The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-08-30
A NIGHT ENCOUNTER


oar Wyonieg horst.fsbeh, hss met Ia b
c.nps snd ttsmps, viih . nunbet Of I
counters, which are well worth deserihipl
Psrhsps | should explain that ve hs'
"gtab-stskeG" Hsuk Tor number
yesrs snd 20 share 10 The profits Of b
asis, zbieh hsyt no. JET much more tbs
paid expenses. They consist Of zine
silver lode 10 The uibt.b Mountsin aud
"topbed" Of isirly good coal within rsse
0! the union Pacific Railroad. Bui HsA
Is young and learning the business, so
se have sooi hope OF bis hn3s 10 iutur'
II was when Hank VI. prospecting Il
the Uinlsh Monutsins that be met will
the curious adventure OF the boiler
Among those rough and tunble mountain
be Was enoaDped, With a pair Of blsnket
Tor his bed, skillet, coAse pot aud horsI
hide grub ssek for bic kitchen, when, IL
prospecting small bat rapid stream, b,
stumbled upon tie site oil 40 cid MOI
men sswmill. This had besn burned
probably by Indisns, and oil its msehin
cry broken or carried ca, except huge,
old fashioned. Aaelets steam boiler. Near
| ly bali buried 10 debris, this rnsty but
stout old structure had withstood fire spd
storm and lay iutsct, save for several
small holes where pipe connections or
steam cocks bad been broken of.
Hank reioiOsd 10 this discovery, for the
boiler oasred him shelter from storms
snd from the frequent chilly nights Of
high sltitude. The Rasket, ss big as .
wssh.iub, which fitted into the msnhole,
was already thrust halt way 10, but was so
rnsted TO its plates that it required IN
hour or tso OF picking, pryins and punch
Jog to loosen IL, When it finally dropped
inside, however, Hank cIswled 10, TO tind
. dry and warm room which would suit
his purpose quite rs we'll as house made
TO order
The prospeotor made no delsy 10 fetch
iug his camp effects and taking possession
Of this arm mored abode. When be had GOV
sred one end OF the boiler bottom with
Ieathsry boughs Of the pinon, he had an
deal campers night biyouac. On cool
rights he closed the nanbole and on warm
mes left 1t open. aud this big hole and
he steam pipe spertures st the o her end
,ave him excellent ventilation.
The site oil the mill was upon . creek
lat with pine covered mountains crowd
ng the valley, aud the only signs Of civil
cation for miles around we're the burned
nd tumble down relics OF sn abandoned
i,rmon settlement The mountains we're
vely with big game; bears OF several vari
lies, ''lions," bobcats and mountain
hesp we're especially abundant Doubt
'ss the bears and big cats we're aceustom
a TO the smell OF iron. and the rusty boil a
! must have been familisr sight to many s
them. Thus came about Hanks peril
US adventure. Y
As be lay sound asleep one warm uight
August, roach bsrked silvertip came y
own TO the boiler. and smelling Hanks
oersnt bacon, cut for an early morning o.
esl, discovered the open manhole, and
sde haste to STUN Bile insiue. 10
Thump-s.thumpl buns.bsngi be dropp 81
some three fee. upon the boiler bottom. 81
bis cIsng aud clatter brought Hank TO q 81
Ting posture with eyes wide open. The 90
nicsl room was dark rs . pocket In . &c
ine, save for . faint twinkle OF stars al
9 msnbole, which faced cleft in the g.
A putting breath or two. q
of sniii. sniff sounded in the mans aston OF
led ears, and then q dark object arose OF
d blotied ont the stars. Bob-cst, lion bl
what not, some besst had certsinly en- hi
led his douicie. ne
Yee ough yelled Hank, hoping to vi
)re the creature ont. He was snswt red uo
. fsspins "WhooiP' Of surprise, and th
tsnily understood the character OF his d
itor. A, quickly as possible be scratch DO
. slow match. and put freight be llf
cen bimsslfand the dangerous prowler. bl
4 snsrl OF surprise, mingled With fright, iel
,e,ed this action. and the prospecior 'o'
Ind biuseli looking into the ssvsgely II
Inklipg eyes Of . good sized grizzly. MI
e bear crouched, sinking back under no
msnhole and showing bis teeth while
growled ferce threats which made the he
Ter resound. tic
evidently the snilnsl was afraid OF the wt
ht. aud was equally reluctant to turn ms
back 10 scrsmbling out. Hanks DO
tch went ont; be struck smother bsst
Ind at the same time shouted at the ell
r. lb'
md Gov bssr and man We'd With each
er 10 noisy threats which rosred in the sla
Ter until its rusty mail jsngled.
,nching close under the msnhole. the pls
q, spsrlips irishiinlly, stood with one see
paw upliited sidewise ready 10 crush 30
FIRE foe when it sbonld approach near irs
ush. sip
eeing be could not irisbten the grizzly bul
y, and not having matches enough TO We
o ell night. Hank determined to see J
Il be could do With the siI-shoo:er, yor
oh be hsd slresdy drswn. Bal
e scratched iresh match. held lite tim
/ above bis bead aud sighted carefully, I
log 10 bit the besr {. near TO oue and
lklirg eye - possible. er
be report Of the pistol nearly made and
L deal, bat having got bis sell selling the
"a going be pulled the trigger s
e or ioaf times 10 rspid succession. imp
'ords vonld be inadequate TO describe clos
die 10 the boiler. When ils elAnsor 90