The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-11-19
IN THE GRIP :.
.. OF A GRIZZLY.
The Unpleasant Experience Of
California Sheep Herder.

IN les about the meanness and cuss-
edness of the coyote" said johnson
Blocker, a mountain herder in the San
Bernardino mountains of California, in
company Of ranchmen at the store
over at Warmers Springs the other even
ing, II have little on that subject to
say myself. owe my life to pack OF
coyotes up in Kern county, and from
all that can learn they are the same
as all others of the coyote family. In
1878 was teaching district school in
San Diego county, and was all run down
in health and spirits. When the long
summer vacation came on, had an in
vitation from my brother Ned to come
and spend the summer at his ranch in
the mountains in Kern county. | ac-
cepted, and went there on mule back,
because there were no railroads in
southern California then.
1.-The second day was at my brothers
ranch We went out for week of hunt
ing in the mountains. We were armed
with the best rifles, and our horses car
ried big lot of ammunition and camp
stores. Ned soon tired of hunting, and
after we had tumbled over two Wild
cats and several antelope he wanted to
get back to his horse, sheep and vine
yards. He told me that the upper noun
tain CANYONS were full of big game,
and that he knew from the loss of sew
eral calves and pigs that summer there
were bears in the heavy timber. That
was enough to excite my best endeav-
ors with rife, and I stayed in the
mountains while Brother Ned went
down to his ranch. For a week more
I got nothing more than deer, sew
eral antelopes, and for the sake OF get
ting rid of the mean varmints. I shot a
dozen or so coyotes.
IT spent one night in camp Of few
miners, who were washing gold in a
canyon, and the next morning when
rode away one of them advised me to
keep near to their camp, for they had
seen the day before grizzly bear tracks
in the mud about the springs two miles
away. laughingly assured the miners
that took pride in my craftsmanship,
and was naturally cautious and cool, so
l thought no harm could come to me.
Along about noon that day I shot a
buck some 200 yards from me, and as
the wounded animal bounded away in
heavy chaparral, drove my spurs in
my mustang and gave chase. 1t was
easy to follow the buck, because it left
trail Of blood stains on the ground
and in the brush as it bounded along
The deer ran down the mountain slope
for perhaps quarter OF mile, ano
then suddenly struck down the noun
tain. And so, following it, came al
last to the edge of the canyon, with
its large timber and heavy under
growth. Just as l entered this can
Won I came upon the overturned trunt
of an enormous tree, which had appar
emily fallen several months before
turning out huge mound of clay witt
its roots. The trail of blood shovel
that the deer had leaped over the trunk
but my horse was no jumper and
began hastily circling around the tree
; AS turned the angle of the clay mount
at it's root, with vicious snort an enor
nous grizzly sprang up erect out OF thu
: shadows and faced me with jaws open
This apparition and the sudden squat
ting of my horse occupied one second
Before the next second was over m,
horse had jumped about Is feet, SHOULD
think. | had gone over his back in
curve, turning somersaults before
struck the ground My gun had gon
lear over the grizzly's head and lay OF
The other side of him, and there wa
with my leg broken above the knee.
isn't it queer what funny thing
you will think of in some awful mo
rnent of sorrow or suspense? la
there. trying to imagine whether Ne
would nd enough of my bones to &C
cord me decent burial when he cam
TO search for me- | was absolutely fee
l ing in my pocket little dizzily for
. pencil and paper. so that | could writ
few words, when the grizzly came
smelled me over two or three times, an
at last took hold of my left shoulder an
began to drag me. Then the pain |
my broken leg and my tortured shou
der overcame me and | went off int
I. blissful unconseiousness. When
began to find myself again tn
!, loud bowling. deep growing an
screams of rage startled me bac
into the world. found the gri.
ely standing over me. while q
: around, not more than 20 yards ava,
we're great gaunt, hungry coyote
They had gathered in great number
and saw in moment what had save
my life thus far. They were afraid
= venture upon the bear while he held b
prey, and he could not begin ripping u
his captive while they stood aroun
strong in numbers and emboldened
famine. Whenever the grizzly put b
head Down to take hold of me, II
coyotes instantly began to crowd nea
er. whereupon he raised his head with
warning growl. and hhey fled to saf'
distance. This occurred not once
twice but dozen times. The very fa