The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
A BEAR HUNT In CAVERN.
UNCLE jim DAT SURPRISED mr.
THE BEHATIOR or THE GAME.
The Hear Died standinE nud Tried 60 KIN
Hin After Dying-A Chase In y Honey.
combed BluG In Caiiforuia-Mv stery OF
Hole that Vanished and ReanDeared.

Hin After Dying-A Chase In y Honey.
combed BluG In Caiiforuis-Mystery or =
Hole that Vanished and Heappeared.
"There Is q curious blum or ledge OF rocks
on the east side OF Trinity River In Califor-
MIA" said Col. Parker OF Gardeau. ut Is per-
haps a mile In length, and rises nearly a hum
dred feet almost perpendicularly above the
valley. Outwardly It presents no feature that
would attract any particular attention to IL
from the casual observer, unless II might be
numerous assures, seams, and openings Of
various widths and heights along its face, all
Of them apparently leading into the very
depth Of the great wall. This, In fact. they do.
That formidable looking ledge is virtually lol-
low. Its interior il a succession Of caverns,
some Of them wide and lofty chambers, and
Others passages where n man can scarcely
stand erect. Some OF these dark caves are
connected with each other by devious corri-
doris and passages, narrow and wide, and high
and low. Others have but one opening. This
honeycombed cliff Is the day haunt of, not
thousands, but millions Of bats, and IL Is q
sight never TO be forgotten 10 zee them issue
from the mnny:vents OF the cliff rs evening APP
proaches, and fit away to their nights for.
aging about the country. The ledge at such
times might we'll be compared to q vast bee
hive, with It's myriad of busy workers hover
ing about It's entrances. II is said out there
that men have been known to venture into
the depths OF the cliff who have never come out
again, either having been lost In the intricate
labyrinths OF It's dark interior, or killed and
devoured by wild beasts that are alleged TO
make the caves their lairs and hiding places.
That may or may not be true. but It brings me
TO the story I had in mind about this curious
hollow wall OF rock.
John Day and his uncle. Jim Day. had
no little fame in the Trinity Valley as bear
huufera EapartallU ITnrIa Tin, npa lao
during the time l was out in that country,
John came 10 me and said:
" Colonel, ! trailed d bear pretty near all
day to-day, and what has he gone and done
to me but holed up somewhere in the inside o,
Old Scarface. He amt a very big bear. but I
started out to get him and ] can't afford to let
a little thing like n hole in the rocks cheat me
out of him. I'm Roin' to squeeze into the in
side Of Old S~carface and run that bear down
II ] have to camp in there n month. Uncle Jim
is goin' You better jine in and see the fun
II liked the novelty Of the thing. and said I
would be glad TO go along. The three Of US
started next morning to follow Johns bear
into the heart of the frowning cliff. Old Scar
face, as it was Familiarity called. John lead us
to the place where the bear had gone in. Uncle
Jim gazed at the opening n moment. and, with
a contcmptuous sniff, said to John:
"'You don't mean ter tell me, Jack, that
you're Roin' ter follow a bar that is little enough
TO climb inter a hole the size o. that thar one,
do yuhi'
John said he did.
"'Then I'm 'shamed Of yuh!' exclaimed Uncle
Jim.
"'You needn't go in. If you're afraid. replied
John.
"'Afraid! Me afraid. cried Uncle Jim. and
squeezed into the opening.
THE crevice was not more than q foot and A
half wide and scarcely three feet high. We
had to lie down on one side and work our way
along the passage. pulling our guns and torches
after us. There was ter feet OF this contracted
entrance. Then we found ourselves in a more
roomy place, where we could stand erect.
Lighting our torches. we went on, and soon
came out into q big cavern, where we instantly
became the centre of myriads of bats which
our coming with the lights had disturbed.
They dashed frantically about us. SINCE
ing themselves in the blazing torches and
filling tho cave with shrill squcakinvs.
With all those thousands OF wings in motion, |
scarcely q sound came from the flight of the
bats. go silent of wing IS this strange night |
prowling bird animal.
For a time the barrier of bats made our
progress difficult. and tho sensation of these |
by no means agreeable creatures surrounding
you and coming in contact with you at every
step was anything but pleasant. They either
became used to us by and by, or tired of in.
vestigatinR us. and the great masa of them re-
turned to their hanging places on the walls.
III that bar come in that openin', as he |
sartin did, said Uncle Jim, after we had ex-
plored the cavern pretty thoroughly. he
oughter DO in this here dug -out somewhat
,,Cordin' to the natur' @ bars he oughter he
here somewhar, less he's bon eat up by bats
W went around, and around the cavern.
which was. ut least fifty feet across and thirty |
high, our torches revealing ALL DArts of N witt, |
in the area of their lighting power. but no bear
or sign OF bear did We see.
this seooped,out dorrick.. said Uncle Jim.
,L"okln for a place. may be; whar he don't
$srs ySS kin and: WWsmr.h%IS On, Jecf:
yunder, Anal Yuh cunnin'' cuss" '' Wv
nLihe shelf Uncle Jim mentioned was rather
and all of fifteen feet from the floor. AS near
as ! could make out by the torchlight, the
deep il was I could ifd' not Sti seq 4Ni it WA was H detp
enough for the purpose Of comfortably holding
a bear 5To h9ITevs @i,h as l soon found out wal.
Jim. with his eyes liked on the niche that
your curiousness is too much fer your cunnin';
forth these remarks from the old hunter, but
saw two eyes, giistening In the reelection OF
the light; glaring over the edge % the niche.
and rs Uncle Jim ceased talking the owner OF
the eyes evidently made up his mind that Lo
would take tho intruders on his quarters in
hand. for he dropped out OF the niche 10 the
floor like a monkey leaving bis, perch. and nv
the flaming light OF the torch | saw an enOr-
nous bear standing on his hind feet against
the wall. The bear didn't stand there long.
but advanced savagely toward Uncle Jim and
John. who stood sile by side. John holding the
torch and Uncle Jim his gun. stood a step
bear came forward Uncle Jim shouted:
!" Flash the torch In his eyes,
John gave the torch q twist, and the blaze
shone square in the bears eyes, dazzling them
go that he turned his head around and lowered
IL a little to evade the light. He was but lit
tie more than a gun length away when he
turned his head, and as he turned II Uncle Jim
fired. The huge brute dashed on toward the
two men, and before either could get out OF
his way ono OF, his immense fore paws came
down against Uncle inns chest and the other
caught John by the shoulder.
Roth men staggered back under the force Of
the blows, but did not fall. There stood all
three, revealed TO me by tho light of Johns
torch, which he still held aloft-the bear with
both men In his Clutch. with an awful look
In his eyes, and his mouth wide open, and they