A Boy’s Close Encounter on the Mountainside
A thirteen-year-old boy faced a black bear on a mountain path, leading to a harrowing struggle that left a young rescuer wounded but on the mend.
Two weeks ago, Pierre, aged 13, stepson of Mr. J. H. Haywood of Okanogan, and a 12-year-old son of Mr. H. went up the side of the mountain near Scotch Creek. The older boy had a shotgun, and while hunting for deer came across a black bear. The boy fired, and pretty soon his rifle showed light. Pierre made a hasty retreat up a small tree, the younger boy also climbing the same tree. The bear was able to reach the feet of the smaller boy, and chewed until the little fellow was hauled down. The bear showing a disposition to chew up the lad, who was lying on the ground, the elder boy jumped down and was willing to give battle. The bruin started off, and very soon the smaller boy was upon the back of the larger one, and they were getting down the range out of the timber. Last week the little sufferer, who had his feet considerably injured, was in a fair way to recover.
“The bear showing a disposition to chew up the lad... the elder boy jumped down and was willing to give battle.”
While Washington's landscape has transformed from wilderness to a sprawling urban corridor, the primal danger of the backcountry remains a constant, reminding us that despite modern tech, our relationship with the wild is still one of respect and vulnerability.
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