The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1940-09-28
Battered in
Battle with
Big Brownie

1870. ..t l.-l.- ,.s-i.
Upon his arrival here at the end
Of his third biennial walking trip
over the Alaska ailroad, Manley
E. Sweazey. Gu. tells of very
hrilling experience at the hands OF
a giant Toklat grizzly bear. Sweazey
still limping and "stoved up IN
.cneral from the punishment he
eek. even though it had happened
cine ten days age, says the Fair
.anks News-Mincr CT September "a.
One CT Sncazeys hobbies, as
many Alaskans knew from having
seen his pictures in the News Miner
nd elsewhere, is photography. He
particularly likes studies of wild ami
mails, beth in black and white and
n Kcdachrorle natural cclor in 25-
Nm. One of his shots in particu-
lar, Three Rams has been circu-
lated largely throughout tie Fer
.itcry, hanging among other places
the Governors office at Juneau
md the office Of the Alaska Game
Commission, ssa
Trip in Park
The bear experience came during
a trip through Mckinley Park when
with Ranger Mcintyre trip was
being made to Wonder Lake. The
big bear appeared at about Mile 81
on the road, and Sweazey decided
to try for a few choice shots. I'M
ike most specimens Of the Toklat
grizzly variety-which usually take
eff in nc uncertain manner at the
approach of a car--this bear con-
tinued grazing unconcernedly near
the road.
Takes PrecautiOn
Taking the precaution OF having
the truck door held open, the pho
tographer got out and proceeded
and slowly to approach his
eubiect. The bear was seemingly
abvicus to the situation, only cast
ing a curious glance once or twice
in the direction of the camera. Since
the bear seemed SO good natured
the chance to get really too close
seemed to Sweazey too good to miss.
So he made the mistake of pushing
Mr.. Bear too far. Suddenly, at
distance of not more than 10 yards,
the bear reared on his hind feet,
swung around and charged pell-
nell. 1t took an instant or two,
Sweazey says, for him to coordinate
his mind and his powers OF locomo-
ticn. but when he did, get going it
was plenty fast! The bear, he says,
doomed up as big as a seven-room
house and looked plenty business
like as he made a jump or two be-
fore he got going. -Hs
: aal "Takes OFF, -. 81
The Ranger was holding the truck
door open still but between it and
the runner was about z ors8 foot
cut bank, covered with gravel and
lcose large stones. When he reach
ed this bank he was going so fast
that he simply took off" into the
air and landed scrambling in all
fours a few feet still from the door
and safety. He expected, he says,
as he lost his. footing and fell down
the bank, to feel the teeth and claws
of the bear in his back at any in
slant. The bear, however, SEEM
ingly content with having the in
truder to route, stopped at the top
of the bank and turned away. To
the Ranger, it was highly amusing
spectacle-aside from the great dam
ger involved-with bear and man
running a fairly matched short foot
race to the edge of the bank-and
the man flying out into space with
a couple of cameras and light
meter going in various directions!
To Sweazey there was nothing anus
ing about it, however.
Tries Again
Not having taken as many pic
lures as he wished. and reasoning
that if the bear would charge once
and stop before. reaching him ne
might do so again, Sweazey decided
to try it again. So he gathered to-
gether his fortunately unchanged
equipment and went back again to
his self-appointed task.
The, bear meanwhile had moved
to a spot where the going between
him and the car was level.
The next time Bruin. reared to
charge, the nervy photographer
stood his ground and snapped him
as he reared. Sweazey admits, how
ever, that he was so scared that
time that he. spoiled the shot by
forgetting to advance his film to the
next shot. The third time he bear
tcharged he really meant business
and followed to the very door of the
car, and there stood his ground, net
ting some fine closeups So, having