The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-01-04
"A Badly
Shocked Bear
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES;

economist, AHU before ne hhionSS
his discourse he is almost sure to
speak of the day when improved
transmission will make it possible to
convey the incalculable power OF Call
fornias mountain torrents to cities
that will spring UP as if by magic
along the broad, fertile valleys be-
low
One partial fulfilment of the econo-
mist's dream may now he seen In the
seventeenth mile transmission line that
connects the cascades of Hatcnet
Canon with bustling little town in
the San Joaquin Valley. From the
powerhouse at the cascades the cleo
trio current FLASHES through three
shimmering wires which follow the
canon for distance of five miles, and
then cross rugged mountain spur
to the plain below.
But the mind of Dan Maloy, the
company's lineman, was not burdened
with considerations of the great econ
omic era which his calling might
herald. or. indeed, with considerations
of any kind, unless We may except
clad consciousness that his six feet
of Drawn and muscle were SUFFICIENT
to meet any of the emergencies tnat
the day could have in store Tor him.
His Joyous good health was such that
the prospect of a long, hard trip from
the cascades over the ridge in raw,
d,rizzling rain did not retard MS
bIithesome step or repress his buoyant
whistle.
At noon, some distance up on the
mountain, the merry toiler found
pole that seemed to need INSPECTION.
Sitting down in the lee of huge
oak. he fastened on his climbers. Be-
fore ascending, however, 1t occurred
to him that there was no use of work
ing on an empty stomach, and open
ing his lunch basket, he began eating
dinner.
Not twenty-five yards from him
there was family party also luncn-
ing, of which he was unaware'lntll ne
started after drink from the spring
Eaat tiukled merrily in nearby
brushy gully Then he disturbed an
old bear and her two cubs, all of
whom were eagerly feasting on the
earcass of sheep.
Now an intrusion at meal-time, es-
pecially if the meal is of raw, bleed
ing, meat, and the bear old and cross
and burdened with the care of two
precious little ones. is a most or
fensive breach of ursine etiquette,
and was in this case the cause of an
immediate and furious rush.
The lineman scrambled up the trail
from the spring, but a glance over
his shoulder assured him that he was
no match in a race with this tawny
creature. He had hazy, story-book
idea that people pursued generally
found safety in climbing tree.
Fright in my line" he thought,
making a dash for the big oak under
which he had eaten his dinner
What was his surprise, on gaining
what he considered safe perch, TO
see the bear shining up after him
with the alacrity of squirrel. The
young lineman scrambled out to the
end of his limb.
AS he slid recklessly down over
the bending outer boughs. 1t occurred
to him before dropping to hang till
the bears approach bent his branch
nearer the ground, thereby lessening
his fall a few feet and giving her
that much more distance to descend.
His artifce nearly cost him his life.
He dropped to the ground at what
he considered the strategic moment
but the branch, following the, release
|. af his two hundred pounds, destroyed
3 delicate poise of his pursuer She
sstruggled wildly moment for her bal.
ance, overtoppled with a sudden lurch
hung for a moment at the end of a
long. hairy arm, and floundered with
a wrathfuI roar to the ground. Moth
ling saved dan but the final clutch al
THE limb and his advantage in strik
ling squarely on his feet.
In the moment thus accorded him
he sprang for the nearest pole, for
tunately only a few feet off. and
climbed it in panic Just why he
made for the pole he never knew
unless, indeed, because it was the
nearest thing at hand and right IL
his line"
Anyway, he found himself hanging
on the under side of the cross arm
entirely out of breath and wildly won
,dering what next to do. the beai
\ twas ascending the pole, clumslly De
cause it was rather slim for her ample
hlgGing capacity, but surely, neVerthe-
less.
Dan drew himself up, and finally
sat astride of the cross-arm among
the deadly live wires. By TINS TINT
the hear had reached the telephone
line strung pm each side OF tne pore
a shout eight feet below the lineman.
But hero the bear received her frs
real repulsel She was afraid OF III
wares: yhey looked too much lik'
3 trap. However. after long, angry