Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-03-28

Xxx X XIX s+*A* <* Ak XXX X
ry HERE were three Of us in '94
| -Lowden from Seattle. Eus-
tache, the French Canadian,
and myself. We were not ex-
,ctly in the Klondike region that sea-
son but in the southwestern portion
the Mount st. Elias district, says the
third member Of this little party,
Frank t. Pollock, describing his ao-
ventures in the st. Nicholas. We had
mospected all that section in July and
August. and finding the richest signs
on an unnamed creek between the
head OF the Chittyna River and Lake
Kluatne, we built a dug-out cabin and
spplied ourselves to burning OUT our
claim. Snow few in October, but we
kept Il out Of the diggings, and ex-
bumed large quantities of dirt from
the pay streak" in readiness for the
Spring wash-up. We were not too
abundantly supplied with provisions.
and as our stock diminished we be-
came more dependent upon what game
We could shoot in the hills. This meth
cd of provisioning took time, and we
diSliked it on that account, for hunting
weather is mining weather; but it was
on these expeditions that we heard Of
| The Monarch Of st. Elias
The Indians told us Of it, and nobody
know exactly what it was. Their ac-
counts seemed to indicate a sort of
bear, but Of a weird and novel species.
They described the animal as Of gigan-
| tic size and terrible ferocity, exceeding
il these particulars even the northern
grizzly More than that, it was able
to climb trees with facility, and did
not sleep through the winter, but con-
tnued it's awful career regardless of
season. Few Of them had ever seen
the beast, and those few had not
stayed to examine it's peculiarities
Their fear Of it was extreme, and not
savage Of them would hunt in the
region which it had taken for it's own.
About the middle Of January. on my
way back from an eighty miles trip
IN quest Of provisions, I camped out
close under the central peak OF Mount
d. Elias. I was awakened
narply by a nervous sensation-that
nightmare feeling Of peril that be-
comes an instinct with frontiersmen
tccustomed to sleep in danger. The
oag was close around my head and l
eOuid see nothing, but I felt cold.
aaa an impression that the fire had
uecome low; then I heard faint I'M
aefsrOund rumble, and I unfastenedt
ue hap OF the bag and looked out.
Inc fire had burned very low, and
aau sunk almost out OF sight in hol-.
wv OF Its own making. The heat had
Ala pare a portion of the neighboring
'OcE wall, and for the first time OBJ
'ef'ed what appeared to be the upper
eua OF large crack or creyice in the
.OcA' 1t seemed about three feet wide,
aAu the lower part was still concealed
:! the snow, and from this opening
.aOle again the deadened rumble I had
heard.
vague ideas Of an earthquake en-
s slea my drowsy mind, but I had no
Sue gwen me for speculation. A
sSse ~, oark mass seemed to project it.
"" from the cave. There was a
.uafl, powerful wild-beast odor, and
sl;. ds Ialnt light gave me a horrible
t,a,l tninpse OF cavernous jaws. cleaning
,h. tsAs' and a wrinkled, 4 hairy face,
,pul w.t, 'hree feet from my own
s, WIN a startled shout. I executed
s,aa nu FOIL and somersault backward,
splhs bag and all, into the deep
NM. " pehlnd me. I went completely
d,e. M ~ sight, suppose, into the fluffy
ia'' i%lS' and continued to wallow. pan
t."1 Suicken, to get as far as possible
,.a a.. that frightful apparition.
enda e' several moments of frenzled
eonso. a'of to efface myself, 1 became
osns. s.ious that I was not pursued, and
,is;+ ssea 10 look cautiously back. My
svas' sunt still stood in the camp, gazing
+, tOy y IN my direction. But what was
AZ AZ the twilight it loomed as big
hodn w. o1-a long, thin-fanked, tailless
psnt, ANY, with almost the shape of a
cm,a cef' and the attitude Of bear.
sbis, u lot clearly make out it's color,
brom., was probably dark gray or
Of ~. " thls moment had not thought
bnt ~ Mysterious beast Of the Indians,
ee,t,, -. sight of this gigantic unknown
With :, recalled the savage stories
lts a. thrlll Of superstitious horror.
that "ppearance had been SO sudden
ndoa.y y nerves were badly shaken.
b,ests.ed ,nsored to collect myself, and :ay
uDon iIas ~ heavily, with my eyes fixed
MIN he strange animal, that stood
,pd swinging it's head with :. sinuous