The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-06

Miner Attacked in an Old Boiler by
Wild Beasts.


Shut up in an osI steam boiler with a
bear ana a rattlesnake. That was the
experience of Jake Aldrich few days
ago and he says that it is the highest box
ne ever got into, and he has been in a
good many. Jake is prospector who
for over a year has been working out in
the mountains a few miles from Diamond
Springs, Ell Dorado county. Near where
Jake has been working is an abandoned
engine, with all the machinery. including
the boiler The house that enclosed the
machinery has all been blown down so
that the boiler stands out in the open air
The boiler is one of the o.d-fashioned kind
without hues.
Early in the year it struck Jake that
this boiler would be a pretty good place
to sleep in, as ii was warm and dry and
perfectly impervious TO the heavy rains
that fall in the vicinity SO he took out
the manhole gasket. which was big one
located at the end of the boiler close TO the
! bottom. ana moved it,
lie found that ii was just what he had
been looking for. Dark, of course. but as
| warm as a house. BY knocking off a
| steam pipe connection at the other end
| of the boiler the ventilation was perfect
and no danger of getting wet For months
Jake enjoyed his sleeping apartment in
! the boiler and was the envy of al The
/ miners for miles around But last Mon
day night there was trouble. That's when
the bear and the snake got in. Al least
that's when the bear got in. When the
snake got in is mystery. 1t may have
| been alternating under Jake's blankets
all winter for an he knows but he does
! know that it was there last Monday night
Jake went to bed at his usual time
| about Oakland as the night was little
warm concluded to leave the manhole
| open. He went to sleep Instantly, but
! some hours later was awakened by a queer
sound at the end OF the boiler Rising
! in his blankets, Jake reached for his min
| ers' matches These are the kind that
| Will burn several minutes Striking one.
! he was for moment blinded by the glare.
! Then il tlickered and went out Before
! he could strike another Jake became con-
! scious OF "a smiling down at the far end
| of the boiler Then he got frightened
! and when he reached for his matchbox he
! couldn't find II. He felt here and there.
all The time conscious that the smiling
| was coming his way. Goa sweat came
out all over him and a frenzy seized him.
RE wanted 60 make rush for the man
! hole. but fear held him to the spot
Then he felt his matches again, and
this time put his hand right on them.
| Striking one, his horror was increased
Before him stood big bear Al sight of
| the light the bear became frightened and
| went back to the end of The boiler lake G
! first impulse was to draw his revolver and
fire but he had fear that he might miss
| the bear or not hit a vital spot. and so he
| kept his matches burning In order 10 keen
| the hear al bay until he could think ont
! plan of flight. While this situation was
| al its most strained point Jake's blood
| almost froze in his brains, for the whrr
! of a rattlesnake struck his ear Ii was in
! the boiler, right in front Of him and be
! tween him and The bear The first move
was made by the bear through the man
! hole
This aroused Jake 70 his senses. The
! mach had almost burned his fingers when
! his nerve came back and he took careful
| aim over the sights of his revolver and
! blew the head off the rattlesnake lust as If
was poised to strike
| Victory now aroused Jake's SPORTSMAN
blood. He wanted the bear
! Climbing out as quickly as he could he
! saw bruiu sitting on his launches a few
| feet from the boiler. At sight of Jake he
! turned to run, but pistol ball caught him
| between the shoulders and stopped him
! lie concluded TO fight Jake and made a
! fierce attack. maddeued as he was by the
pain of his wound
As the bear came near Jake pulled the
trigger of his revolver, but the cartridge
| missed fire. The bear made jump and
| The ground Jake had put a bullet In the
| ponderous creatures heart
! This ended the fight Then Jake crawl
| ed back into the boiler. threw out the
| dead snake and went 10 sleep
Next morning he was UP bright and
| early TO overhaul the game he had bagged
| during the night