The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-10-15
A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.
A Traveller Meets a Bear on
Digger Hill.

Mr.. EDrToR:-In order for those of
your readers who have never visited the
coast via the Alsea road to understand
the adventure I am about to relate, it is
necessary to explain that Digger noun
tain, or Digger hill, a. it is most fire.
quentiy called, is bold mountain prom
ontory extending into and almost bisect-
ing the Alsea. Over this mountain runs
the county road leading to the Alsea
bay. Not through any fault of the peo-
pie living near this mountain, but owing
to an uuwise economy practiced by the
county court, this road was originally
made and still remains narrow.
About ten days ago at an early morn
ing hour, with no other guide than the
road itself, 1 started to cross this noun
tain, trusting tnat unless some accident
should befall me, would reach the lower
valley in safety. The road winds along
the south side of the mountain i'll gen.
eral heavenly and westerly directioIsto
the summit. being simply hillside gut.
uaNSicu aiOhs. ~ VI ASA SeasS oNAAS"
witk the beautiful panorama sRreaa be-
low, aud keeping near the upper side Of
the grade to prevent accidents. The sun
was just reeping over the noustains at
my back, throwing splashes OF silver
light through the trees upon the road IN
front and showing the whole ncuutain
ranae to the south in beautifully varigat.
ed colors, the autumnal gold of the
maple leaves standing out in brilliant
contrast to the dark ir and alder. The
grade was easy and with scarcely
pause had almost traxersed the mile
and half to the summit, aud was iuoA-
ing forward 10 discover that desired
point, when coming through patch Of
su.shine on the road saw dark OBJ
ject. Every Que knows bear even a.
FIRST sight, and l. who have encountered
MANY of them, was at no loss to deter
mine what was approaching ME upon the
narrow road 1t was bear.
As my past adventures flashed through
my mind with the rapidity Of lightning
it occurred to me that had never before
met a bear under circums, snces which
rendered it impossible for either of us to
retreat. In most encounters of this kind
if the bear does not run the man does
and they may both escape. But knew
I dare not attempt to rum down the
meuntain. Although swift Of foot my
knowledge of natural philosophy told
me that should attempt to run, my body
would acquire su fficient centrifugal
force to cause me to fly off into space at
the first curve tried to turn, while the
bear, seeing my fate, might proceed
more ieisurcIyr and escape unhurt. While
these thoughts were passing through my
mind, my foe, for such must call him.
with a terrible precision of motion con-
tined to amble towards nae. A conflict
was enevitable. being entirely without
arms it must be hand to hand fight.
To say really wanted to fight the bear
under such circumstances would be to
make too strong draft upon the cres.ul-
ity Of your readers and expose myself to
the charge of self praise. l desire to be
perfectly candid and will therefore ad-.
NIT that / dreaded the encounter and
would gladly have avoided it, bate-pre-.
ferred to take its chances to the certainty
of being killed by fall from the grade,
which must necessarily follow the bears
attempt TO pass, as he evidently intended
to on the spper side. therefore steed
fast and with beating heart watched
the approach Of my foe. He was not
slow to divine my determinations; a sar-
donic grin announced his acceptance OF
my challenge. On he came keeping
near the upper bank, his glossy black
coat shining in the morning light, every
hair of which seemed to culver with fe-
recious energy As one after another of his
huge feet were placed nearer aud nearer,
his half sheathed snd enormous claws
were plaialy visible, while his grin,
which was ncw becoming terribly sig
nifcant. exposed = set of teeth which
would have put to shame the mansling
fangs of modern sausage grinder.
It was terrible moment and in order
to be perfectly truthful must again ad-
NIT that I did not desire the encounter.
In other words didn't feel as though I
wanted to fight. don't think my cour-
age was abating, but I was beginning to
entertain some doubts as to the probable
results of the meeting. But am a pio-
neer, therefore my nerves are made of
steel. I have also an iron hand and with
this seized the bear and we locked each
other in a deadly embrace. How long
the conflict lasted do not know. was
fully conscious it was struggle for life
or death and believe the. bear knew his
only chance for life lay in throwing me
off the grade. {
SOON found was no match for my
antagonist at nugging, and concluded to
try strategy. have some knowledge of
wrestling, and with my left hand caught
his hisrixht'rewasnd<pisntsi2 amy right a6rzass
syiu-Akesiang hair nsas<kis saasuk then
Ethrowinz myself into o-siae aeprppsxT1siisiuNI
and tzking thcsgraud hip-lecks. zzthrew
the huge beast over my head and al
most clear of the grade. Now ana =
compassionate man and even IN this. sllv
moment of triumph, Ipitied the mon
-ster aud tried to avert his terrible fate.
As he was hurlsd over the precipice i
caught him by the tail and used my ut
no.t strength to prevent his fall. But in
vain clnng to this slexder hold. The
bears: tail was very short; slowly my
fingers relaxed a: my victim turned his