Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-08-26

He WAS ALMOST FRIGHTENED TO DEATH.
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 Il full stop Just before enterin"
tunnel No. 3. which is very danger
Gus one. The train in this case was a
long string of emptics, among them Il
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
trainmcn gathered at the engine for Il
chat and left the rear end unguardcd
Nine big black bears amblcd out of the
fir timber and climbed on to fiat car.
There they romped at will. Tie 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 flat car with its load of bears
20 slowly past. every bruin of them
looking ut him in curiosity. He was so
frightened that he nearly missed the
caboOse. Meantime the rear brakeman
was advancing at Il 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 he reached
the fiat car. which was almost -four
cars from the rear. he Saw tho bears
clamberirg On t. tho next freight ca
behind The fat. He. too. was badly
frightened. The bears seemed t. be
surprised and scared at the sane time.
but did not seem TO desire to jCmp
from the moving cars.
They ambied half falling. upon the
tail car, which was il palace horse car.
The hatch lay orcn and affor,ic a
very promising hole for the poor bears.
The first Of the deniyens Of the forest
spicd the hole and squeezed his woolly
self into it and dropped out of sight
He was Immediately followed by the
other eight, and the astonishcd and
half frightened brakeman. clamberin2
upon the tall car, slammed the hatch
shut and latched it. 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 ran 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 1t was perhaps
the first time that the Northern Pacific
road ever hauled such 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 mightiest
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
graphed to the train dispatchers t.
have the city marshal on hand to ar
rest a load of trampS, AMI when th>
train reached Auburn there was y
large crowd at the depot to see what
had been reported around was to 'c y
good fight,
Under special orders from Archibald
Gray of the freight deptrtneut Of n
Great Northern and of J. 7. Tingi!n
of the Northern Pacific railroad The
carload of bears was side tracked and
missjoners took charge.