The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-06-06

tana, says a writer In the AnacoDda
Standard. The half Of them would
iii a large volume, but ! VIII give one
as il was told 10 me. 1t is one relating
an experience that he had in the early
days In the Highwood Mountains.
give II here In the words Of Mr.. Harris,
as nearly as can remember them.
Those who know Mr.. Harris VIII
realize that any version told apart from
the magnetic personality OF the mar
rator must lose much OF its charm,
for he is one Of those men whom ether
men like 10 please sSd dislike 70 dis
obey-that when he speaks upon any
subject. others stop and listen
1T was in the fall Of 70 when
Johnnie Carruthers, a young fellow
named Shaw and myself We're hunting
deer and elk for their skins. We got
81 for a deer skin and about 50 for an
elk hide. Besides being royal sport
there was just enough danger from
the Indians in 1t 10 add zest and then
we made good wages.
I'VE Were encamped on McDonalds
Creek. where Merrilrs ranch Is now,
ana early one afternoon | started out
toward the mountains on horseback.
| approached a canyon in the noun
tans having very steep sides, whose
mouth opened upon a wide, marshy,
Cat covered with willow clumps.
"As | drew near the mouth OF the
canyon | saw huge grizzly roofing
upon the mountain side. He was Sc
busy turning over the fat rocks that
he did not notice my approach. dis
mounted behind a bunch of willows
and tied my horse with a sixty-foot
saddle rope in order that she might
have chance to eat little grass dur
ing my absence.
Taking my rifle, ! then advanced
until was directly under the bear. !
was in the bottom Of the canyon and
knelt down and fired at his heart.
The bear dropped fiat and then com
menced rolling toward me down the
mountain side. Every foot increased
the velocity with which he came tear
ing down over the rocks. AS he was
coming directly toward me / stepped
up on the opposite slope few feet to
avoid being crushed. He landed in the
bottom of the ravine in a confused
heap. and before | had time 10 think
he rose upon his hind feet directly in
front Of me, and, snarling and growl-
ing be raised his huge forearms
straight in the air and glared at me.
MY fright was such that l swung
my gun around and fired without aim.
In fact. the bullet went so wide Of his
head that ii broke his wrist, which was
at least a foot away. Immediately he
sprang at me, growing horribly.
MY feet were encaGed in moccasins
and was able to run in those days
like n Whitehall deer.
Il had run seventy-fve yards down
the side of the canyon to its mouth,
and every leap the beast made he slid
almost TO my feet When, however, We
reached the fat he being handicapped
10y his broken foot, | easily outdis-
tanced him. | think that in the 100
yards across the marsh | beat him at
least twenty-five.
the ggowls and running Of the bear. my
horse had come toward me rs far as
her rope would allow. l don't know
how reached the saddle, but | think
that | leaped up in the air and came
down astride.
Forgetting that the horse was teth'
cred to the willow tree by sixty-foot
rope. urged her 10 her full speed. Al
most at once she was well under head
way. and 10y the time she had run tie
100 feet she was running like the wind.
OF course when she came TO the end
of the rope she turned complete cir
Gle in the air and l was thrown at
least forty feet. Ny gun went one way
and | another.
"The grass was long, perhaps two
feet high, and | had only to crawl a
few feet 10 get over little washed.out
basin. Here knelt and, catching my
breath. watched the bear. When
looked az him he was standing on his
hind feet watching the mare.
He was evidently puzzled NJ the
new turn Of events. He did not under
stand that performance. Almost as
soon as the mare got to her feet she
bolted between the bear and the willow
clamp. and as she passed the bear he
made n lunge at her with both fore
feet. but owing to his broken wrist he
was only able TO reach her with one
claw and with this he pulled out a
.r,co, borl- of hoir from hpr tail She
kicked him fair in the chest with both
feet and again ran to the end OF her
tcthcr The bear made for her again
aHd as she passed hin he scratched
her badly on the hip.
The wound 10y this time was cvi-
'antlv telling on him. for he rose 20 lis
hind feet. locked around in tie ncst
pjal.ed way rs though something had
been lost. and then started TO limp q
al fuurs to the mountain side and dis
appeared in a clump of pine
Mr.. Harris then united his hor-e and
20 le to camp. He said that he would
have given a thousand dollars for his
Gun while n the ambush, Gs bc was
afraid tho bear would commence q
trail him. The next day the three went
TO the spot ard found the bic ody tracks
u the bears forepaw M to the clumo
of piaes. ana every few feet they dis
covered q clot OF blood that he had evil
leutly coughed rp. Careful cSamila.
ton proved that he had not Ecft the
slump OF pines. Mr.. Harris refused TO
.- a, 81 ,,,t Co. tfc INnr hppauSp he