The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-05
by @
Wounded 9ear.
Miners Thrilling Experience in Alaska.
He Escaped by Playing Postum.
Bruin is Persistent.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
In October, 1895. the writer was wash
ling gold from the beach sands at An
Choir Point, Cook inlet, Alaska. / had
two Indians working with me, but
cold snap having set in on the night of
the 21st. the water in our ditch was
frozen the next day, SO we were COM
PEELED to close operations for the sea-
son. The Indians are not much on the
work in this section of the great ter
ritory, and We're glad to get a rest.
They were also anxious to take trip
up kachekmak bay to collect some
traps they had set out there, and, ex-
pecting to meet bear, before they went
into winter retreat, asked me to loan
them my 1890 Winchester rifle in ex-
change for large single-shot one of
very heavy caliber, which request |
complied with foolishly, as the sequel
will show.
On the 18th about $50 o. M. / had
got back to the cabin from a prospect
ing trip. and, it being too early to get
supper, went out and sat down on the
beach bank to sec if there were any
signs of the Indians returning. The
sun was just about to set and. shad
ing my eyes with my hand | took a
last look before returning to the house,
when j was thrown into a fiutteT of
excitement by seeing two huge brown
tion along the beach not 200 yards dis
tant.
| fell backward in the grass, turned
myself over on my face, crawled
short distance toward the cabin. and
when | had advanced far enough in
this way to rise without being seen, got
up and ran for the rifle. / tried to put
the cartridge belt on. but found it
would not near reach around my waist,
so extracted several cartridges, and,
loading the rifle, put the extra ones in
my pocket Hurrying back to the
beach | followed a small pathway that
led to a cutting in the bank, giving
both an easy down grade and affording
concealment. My heart began to beat
so violently with the excitement of the
moment as ! sat down in this cutting
that | feared | could not shoot accuf-
ately. but | tried my best to calm my
self and keep cool. knowing full we'll
these brown bears were game as any
animals that ever roamed the forest or
jungle, and required nervy man to
tackle them alone. | now regretted
having exchanged my trusty repeating
Winchester for this single-shooter that
] was unfamiliar with, never having
fired shot from it,
In a very few minutes ! was made
aware of the approach of the bears by
shutting noise on the gravel. Pres
entity the nose Of one of them came in
view, quite close TO the bank. The
nose rose in the air and commenced
shifting Then the brute gave a low
angry growl, he evidently having got
scent of my presence. He advanced a
step before he caught sight of me- and
in the meantime | had raised the rifle
to my shoulder ready for action. When
he saw me he stopped, IS If in doubt
how to act, giving me time TO take ann
right for his brain and fire. The shot
took effect in the exact spot and he fell
in his tracks. Hurriedly replacing the
exploded cartridge with a full one. /
ran down to the beach to find the 9th
er bear. The blood was now coursing
through my veins at a mad rate. The
success of this first shot elated me, ana
all signs of fear had vanished
The report had evidently alarmed the
second bear, for he was scamperinig off
| at full speed. / dropped on one knee,
| and resting my elbow on the other took
| c steady. deliberate aim and pulled the
! trigger. The ball struck home, for he
| swerved in his gait but he still kept
going until he arrived at place where
! the bank was quite low, and turned IN
! there before / had time to get sec
! ond shot at him. | rushed after hlm
| with all the haste | was capable of, but
bv the time | reached the low bank he
was nowhere visible. A short distance
/ back of the cabin there is clump OF
scrub timber and fallen trees, with
/ patch of brush wood that resembles
1 fufZe. 1OncluQl0S Illdl Ifas Z
/ taken shelter there, | started In that
/ direction to hunt him up. but failed TO
see the slightest signs, not being
/ able to track him in the grass. In the
ardor of the pursuit ] got heated and
| considerably excited, so | sat down on
| a fallen tree to cool off little and col
| lect myself. | began to think | ought
to be satisfied with having killed one
/ of these animals. considering the1f
! fierce nature. Although / had shot in
| the four years | had lived in this DIS
! trict some 20 bears, they were all black
| ones. and these were arrant coWafos
| They will run and below like cali
| when wounded, and no one stands in
| dread of them But these brown hears
are actually feared by every hunter, Ioi
when wounded they will fight TO thf
| death | thought If | had run across
| this fellow and had missed him, and
| he had tackled me and killed me. Wha'
| y nisera BILE death and ending ii would
| have been.
| | nicEed up the rifle, putting the ham
| mer down, intending 10 return 10 ~
| camp and skin the dead bear before NJ
| cooled off as the air WAS now frosty
| had not gone 30 yards when. rounding
the edge of the scrub bushes, | came
right on the wounded bear VINO Na'
living down in the long grass. IN
moment he saw me he partially aros'
On his launches. his mouth streakef
with foam, his eyes glaring hatred aht
defiance. and his whole aspect the very
incarnation of savage ferocity. | pro
test that, 81 awful was the TRANSITION
from the melting mood | had just beef
IN 10 the sudden reyulsion of mind Il
tn sight of this enraged and infuriatet
beast close TO my very feet, ! took IN
fnriated beast close to my very feet
took instant fright and ran.
Well, the moment ] turned ana start
ID fer the house the bear save chase
| When | had gone some distance ! tttp
| ned in the long. dry grass and nearl.
came TO grief. hut saved myself iron
failing. the stumble giving me The 81
pertunity of looking back. Wnen
| found i'm consequence Of Bruin beini
wounded j had gained considerable o.
him. This knowledge, somehow. gay
me needed courage and turned aToun'
determined to assert my manhood an