El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-23
By Col. George
Wythe Baylor
Whom Everyb ,dy Knows.

In the year 1857. when the writer
was IAN honest miner" on Kern hiver
California man by the name of Linz
was appointed agent for a small bant
of Digger Indians that were located or
POSey Creek.
Linn was an old miner and from
tiersman, mad after many ups and
downs, had concluded to try farming
in small way-raising fruits and veg
etables to supply the miners on Kern
river and adjacent camps. At that
time the Mammoth Lead Mining Co.
had a large quartz mill. Maj. Frs
kline also had one and the Keys broth
ers another-and great many peo-
pie were coming into that country
prospecting.
- Linn settled in the beautiful little
valley that probably now bears his
name, and intended to use the rich
valley that already was covered with
q heavy growth of wild clover, itself
a good paying crop. This clover the
Indians are fond of, and from that
may have originated the saying hes
in clover" Grizzly bear were as fond
of this clover rs the Diggers and just
about as plentiful in that region at
that time.
One evening Linn went out hunting
near his camp taking with him one
of the Digger warriors that he had
great confidence in and who was much
attached to him. The Indian had moth
ing in the way of arms but his bow
and a CULVER of arrows and a small
cur that could easily trace his ances-
tors to the coyote But though in
significant in appearance. like the his
torical swinge cat, he had more in
him than appeared from cursory
glance. He took an important part
in the story 1 am relating.
Linn took a we'll beaten trail along
the edge of the valley where the clover
was very high and asst was getting late
an old she grizzly and her cubs had
come down from the mountain side to
drink and eat clover. They were just
in the edge of the high clover. and
Linn and his Indian were within fifty
yards of them before he saw them. An
old she grizzly with cubs is probably
the most dangerous creature in the
world. ] doubt il the king of beasts,
the lion, or man-eating tiger. are any
more savage or dangerous. The hun
tiers realized their danger. for when
the old bear reared to take a look at
them. and then dropped down and
started towards them. they knew the
sooner they took to trees the better.
and made all haste to some post oaks
that grew all around the edge of the
valley The Indian ran up one like
a monkey, but Linn was not so fortu-
nate. He. however. climbed high
enough TO get hold of a stout limb.
He had dropped his rifle at the foot
of the tree, but had a large dragon
Colts revolver. The bear made for
him. and being large one, reared up
and caught him by one of his feet He
had on pair of heavy mining boots
and swung on to his limb with both
hands for dear life. the bear striking
at MIN with her immense claws.
The Digger warrior, seeing his
friends Peril, slid down and running
up quite close sent an arrow into the
grizzly's ribs, and set the dog on him.
The little cur at once ran up and
grabbed the bear by the hind leg. and
that is something a bear can't stand
So turning Linn loose. he made for the
dog. de cur, as all dogs will ran for
his master with the bear close be-
hind. The Indian had no chance to
climb a tree so ran to a large one
and began to dodge around it. For
some time he was so quick that the
bear could not touch him but he could
not use his bow in such close quar-
tiers except 20 thrust with an arrow in
his hand The dog was doing his best
and attacked the bear. nipping him at
every opportunity: but / have always
noticed that any wild animal will quit
dogs to attack a man. Linn could not
aid his Indian but began TO nope that
the noise they made would bring them
help from the Indian village. The bear
seemed at last to have reasoned out an
attack He made a grab at the In
dian on one side and as quick as
lightning sprang to the other and with |
a blow knocked the Indian down and |
sprang on him. The brave little cur
flew at the grizzly but the enraged |
beast paid no attention TO him. Linn |
said that he then determined as the In |
dian had risked his life to save him. /
he would save the Indian or die IN the |
attempt. He sprang down on the |
ground. got his rifle and shot the bear |
the body. The grizzly then !
quit the Indian and started for Linn.
the little cur still holding on to him.
Linn was too badly bitten in the foot