Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-03-14
situated on the left arm signifies the
power Of fascination, but indicates
fickle fortunes for the bearer.-New
York Sun. a

power OF 1aSclnatlOn, Dut indicates
tickle fortunes for the bearer.-New
York Sun. aE =.
BEAR THAT SET A CREEK AFIRE.
A Weird Tale of the OIL Regions at
the Beginning Of Their Boom.
"In the early days Of the Pennsyl-
vania oil regions" said DR.. w. h.
Goold, Of Reno, "the woods were full
Of wild animals, and as consequence
Of their boldness and the peculiar and
new factors the oil business had intro
duced into the region, odd happenings
in which those animals and we'll
drillers, teamsters and others employ
ed in oil production were concerned,
were frequent.
II was one Of the first seekers after
riches that went up along Cherry Tree
Run, in Venango county to put down
oil wells. Trout fishing was excellent
in those mountains streams then. I
was an enthusiastic trout fisherman,
and one day in June. early in the days
of the rush to Oil Creek valley. I went
very near to the headwaters of one OF
the small brooks. that emptied into
Cherry Tree Run to enjoy days
fishing.
1T was nearly dark when 7 got
down to the mouth Of the brook, load
ed down with trout, and ebout tired
out. I had three miles to travel yet to
get to my shanty and resolved to
camp for the night on the banks Of the
run. I ate a hearty supper Of trout,
built q rousing camp fire, and lay down
by the side Of It and went to sleep. );
Some time in the night I woke sud-
denly and wide. The camp fire was still
burning brightly and threw a broad
pathway Of light out upon and across
the run. AS lay there wondering
what had awakened me saw big
dark object moving forward In the
stream plainly visible in the streak 'of
light and swimming directly toward
where I lay.
"It was spooky sort Of sensation,
and I lay still, scarcely daring to
breathe, with my eyes fixed on the ap-
preaching object, which swan deliber-
ately across the creek. AS it crawl
ed out Of the water and up on the
shore I saw what 1t was. It was a
big black bear.
"The bear paused q moment after
landing, and then slouched right on to-
ward the camp fire. prompted by gen.
uine bear curiosity. The fire was not
more than Is feet from the creek.
"The discovery Of the identity Of the
mysterious object and the rapid ad-
vance OF the bear toward me broke the
spell under which had lain. sprang
to my feet, grabbed q blazing stick
from the fire, and hurled It at the ap-
preaching animal, which was then al
most within an arms length Of me.
The brand struck the bear. Then like
flash Of gunpowder the poor beast
burst into flames from snout to tall.
with q howl that filled the woods
with frightful echoes and me with ter
ror, the blazing bear turned and fed to
the creek, and plunged into the water.
II he had expected to find grateful help
there he was wofully mistaken, for IN
an instant the creek, from bank TO
bank, and far above and below where
stood. a horriied and dumfounded
spectator of the weird scene, became
line of leaping fire. lighting up the
gloom Of the forest for rods on either
side.
'There came from that roaring Hood
of flame one long, unearthly wall OF
agony. For a second I saw the blazing
form of the wretched bear writhe IN
torture in the burning creek. Then
saw and heard him no more.
II never stopped running until Il ar
rived at my shanty, my way being
lighted by the blaze on the creek. AT
the shanty learned that an oil tank
had sprung a bad leak that evening
and before 1t could be stopped several
hundred barrels Of oil had run into the
creek and fioated down on the surface.
The unfortunate bear had struck this
inhammable stuff when he swan. the
creek. His fur being saturated with
it. The bear. plunging into the creek
all ablaze, had set the whole oily sur
face on fire and met his frightful fate.
New York Sun.