Year: 1876




three o'clock, two Of the party were on the
trail of a deer, which led them into n remote
ravine i'll the businesses of the mountains.
into which they had not before vcnt,rred.
The snow being about two feet deep and the
walking very heavy they became discour.
aged, and losing all hope Of oycrtaking tho
deer, which they had wounded, they aban.
doned the pursuit.


On their lcturn one of thA;n DISCHARGED
his gun ut hare, and soon II faint halloo
was heard at some distance to the right nc
II from somo one in distress, Uncertain
whether they were not mistaken and had
not been deceived by the wind, they shout
ed aloud, when the cry was repeated. As
night would soon come on, they held con-
sultation, and were about proceeding to
their camp, three or four miles away, con-
Guiding that the noise was mado by wan-
dering Indians, or came frcan o. party Of
wood-choppers. They started on, but soou
prolonged and mournful howl was borne
down by the wind and again reached their





and then, by simultaneous impulse, turn
ed in the direction from which the sound
proceeded They went on for some dis
tance, foundering through the snow down
precipitous descent, which led them into
gloomy canon. AS they drew nearer tho
voice of a human being could be distinctly
heard calling for relief. They answered
that aid was approaching. The mans yells
OF misery changed to cries Of Joy, and they
could hear him at intervals shouting, "For
Gods sake, don't go away and leave me-
"Come and get me out. 81 am caught and
starving" Still they could see nothing.
But, guided by the mans cries, and cheer
ing him with hopeful answers rs they ad-
vanced, they pushed forward and at last
discernal what appeared to be small cab
in built of heavy logs, without win lows or
doors. The snow had driftel against one
side Of the hut nearly as high Us the roof.
and rs they could see no entrance. they
went around to the other side As soon as
the occupant saw them he uttered exclama-
tions of the greatest joy, and explained his
situation in t. few words BY stating that no
had built bear trap and had caught him.
self in it five days before.


The door WAS made of heavy legs. and
was so arranged rs to slip down into its
place from above. They tried to lift it up,
but failed. Finally, by means OF u stick Of
timber which lay near by, they pried it uo
sufficiently for the prisoner to crawl be.
meath. He appeared .nore dead than alive,
but by the juiicious use OF IL flask of brandy
they were able to get him to their camp
about dark, where their companions had q
blazing fire awaiting thcic return. The
half-famishel man ate ravenously. He
was supplied with plenty of not coffee and
smoked q pipe, after which his strength
somewhat revived, and he gave the follow
ing account of how he got into the situa-
ton in which he was found:


He said his name was Thomas WAY, and
that he had been engaged IN chopping
wood in the mountains during the summer.
Since the first snowfall, about a month ago,
he had frequently noticed tracks of bears
among the pine trees, and had often tried
to get Il shot at them, but without success.
At last the idea struck him to build pen
such as he had often seen grizzly bears
caught in in Lake County. California, where
he used to live. He explained that the bear
trap is made by building q small square
house of heavy hewed logs and covering it,
with a strong roof. The door is of heavy
logs also and slides UP and down in the
grooves When it is up there is on open.
entrance about five feet high and four feet
wide. sheep Is killed and hung up in
side Of the pen attached to u rope, which is
connected with trigger so that when the
falls and he is Gagged.


Way went to work and completed his
trap to his satisfaction, and intended to
bait it the same night. Having Il curiosity
to see how it would work, he went in and
pulled the rope slightly, when the door fell
down. H. attempted to raise it, but was





when he found he WAS unable to bulge it
an inch He worked and struggled, but the
heavy weight refused to move. The pen.
worked only too successfully, and he was
caught i'll his own trap. He yelled, shout
ed, called for help, but, knowing that he
was miles from human habitation and in
a savage locality where few persons ever
vcntured, he sat down i'll blank despair.
He spent that night in agony and got but
little sleep. 1t commenced to snow, but,
fortunately, he had heavy blanket over
coat. which kept him comparatively com-
Portable. Tie next morning he commenced
shouting again until his throat Was soro.
but was only answerel by the howlings Of
the tempest. He had set his gun against a
stump outside, and longcd to get ut it that
he might let it off and attract somebody's
attention. He soon began to get hnngry.
His thirst was qucnched by thrustiug his
hand through the chinks between the logs.
and raking up snow and eating it, Thus
day after day elapsed during which his
mental sunerings were terrible.


He was profusa in his gratitude to his
dcliverers, but declared his intention of
getting out of tho Sierra Nevada ~ soon as
possible and Abandoning bear hunting.