The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-02
STIFF BEAR YARNS.
This Is Great Season For Bruin
Along the Yukon River.

Bears have been reported in great
numbers in all parts of the Yukon this
summer, and prospecting, surveying,
telegraph and police patrol parties have
| met many of the big fellows.
The most unique bear story of the
season, perhaps, is that of a mammoth
grizzly which has frequented one of the
| road houses between Yukon Crossing
and Whitehorse. The fellow learned
that number of hams were cached in
the roof of two-story roadhouse, and
| performed the extraordinary feat of
scaling the high log house to the roof
| gripping the logs with his powerful
arms He scaled the place many times
and help himself to ham. The owners
of the house and all others connected
with the place were absent for the sum-
mer.
The bear tore the roof off the road
house with his mammoth paws, and
then easily got through and reached the
hams. He carried some of the hams
into the woods, and there devoured
| them. The fellow was caught in the
| could leap from the roof of the house
to the ground with no injury or APP
parent discomfort.
A policeman went to bag the foxy old
bruin. He went to sleep. and, as is Gus
tomary when the cop is asleep, the
big thing came off. Bruin sneaked up
that roof, stole what ham he wanted,
turned over a bait that had been set for
ltceman sadly disappointed when he
awakened.
Mining Recorder Wadleigh of Miller
and Glacier Greeks received a warm
moth cinnamon bears which he met on
the trail between Dawson and Glacier.
Bears are so common in the district
| that Wadleigh thought nothing of it
and sighted two shaggy fellows come
walking toward him. He expected that
when a few PAGES nearer they would
rise, give the customary turn of tail
and hustle off into the bushes.
Hello, old sportsi" said Wadleigh,
with a friendly and fearless air.
That salute was enough. The CHINA
mons evidently thought Wadleigha long
made for him at double quick pace.
The mining recorder did not even stop
for mastery retreat. His hat shot into
the air, his hair became erect, and with
pop-eyes, he hit off three yards at a
stride as he steered for the nearest
tree. Wadleigh had a bottle of hootch
and, strange to say, he held fast to the
fire-fluid during his run. But at the
thing.
Did I scale that tree?" says Wad-
leigh. well, I tried. I had outstrip
ped the bears in the race, and was so
lower end of that tree in the first few
wild dashes I made to get to the top.
1t was an awful moment. Every sec
ond I thought I would be mincemeat
the next, and expected to find aheavy
weight fastened to my trousers every
time I slipped in that wild scramble.
The incentive to keep at it was mighty.
When the bears got within about three
bounds of the tree desperation spurred
me to one last grand effort.
my startled soul drove me fran
tically to the task. My life was the
stake. Every muscle, every fiber of
my being responded. Every motion
and every moment was precious. A
false step or a slip might have meant
death.
Bruises to hands or knees were
nothing. 1 stuck to that slippery old
tree, and up I went. The effort was
supreme, and I was triumphant. AS
landed my feet among the firmer
branches of the tree the two husky
brutes arrived painting and wild eyed,
and looked viciously up the tree. They
made no fight to get me out.
ct dangled on the uppermost bough,
and my heart was in my mouth with
fear that the tree would give way.
1.-THE bears turned to the bottle of
hootch nosed it with contempt, and
then turned away. The ambled into
the bush. After a few hours becalm-
ing myself, descended, sneaked about
and gathered my hat and grip and then
made tracks. Post-Intelli-
gencer.