The times., 1899-07-31

Bayse, of the Standard Oil Company's Yu-
kon River steamer Oil City, was one of the
shippers caught midway between Dawson
and st. Michael by the freezing OF the
Yukon last October. He spent the winter
hunting and exploring, often making long
trips into the interior from the steamer.
On one of these trips he had an exciting
bear hunt and discovered traces OF ancient
Alaskan history that may prove valuable
when properly investigated.
''The beginning of last winter on the
Yukon found the stern-wheel steamer Oil
City midway between Dawson and st.
Michael with big cargo of oil on board"
he said. There were unmistakable signs
of an early closing of the stream. In con-
sequence l ran the steamer into a short
but deep stream that flows into the Yukon
opposite the Russian mission. We got
everything in good order before the river
finally closed on October 10.
1t was case of killing time until the
river opened six months later and there
were few ways OF doing 1t. Hunting was
not good. as game was scarce, but we had
no choice. A few white grouse now and
then, large white rabbit or q red fox
were about the only targets that present
ed themselves on an ordinary days hunt
Ny companion on these trips was usually
Lin Que, the Americanized Chinese steward
of the steamer. Lin had cut off his queue
ana was a good Baptist. Moreover he was
fond OF hunting and did not mind carry
ing the heavy pack of provisions that sud
den changes in Alaskan weather made
necessary TO have al hand always.
About midwinter we decided on a
longer trip than usual. After hard morn
ing's travel over the snow, We finally made
the crest OF low range of white sand
stone hills. From the marks of wear on
their straight, white sides, where one could
see through the snow, l judged that they
mad once been washed by a mighty river
we made detour for the purpose of reach
ing a higher ridge of the same kind of
rock, and finally found ourselves in a sort
OF cove entirely shut off by rocks, except
for the entrance which we had made use
OF. While | was resting Lin went out on
private prospecting trip. l was soon
aroused by hearing him call:
Captain! Captain! Come long quick:
heapy hole in rock!'
Il found him pering into what / took to
De the entrance to bear or fox den. I
asked Lin how far he had gone in, and he
replied about twenty feet, but that it was
100 dark to see anything. ! told him We
had not lost any bears or wild animals in
the cave, and did not care to look for one
IN SO dangerous place. Giving the China
man my revolver with which to back me
up, Tired my Winchester several times
into the cave. The report sounded like a
cannon, and | waited patiently for the ap-
DearaQCp yyil
came out and we decided to go in
After clearing away some of a fresh
rock Slide that almost blocked the en-
trance and making an improvised torch we
entered the hole cautiously. With Lin
in advance We crawled some six feet and
found ourselves in a sort of room II was
about twenty feet square, with a high rock
In the centre which had evidently been
used as table. On the north side was a
crude sort of fireplace. Going further
back, we noticed the entrance to a some
what larger chamber.
We had no sooner entered this than
saw six balls Of fire glaring out of the
darkness directly ahead. Lin moved his
light to one side. and by its glare | saw
"a monster form rise and come toward me
with rush. The beast was almost upon
me before / remembered the Winchester.
raised the weapon, and with no aim at
al TIE AS luck would
have 1t, | killed the bear.
In the excitement l lost sight of Lin.
who was having touch of excitement on
MS own account. He, too, had seen balls
of fire approaching. He took one hurried
shot with his revolver, but fired low, and
hit the bear that was making for him in
the loin. He threw away the gun, and
whipping out his long cooking knife, pre-
pared Tor hand to hand struggle. His
opponent, half grown bear, was on him
in an instant. The pair rolled over and
over. whenever Lin was on top he plunged
his big knife in to the hilt. l could not
shoot as the Chinaman and the bear We're
too mixed up. The Chnaman finally won
out, but not until the flesh about his arms
and limbs had been badly torn. The othef
cub was easily killed. We decided 20 re-
urn to the boat that night and send Lin
and our dog drivers after the meat the
next day.
las soon as the Arctic sky indicated a
stretch OF good weather Lin and | started
out TO investigate our discovery. We hauled
two days rations an oil stove and blankets
on ~led and found the cave with little
| trouble. The day was very cold and we
were very tired after our five hours trip
Lin soon had refreshing dinner ready
which he served on the ancient stone table
II was while smoking my pipe after this
meal tndI / 10 UOtlce the peCul-
lar drawings on the walls, which made our
discovery most interesting.
After carefully brushing off the wall
with some hay that we wore inside our
Arctic socks, carefully drawn panorama
which l judged 10 be the history of the
people who occupied the cave in former
times, was disclosed. The first scene
drawn in red on the white sandstone. was
very plain. IL showed three small boats
I
stormy sea from a rugged coast On the
shore stood a crowd of people waving fare
we'll About three feet further along was
another drawing in which the same three
boats figured. The boats had evidently
crossed the sea and were landing on low
shore. Between the pictures were draw
| ings of whales, walrus, and seals. The
third drawing was four feet from the sec
ond and showed the three boats coming up
wide river
After examining these scenes closely
came TO the conclusion that the natives
| had crossed Behring Sea and come up
| either the Yukon or Kuskokwim River Or
| it is quite probable that the Yukon once
| flowed along the bluffs in the side of which
| we found the cave, and entered the sea by
the passage now known as the Kuskokwim
| River. The map shows a low fiat country
! between the two rivers, with a chain of
lakes that empty into the Yukon and that
are fed by small river during the high
water season. This river is called the Talo-
| baksols and is but sixty miles distant.
Further investigation showed other
sketches, of the chase after buffalo, deer.
| bear and moose. The hunters always ap-
peared with dogs and canoes. In none of
| the sketches was there there any indica-
| tion of seds or snow. This led me to Won
| der il the Yukon country at that time had
the same terrible winters it now has. 1t