The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-11-13


She ruined Il walking suit in climb
ng. crawling over sticks and stones
and through dirty wash-outs, but the
prize was twenty-five dollars aud
iecond-best diploma and the glory
vel, | must say that Florence was
little hard TO live with for a few days.
She Is naturally modest and good
1atured enough. though, and was re-
duced to the ranks in due season.
Black Rock Ranch. our home, with
'oos Of children. Is pure democracy.
At least In principle. OF late however,
Florence has really performed feat
so notable that we cannot ignore her
claim to distinction. The worst OF it
IS. she has never once Dragged of her
performance, and when the subject is
mentioned by any one. she turns ii
aside with an air of being bored. and
says it was nothing but what any
amateur with i camera would have
lone. Such Il thing is not to be be
'ieved OF every one though. and It is
just this air OF calm superiority TO
praise that Ferd. Fanny and | find
hard to get along with.
We have read ana heard that people
who have performed heroic actions OF
potable achievements become very
humble and modes; at home when
.heir deeds have received public recog-
milton. So il is with some hope of re-
lucing Florence 20 her normal status
hat l undertake TO tell of her adycn-
ture exactly as it happened.
Last August Florence. Ferd. Fanny
and went as usual to Shoshone Peaks
Cor the raspberry picking In these
excursions we drive stout spring
wagon, and carry tent andsa canning
outht
High up among the juniper bush and
shrub pine Of the Shoshonas grow
delds of red raspberries berries half
as big as Il mans thumb. juicy as
Strawberries and luscious to the taste
This fruit IS so abundant that birds
and beasts do not visihly diminish
the supply
Our berry camp Of an evening. with
It's glowing pine-wood flro. It's big heat
.ng kettle giving out the odor OF sim
mering fruit and two berry-stained
girls moving about among pots anG
Jars and packing crates, is a pleasant
place for Ferd and me: and the girls
.njoy il as much as we do.
Florence and Fanny help in picking
berries. although Florence always car
'ies a camera under her arm. She has
nus secured excellent photographs. at
,lose range, OF pine-hens sage-grouse,
whlstllng hares and other mountain
birds and animals. One day she got
fine snap shot Of an elk which trotted
5y within a few yards of her
There are good many bears in these
mountains, bat as they never attack
people unless directly provoked. we
DO not fear them aud as landmarks
are perfectly defined all about our
camp. we take no pains to keep to-
gether Each one OF US in fact. can
90 better work alone.
Thus it happened that Florence was
alone when she encountered big
grizzly ut close quarters. She was a
5alf-mlle or so from camp and sitting
At rest with two buckets filled with
berries, when she heard n great splash.
Ing of water in the channel OF a small
brook near a. hand.
The sounds came from some rods
below. and she Jumped al the conclu.
sion that an elk had come down to
drink, as tile day was very warm So
she took her camera from its case.
and slipped down into tho crooked,
a!tch-like channel
AS she could see no animal there.
she stole softly downstream, stepping
apon boulders which were thlckly
strewn in the shallow little runlet.
The crooked ditch dsepened as she ad-
7anced, and the suns rays beat hot
upon the stones at the bottom.
After several turns Of the brook. she
came suddenly upon the object OF her
search-not an elk, but an enormous
grizzly bear. wallowlng in a pool OF
water held by dam OF bOulders. The
water came to its mid-sldes. ana the
animal hounGered about cooling lis
parched hide IN this refreshing bath.
On catchng sight of Florence III,
hht<~sftJ -asff q stunt VI HuAllIlrtt Uul
reared itself upon the boulders 10 stare
az her; and there the animal stood
after a shake OF its loose skin, uneasy
; nj the presence OF an intruder, yet ap
oarently neither angered nor afraid.
Naturally Florence feared danger a
such close quarters. but she knew tha
running would avail her nothing IL IN,
bear chose 10 attack. Plucklly, there
fore, she stood her ground. al les.
than fifteen steps. and took two ol
three snap shots In quick succession, OF
nt least as quickly as she could rol
the cameras film into position.
Then. as the grizzly refused 10 retir,
ard sim showed no disposition to az
tack. Florence began leisurely to bacH
away. She had made but q careful
step or two when she heard a racke
In the bushes almost above her head
and an instant later. Just behind her
another bear descended The precipitou
banl; Of the channel. He slid dowi
backward, and aiishtel with aplasl
IA the brook.
Thls bear or bis cub was not NOR,