Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-29
A LEAP FOR LIFE.
II Saved Him From the Bear, but
Trapped Him In Midair.

Some persons have more than thei
fair share Of adventure. OF this fortu.
pate-er unfortunate-cIass is Mr.. ",
G. Gilbert. the hero Of an extraordi-
nary experience told by Mr.. R Z
Strong in the Wide World Magazine.
Mr. Gilbert had been exploring an
unfrequeRted cave high up in the side
of deep canyon in Yellowstone park
when he suddenly came upon a huge
silver tip bear that showed unmist9k
able signs OF displeasure at being dis
turbe6 The man dashed out Of the
den. with the SnarlinC bear close at his
heels
'fhe face Of the canyon was almost 8
sheer precipice. To try to run down it
was certain death. for II he did not
make a misstep and go tumblinC to the
bottom before he had gone hundred
feet the bear would almost instantly
overtake him. Despairingly he looked
about him.
A short distance away was the plat
form OF an old aerial tramway that had
been used to carry ore across the can
yon 10 the other side. One Of the big
iron buckets in which the ore had been
carried still swung on its two little
wheels from the rusted wire cable eight
or ten feet out from the pla tform-iust
out of reach. It offered the only avail
able means Of escape. however. and
the hunted man took the chance.
With shrill cry, for the bear was al
most upon him, Gilbert sprauG for
ward and. with every muscle set. leap
ed out from the platform toward the
bucket. the edge Of which he just man,
aged to grasp with his fingers
BE struggled hard 10 raise himself
and climb in, but for a long time the
swinging bucket thwarted every effort
Finally he got leg over the edge. la
boriously clsmbered In and sank ex-
hausted to the bottom.
Baked OF his prey. the angry bear
began TO claw and tear at the slender
cable. In some way the animal touch.
ed the big wheel over which the cable
ran. The wheel began to turn. and. as
, II turned. the bucket. with its human
freight. ran rapidly down the ca BILE
swsying and swinging as II about to
turn over
Suddenly there was q tearing. snap
ping sound. and several strands Of the
rust eaten. weather beaten cable part
ed. The bucket sagged downward
Eickeningly.
Looking out. Gilbert saw that only
half a dozen strands now sustained
the weight Of the bucket II they
should part be would be dashed down
upon the rocky bottom Of the canyon.
j fully 200 feet below
/ II was a serious predics ment The
4 cable might part under his weight at
shy minute. or the bear might strike
the twisted wires q hard blow. which
would almost certainly break them.
he could not pull the bucket along.
for the guide cable overhead had dis
appeared years before. Although there
was little hope that any one would
hear him in that remote and lonely
region. he shouted aloud for help.
Fortunately for Gilbert a party Of
men passing near by heard his call
and hurried to his rescue. But when
they saw his plight they were at a
loss how to save him. At last one Of
them jumped on his horse. dashed
back 70 the outfit wagon and returned
with several long fish lines and all
the rope he could Ind.
In q few minutes he had whitfield
out a rough bow and arrow. After
tying the fish line TO the arrow he
shot the latter mp and over the bucket
/ Then Gilbert pulled up the rone which
bad been fastened TO the line and tied
ir TO the NahIo