The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-01-19
JUST AT AN INTERES Ting
STAGE A BIG GRIZZLY
BROKE THE JACK
POT.

Mark Farney, Geo. Squires, Ra-
mon Arguello, Noisy Smith and All
Suey, cook, left, with an elaborate
outfit, to camp for month some
where in the Santa Lucia range.
Farney said he didn't believe it was
a good thing for a man tot upset
all his ways of living when on a
vacation, so he piled into a wagon
a six gallon can of kerosene oil
and a large lamp. He had been &C
customed to sitting up at nights
and playing little game of draw
when so disposed.
The crowd went out to have
months fun, and, judging by their
appearance when they returned,
they had it all in less than two
| weeks, with large margin to
spare. They brought nothing but
the two bronchos, their frying pan
and the barrels of their guns. All
Suey and Squires came across the
Salinas river on the horses, and
the rest of the party swan the
stream.
Noisy Smith explained. During
the first week they were busy get
ting the camp comfortable. Having
convinced All Suey that at least
pint of beans must be reserved
from the commissary for use as
chips, they got the kerosene lamp
rugged up in the front and resumed
civilized customs in camp, sitting
up until after midnight with the
cards and the snake medicine.
One night very interesting
game was in progress. Mark Far
ney held king full against Squires
flush, and Noisy Smith stayed in
with a bobtail straight and a pla-
cid smile There was a double
handful of beans on the top of an
oil can. All Suey had gone to sleep
at the back of the tent and was
chopping wood in his dreams. Just
as Noisy Smith was about to raise,
All Suey sprang up with a yell and
bounded out of the tent, upsetting
the Oil can and two of the players
en- route. Arguello looked up in
| anger and dhew his revolver to
take a shot at the fleeing Chinaman
but changed his nina when he saw
the head of grizzly poked Trough
| the rear flap of the tent. The bear
was surveying the scene with evil
dent astonishment and some inter-
est. Arguello's anger was diverted
toward the bear.
"Ah! you breaka up such a pot
as that" he cried. "Carajo!" And
he blazed away at the shaggy head.
There was a howl, a charge, and
a rush of the players out of the
tent. They did not wait to seize
their guns.
| The bear knocked down a tent
pole at one end and Farney carried
away the other as he plunged out
headlong. The tent came down on
the bear and enveloped him. For
an instant there was a young earth
quake under the canvas. Then it
became a volcanic disturbance. The
lamp exploded and set fire to the
whole mass. The plug must have
been knocked out of the big oil can
by the bears vigorous antics. All
the oil was ablaze in a minute. and
tents, blankets and bear were en-
veloped in flame. Arguello, Smith
and Farney happened to have their
revolvers on Them and they stood
around and added tot the bears
discomfort by plugging bullets in
to him. Squires had no pistol, and
prudently got up into a tall tree
and yelled "Fire!" All Suey had
crawled into a hollow log and kept
very still.
The bear walled and yelled with
pain and rage, and rolled over in
the burning canvas. 1t was not
much more than half minute
when he broke out of the canvas
, with a howl and rushed blindly
about, striking furiously at trees
and everything In his way. Pieces