The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-07-24
HE YAs ALMOST FRIGHTENED 10 DEATH.

HE WAS ALMOST FRIGHTENED IL DkATh-
the woods, as they are gorging them
selves after a winters fast and sleep.
1t was nine Of these black fellows In
an empty cattle car that Smith and his
assistants hauled into the station and
which have been forwarded to the ZOO
logical park in Seattle.
The Northern Pacific trains always
come to a full stop just before entering
tunnel No. 8, which is q very danger.
GUS one. The train in this case was
long string Of empties, among them a
few long palace horse cars. These have
matches on the top, where hay and feed
are given stock while en- route.
As the train came to stop the
trainmen gathered at the engine for a
chat and left the rear end unguarded.
Nine big black bears ambled out Of the
Or timber and climbed on to a fat car.
There they romped at will. The train
finally jerked loose from Its stationary
position and began the long pull
through the tunnel. The rear brake
man remained on the engine while the
conductor stood on the roadbed ready
to catch the rods of the caboose and
mount. =
As the train slowly passed him he
was nearly frightened to death by see,
ing the fat car with its load of bears
80 slowly past, every bruln of them
looking at him in curiosity. He was so
frightened that be nearly missed the
caboose. Meantime the rear brakeman
was advancing ut a rapid gait on top
Of the cars to the caboose, intending to
reach the end Of the train before the
tunnel was too close. When be reached
the fat car, which was almost four
cars from the rear, he saw the bears
clamberlng on to the next freight car
behind the fat. He, too, was badly
frightened. The bears seemed to be
surprised and scared at the same time,
but did not seem to desire to jump
from the moving cars.
They ambled, half falling. upon the
tall car, which vas palace horse car.
The hatch lay open and afforded a
very promising hole for the poor bears.
The first Of the denizens Of the forest
spied the hole and squeezed his woolly
self into it and dropped out of sight.
He was Immediately followed by the
other eight and the astonlshed and
half frightened brakeman, clambering
upon the tall car, slammed the hatch
shut and latched 1t. Then he ducked
for the tunnel and crawled back to tell
the conductor what had occurred.
After passing through the tunnel the
train once more slowed down and came
to stop. The trainmen run ahead and
called the attention Of the engineer and
fireman to the catch and explained all,
The men looked to see that the doors
Of the cage were safely shut and hook
ed and then proceeded to the division
with the load Of bears. twas perhaps
the first time that the Northern Pacific
road ever hauled such a load Of live
stock.
The bears howled and fought to get
out Of the car, but the strong wooden
bars, REINFORCED by iron bands and
strong enough to hold the mightlest
OK, held true. There was no budging,
although the teeth of the wild beasts
left their mark on the woodwork.
At Hot Springs the conductor tele-
Eraphed to the train dlspatchers to
have the city marshal on hand to ar.
rest load Of tramps, and when the
train reached Auburn there was a
large crowd at the depot to see what
had been reported around was to be q
good fight.
Under special orders from Archibald
Gray OF the freight department Of the
Great Northern and Of ]. r, Tingling
Of the Northern Pacific railroad the
carload Of bears was side tracked and
hauled to Seattle, where the park com.
mIssioners took charge.
o., ~ o