St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-07-19
Lucky Shot,

The varied career Of John Gladwyn
Jebb,--Jack Jebb, as he was commonly
called, which has been recently related
in a brief biography by his widow,
apounds in more hairbreadth escapes
and assorted perils than writer of adj
venturous tales would dare to put into
one volume. India, Mexico, North and
South America, all contributed to his
marvellous experiences, among which
were comprised fighting, levers, poison,
cold, robber, starvation and attempts at
murder. After such a list perhaps a mere
little adventure with bear may be con-
sldered tame, nevertheless, it was not OF
a kind most of us would find personally
agreeable to encounter.
he was at the time in a mining camp
IN Colorado. 1t was winter and bear
tracks having been observed in the snow
around the camp slaughter house, the
miners set trap for the intruder at a
point where the fence Of their stock
corral ran down to little creek and a
clump OF willows. 1t was carefully
baited and powdered with snow, and
the next morning Jebb and companion
went down to see if it had caught the
bear. Evidently it had, for the place
was covered with tracks, but the fright
cned and furious brute had disappeared,
and succeeded in carrying off the trap
with him.
After search they found him hidden
III dense growth of willows, where he
was entangled by the chain and toggle
on his leg. One of them remained on
guard, while the other ran back to camp
to bring down the other men to see the
sight, and presently some twenty were
gathered at respectful distance around
the bear, the greater part OF them roost-
ing on the top rail of the corral fence.
The man who had discovered the beast
was to have the first shot, but Jebb, not
feeling sure of his success, and not wish
ing even grizzly to suffer unnecessarily,
drew his own revolver for a second shot,
should the first merely inhict wound,
and stood close beside him, at a point
quite near the bear.
The creature being held fast, the two
thought they could have little difficulty
in dispatching him. but just as the APP
pointed executioner adjusted his rifle and
fired, the crust of snow on which he
stood gave way, and plump he went
into the bed of the creek, fiat on his
back and helpless, for his weapon flew
out of his hand.
shout of laughter at his predicament
broke from the men on the fence, followed
instantly by one of alarm; for the bear,
angered past endurance, suddenly with
mighty effort, snapped the chain that
held him and charged straight at .Jebb.
He had not time to run, had he wished
to do so, and the men, who were better
armed that he, being behind, dared not
hire; moreover, many of them started in
their excitement and half rose, the result
OF the sudden movement being that the
rail gave way, and they were flung over
backward into snowbank.
ebb kept his GOODNESS, waited till the
bear was close upon him, and fired. The
bullet struck full in its chest, and with a
long sigh it sank dead actually at his
feet. Turning to receive the congratula-
lions of his friends upon his escape and
exploit,-fo to kill so tough a creature
with a single shot from pistol was no
small feat, he found them, to his great
amusement, hardly in situation to
offer delicate attention.
The man who had fallen into the slip
perry creek was yet on his back employ
ing the most forcible portion of miner
vocabulary as he struggled to get up,
while the row who had moment earlier
occupied the fence asa grand-stand, were
yet worse off being stuck head and
shoulders in drift on the farther side,
and presenting to the eye only an array
OF wildly gesticulating legs
Jebb had right to consider himself
the hero of the occasion, but he was
never able to talk much about it. He
found the sentiment of the camp to be
strongly against allmention of that par
ticular bear-hunt,- The Youths Com
panion.