Yukon Councillor E. A. Dixon and E. W. Gibson returned Tuesday about noon from a visit to Braeburn, 86 miles north of Whitehorse on the Whitehorse-Dawson Government road, where Foreman Simon Fiendel and his men have been repairing a bridge in connection with their general road improvements. On their arrival in town Messrs. Dixon and Gibson were accompanied in their buckboard by an Indian and thereby hangs a tale.
After leaving Braeburn roadhouse last Saturday morning and when two miles out Dixon and Gibson were met on the road by Hootchi Bill who informed them that his partner, an Indian named Allen, had been killed by a bear - "Him killed but not dead," was the way Bill expressed it. The men accompanied Bill to his camp on the lake and found the injured man to be practically as described, "killed but not dead." One of his ears was nearly torn off as was much of one side of his face. As five days had already elapsed since the encounter, the wounds were in a terrible condition from decomposition.
Dixon and Gibson returned to the Braeburn roadhouse where they found some first aid medicine in the way of carbolic acid and salve and with these they returned and cleaned out the wounds as well as they could, after which they bandaged them up and started with the Indian for Whitehorse, a four day's drive. Although suffering intensely, the Indian with the stoicism characteristic of his race, lived on the thin vegetable soup his benefactors poured between his teeth and was at last landed in the Whitehorse hospital
where, under the skillful treatment of Dr. Clarke, he is in a fair way to recover, although he will complete his journey through life with but one ear.
Mr. Dixon relates the encounter of the Indian with the bear, as told by Hootchi Bill as follows:
The two Indians were five miles from their camp and were going over a small ridge at the top of which they came face to face with the bear which was also crossing the ridge. When each came in sight of the other they were less than ten feet apart. Allen at once raised his 30-30 rifle but before he could fire the bear was upon him, knocking him down and hurling the rifle aside. Bill jumped to one side and fired on the bear with a high power 22. The bear, which was at that time chewing on Allen's face, then made for Bill and the latter continued to shoot. At the fifth shot bruin fell. Allen was able to walk to their camp where their squaws and children were and where he had been
five days when rescued by Dixon and Gibson.
