The San Francisco call., 1896-06-24
STOPPED BY A BEAR
Fearful Suspense of a Tourist
on a Mountain
Pass.
A Frightened Horse Almost Backed
Its Driver Over a Preci.
pice.

Black and brown bear are sihgularly
numerous this year in the mountains east
and west of Cloverdale, and hunting par
ties are being organized for the purpose
of having little sport in chasing shy and
artful bruin through the mountainous
districts where the "berry hunters" have
recently been seen.
Last week gentleman named Wagner.
who was driving from Highland Springs
to Pieta, had a very narrow escape from
being mashed into smithereens all be-
cause of the sudden and unexpected ap-
pearance OF bear, which was evidently
on its journey toward the coast.
Mr.. Wagner was fortunately driving a
very docile animal, to whose good be-
havior he attributes his success in having
escaped with his life.
IL had just reached about half way be-
tween the springs and Pieta, said Mr..
Wagner, "when suddenly the horse l was
driving stopped, then reared up on his
hind feet and commenced to snort. To
put it mildly, | was in the deuce of fix,
because where the trouble commenced the
road was narrow and over my left
shoulder l could easily look down 500
feet into canyon which was awful to be-
hold, with its misunderstanding bowl
ders and jagged rocks which were pro-
iecting from the side of the mountain.
'In an instant 1 concluded that my only
hope was to get the animal on the move
and | applied the whip briskly to his
fanks, as 1 was apprehensive lest in case
he continued to back the buggy would
certainly be forced off the road bed, and in
that event horse, buggy and driver would
go down to perdition.
'You can rest assured that my heart
beat more freely when the horse, obedient
to the whip, started on run down the
road, and it was at least mile from the
| spot where the trouble commenced when
| got him under subjugation. l could not
! even surmise what on earth caused the
| animal to act in such a strange manner
until | reached Pieta, when | was in
formed that the horse must have either
| got the scent of a bear or had seen the ami
NAL close at hand.
son the following day some of the boys
who reside near Pieta got their hounds to-
| 2ether and started off at early morning on
bear hunt They found the trail of old
bruin, and his footprints were plainly dis
cernible on the dust of the road, and
within 100 yards of the spot where | had
such very unpleasant and unlooked-for
experience.
"Old bruin had evidently made fast
tracks from that part of the country. He
| probably was as frightened as the horse |
was driving, and did not remain over to
| investigate the cause of the confusion he
had created by having put in such very
unwelcome appearance. The hunters re-
turned without having had in opportunity
of bagging big game. The trail was too
old and the dogs lost it after having fol-
lowed 1t mile or so in the direction OF the
coast range"
A day or two after Mr.. Wagner had such
close call sheep-herder drove into the
town of Cloverdale with a 500pound black
bear which he had shot on a sheep range
about ten miles west of Cloverdaie. The
brute was purchased by a butcher of
the town and shipped to this City. Pos
sibly it may have been the same shaggy
tramp which made matters so very un-
pleasant for Mr.. Wagner IN his ride from
| Highlond Springs to Pieta.