The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-07-27


 ricncc in the mountains. Joe has just made a trip over the "ncw trail as ii was known during the days oi the rush. I'm, trail has never been used for ireightiug but created considerable excitement at the tune oi its dncoN cry. ln the early part oi May lSoS. when the packer, were having So hard time Go compete with the tramW1y several men went up West creek and crossed che divide Descending Co the other side they came out at the saw mill lt the lower end oi Bennett They found route for a pack trml that would discount. in che matter oi grade. anything that had been previously d>. covered The only climb that wa, very prrcipitou, wa, between DycJ canyon to beyond che rapids This, however, could he eliminated by winding grad, about Che point at thc mouth oi West creek canyon There were two news paper, published lt Dyca at that tune. and one oi them came out with a sen ,ltional description ot the traI diN- covcry. under che blaring headline, oi The Secret oi che Stick, The paper claimed that thc Sticks Indian, had for generations used this trail for -c- crct iourcys Co and from the coast \ company was ,traightway formed Co make a pack trail over the new route All che principal packer, over the Cml. coot pas, lent their aid and subscribed money Co thc enterprise. \ tolcrlhlA good trail was made 90, ilr aS the el1cicr,. At che mouth oi West creek a new town was ,tlkcd and lots Wcr, sold and rc,old mo lively fashion But thc power oi steam as applied Go the cable then relcgatcd packing Co che past a, incNorlbly aS thc White Pass railroad killed che tram And so West creek canyon reverted Co the wilder mes, primcval
 Joe hl, been mJking scmiocca,ion. al trips over thc divide beyond West creek tor several years He don't say that hc Is prospecting though it |, be. hcvcd that he has found traces oi good rock over the range But lacking an, Knowledge about Ioc's affairs. Inc should be credited with hi, own cNpla nation that he Is after sheep and bear For a couple oi miles un West creek the stream tumblcs iu rapids. catlract- and falls and beyond. though che eur. rent |, swift for two or three miles fur thcr. the surface of the stream Is uu broken Beyond. in the Scrpcntinc bends. it flows placidly through @ broad valley In che cool summer night, bear, of various dcscripuons. black. brown cinnamon and grizzlies come down from the mountain, and root m thc moist cNplnsc oi thi, mca- dow land Later in thc season thc bear couduc themselves more t1 che hucklc. berry patches on thc mountliu,ilc, The hunter who will hide away | uthc day tune upon a commanding chn above these meadows. and win want quietly thc deepening ot thc night slolming. can see these monster bear, coming out on che bottoms to root Those who have had thc experience say that their glmbol, audprlnks afford unique entertainment as they in- lulgc in games oi tag. wrestling and boxing matches and sometime, even get down to earnest business in a rough aud-tumhlc fight Probably thc biggest bear that has ever been seen ou West creek !, an old veteran known %, "the Sentinel Bear Evcry night lt gloaming bc can be seen lay ing on a iutung rock on che noun taiu,idc that commands a view oi thc valley below the mouth oi thc creek The old fellow can be seen easily by those who are adept lt using their eye, m thc wilderness. but anyone oi fair sight can readily see the monster through a held-glass The Indians say that he ha, nightly ,prawled up- on his commanding rock for over IS year, Many hunters. both Indians and whites have tried Co shoot him. bu, hc |, too charry for themost cunning hunter Sour Dough Joe has ire quenily tried Go set a shot at him but never successfully until this last trip Joe this tune made his way Go cover. near the bears rock, during a pclt. ing rainstorm. The ground hogs were al' iu their holes and SO there were no whistliug warnings of am cncmy's ap- proach Joe got Co his cover and laid quietly until dusk. when Sentinel Bear came out upon the rock Joe was with in a hundred yards oi the monster He says che bear will easily weigh over 90 ton and that each paw Is big enough Go more than cover one oi Clayson' I, giant tracks ou che Skagway side walks Joe relates that he took a steady bead bctwcc the bears shoul- dcr,. He shot from a 3O-3O with ,mokeless powder. but the bear van. I,hed with the shot how or where. Joe cannot relate. The Indians have a,- serted that this bear Is a wish-tah-kah "a bruin pcrsoni6cation of the devil and Is proof against bullets Joe say, he Is inclined Co believe that the ln- dilns are right
 "Last night at dusk" said Joe. thar was the old son oi a gun spread out on the rock same as usual
 Culmbachcr The Seattle Aug rt
 Bosworth & Aggers. wholesale deal