Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/553

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTS time previous to their coming to Red Wing. The story we now relate is told by .Mr. Day, the circumstances occurring while they lived a1 Trenton. While seated a1 breakfasl one morning, .Mrs. Day called the attention of her husband to a large black object, which at first they thoughl to be a black hog, bu1 which, on closer inspection, proved tit be ;i hear. Day seized a gun, loaded with slugs, and tired at the bear, bu1 the slugs fell short of the mark. The hear look to the river and made for the Minnesota shore, leaving Mr. Day standing disappointedly watching his movements. While thus engaged, a splashing of the water near attracted his notice, and looking in the direction he saw his wife coming towards him with a small skiff. As soon as she discovered that her husband had missed his aim, and thai the hear had taken to the -water. with a -woman's forethought, sin- caught up an axe. and. hurry- ing to die skiff, unmoored it. and stalled to the aid of her hus- band, determined that the hear should not escape. As soon as the skiff touched the shore Mr. Day jumped in. and. following Bruin 's wake, succeeded in heading him off and turning him towards the Wisconsin shore. When nearly opposite his home. Mr. Day man- aged to get near enough to his game to use the axe. A short and desperate struggle ensued, resulting in victory for Day. The bear was towed to the shore, and found to weigh 400 pounds. 'Sir. Day was much praised hy the Indians for his daring and prowess. They forgot that the credit for the success of the adventure belonged to Mrs. Day. Had it not been for her forethought, in taking the axe and came when she did. her husband would have stood there looking until the hear had crossed the river, and made his escape. Mrs. Day was an example of the kind of stuff many of .Minnesota's pioneer women were made of. The Dakotas of Red AVing used log canoes for navigating the rivers. It required some skill to manage such a craft in the water. My first experience in canoe traveling was rather ludicrous. Being at the landing one day, when a man and hoy were about to launch one of these vessels for a hunting excursion, I asked the privilege of. a ride with them, which was readily granted. As I attempted to board the thing, it slipped from me so quickly that I came near falling into the stream, but the man and boy held the canoe, so that I succeeded in the next attempt. AYe had not gone far up the stream, keeping along near the shore, when 1 noticed the water was not very deep, and having a long stick in my hand, which T had been using for a staff, T thought I might increase the speed and help the rowers. I put my stick- over the side, touched the bottom, and gave a good push. The stick stuck in the muddy bottom, and when T pulled to get it out. quick, almost as lightning, the boat rolled over, and all three were