.
Q This settled it with Jerry. The oil
9 man had been fishing to get critics
+ Uncle Bob to commit himself by askin
g for the story.
d "Arter ALL" hesitated the old mar
f who was like some singers and plan
! players-hard to start and difficult
l stop. carter all, 'tain't hardy a fit stor
It to tell afore de boy. Kaise de ole b'a
didn't do herself Justice; but sich as it
q turns it in"