The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-01
HERE IS A BEAR STORY
How "Casey the Fiddler" Came
by His Fiddle.
TREASURES IT WITH CARE
A Big Cinnamon Took the Instrument
From "Caseys" Partner and Carried
1t Up the Mountain-The Part
ner Died of Fright.

ner Died of Fright.
George Munson, prospector who
has been working claim near Lion
mountain for a couple of summers, was
in the city yesterday buying his win
ter's stock of provisions. Mr.. Nun
son is known among a large number
of friends by the musical title of Ca
sey the Fiddler" not because he is
an artist with the bow, but because
he always keeps violin in his cabin
and guards it with the care that fond
mother bestows upon her first born.
How he came into possession of the
instrument is a story Casey is ever
willing to relate, if he happens to be
in reminiscent mood. Yesterday he
was in that kind of mood, and he
told the story Of the fiddle.
Yes, I have the most valuable vio-
lin in the country" he said, when i'm
posed upon to tell about how he came
into possession of the old instrument
1.-THE original owner of that fiddle was
the crack musician of the part of the
country we lived in 20 years ago. That.
was in Diamond gulch, and there was
good sized settlement there then.
Bill Gray and l were partners in
mining claim, and we made some mon
ey those days but that is not here or
there so far as this story goes. Bill
used to play for the dances and ev-
cry evening after the days work he
would take the fiddle out of the case
and saw away on some new piece so
that he could have something fresh
for the dancers the next time he was
called upon to play for dance.
Io,y 1F4 t1,n l.
die of the summer left Bill and went
out for a cruise over the hills in
search of almost any old thing in the
shape of quartz float Bill was saw
ing on the fiddle when l left, and it
happened that he sawed all the time
while I was away l returned late in
the afternoon, just as the sun was
going down, and as 7 approached the
cabin I saw q sight that took my
breath away for a minute or two. I
could see through the open door big
cinnamon bear sitting on chair at
the table, apparently in the act Of
taking a piece Of bread from plate.
advanced cautiously, intending to
take old Bruin unawares, of course
thinking that Bill had gone out and
left the door open. AS I neared the
door | could see Bill sitting on she
edge of the bed, where ] had left him
in the forenoon. his fiddle in his hand.
He was sitting there like a man in a
trance, as if riveted to the bed. /
moved around toward the window, in
tending to take shot It the bear from
point out of range of Bill. When I
got to the window I saw that the bear
was only enjoying a hearty meal from
the leaving of the breakfast we had
eaten that morning. Bill did not see
me;- neither did the bear. so I had the
situation well in my own hands. and
instead of makings.a noise to attract
| ha ctl-ap
! just assumed waiting attitude
1.-The bear ate everything in sight
and then with a grand sWoop OF MS
big left paw swept everything off the
I table and turned around on the stool
and looked at my partner with one or
those I-want-some-mOre expressions
on his face. Bill did not move mus
Gle, but sat there with a firm grip on
his fiddle The bear reached out his
paw and picked up Bills pipe from
the pillow on the bed. where the fd-
dler sat, and looked at it TOE a. sec
! ond or two. then fired it against the
chimney rock. breaking it 2int6t atoms.
Bill still sat moticnless. and the bear
I reached out again and took the fiddle
from Bills hand and held IT in his
Il own for a minute or two, When -ee
made a pass as if to smash it as he
Y had the pipe.
4 Hold on, there I said. at the
1 same time poking my gun into the
\ window in the direction of the intrud-
4 err. Drop that fiddle or I'll drop you,
4 and the bear lazily turned his face to-
4 wards me and looked at me as If to
4 ask me where l had bought my chlps
u in that game.
4 Instead of making a demonstration
the bear took up the fiddle in his
mouth and walked quietly out of the
4 cabin and across the gulch towards
\ the hills I followed him and fired q
c1,nt hut al ,,.n1
d quicken his pace; rather. he
a let me gain on him, and sror
y was in certain range OF
him. I was about to take fatal aim
4 when the big fellow sat down upon his
launches and began to pick the
n strings with his claws. turning out
q what I thought was pretty good ar
q ticle Of music I called for Bill, but
81 he had not ventured cut of the cabin
u I supposed that he had been so badl!
a frightened as to be unable to come
/ out, SO l Just let it go at that and lis
~ tened to more music by Bruin.
"a Il had now gained courage to ven
N ture closer to the musical animal, ant
a soon I found myself sitting as clos'
"a to him as / am to you this minute
N I could now distinctly hear the music
n which was the sweetest I ever heart
n before. The big bear was playing
"a Home. Sweet Home and the tear
N were rolling down his cheeks as HI
N played I got the sentimental fever
n and before another bar was played
N was crying as hard as the bear was
n I put my arms around the bears necl
IA and wept The big cinnamon finished
IN in the sweetest strain of that beau
E tiful tune and as the last note rip
III pied away over the woodland the BIZ
III bear fell back in a swoon from waicl
M he never recovered.
III bill had actually died of fright
IL was alone The fiddle was mine, ant
"A why should I not cherish it? A fiddl
IA that a bear has played upon you don