Morris tribune., 1900-01-13
HIS SLEEP INTERRUPTED.

A Bear and a Rattlesnake Invaded the
Boiler in Which He Was Residing.
Shut up in an Old steam boiler with
bear and rattlesnake. That was
the experience of Jake Aldrich few
days ago, and he says that it is the
highest box he ever got into. and he
has been in a good many Jake is
prospector who for over year has
been working out in the mountains
few miles from Diamond Springs. El
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 old
fashioned kind. without fiues.
Early in the year it struck Jake that
this boiler would be a pretty good
place to sleep in. as it was warm and
dry and perfectly tmpervious to the
heavy rains that fall in the vicinity.
So he took out the manhole gasket.
which was a big one. located at the
end of the boiler, close to the bottom.
and moved it.
had been looking for Dark of course.
but as warm as a house. BY knock
ing off a steam pipe connection at tue
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 all the miners for
miles around. But last Monday night
there was trouble. That's when the
bear and the snake got in. At least
that's when the bear got in. When
the snake got in is mystery. 1t may
have been under Jake's blankets all
winter for all he knows, but he does
know that it was there last Monday
night
Jake went to bed at his usual time
about dark-and as the night was
little warm concluded to leave the
manhele open. He went to sleep in
stantly, but some hours later was
awakened by a queer sound at the end
Of the boiler Rising in his blankets,
Jake reached for his miners matches
These are the kind that Will burn sew
eral minutes. Striking one, he was
for a moment blinded by the glare.
Then it hickered and went out. Be-
fore he could strike another Jake be-
came conscious of snifning down at
the far end of the boiler. Then he got
frightened, and when he reached FOR
his matchbox he couldn't find It, He
felt here and there, all the time con-
scious that the smiling YVES coming
his way Cold sweat came out all ov-
er him and frenzy seized him. He
wanted to make a rush for the man.
hole, but fear held him to the spot.
Then he felt for his matches again,
and this time he put his hand right
on them Striking one, his horror
was increased Before him s.ood a
big bear. At sight of the light the
bear became frightened and went back
to the end of the boiler. Jake's first
impulse was to draw his revolver and
fire, but he had fear that he might
miss the bear or not hit vital spot,
and so he kept his matches burning,
In order to keep the bear at bay until
he could think out plan of flight.
While this situation was at it's most
strained point Jake's blood almost
froze, for the whirr of rattlesnake
struck his ear. It was in the boiler.
right in front of him, and between
him and the bear. The first move was
made by the bear for the nBanhOle.
This aroused Jake to his senses.
The match 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 tho
rattlesnake just as 1t was poised to
strike.
Victory now aroused Jake's sports
man blood. He wanted the bear.
Climbing out as quickly as he could,
he saw Bruin 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. He concluded to
fight Jake and made fierce attack,
maddeded as he was by the pain Of his
wound. But Bruin was done for.