Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-08-24

annexed graphic description of A Grizzly Bear
Hunt which will greatly interest our Atlantic
readers. 1t is minutely correct in every partic-
ular
We had been five days out from camp, when
one evening we saw large moving object afar
off on the prairie. We had been for some days
out of fresh meat, and the idea of a rich juicy
buffalo hump induced Lander, Texan, named
Guy, young Blackfoot, (whom we had as guide
across the Backfoot Pass) and myself to ride
out in pursuit.
We were all pretty well armed with rcvolv-
ers, and Guy had in addition double gun,
loaded with slugs. hander particular prided
hims.lf on his horse-.an old buffalo hunter
from whose back he had short time previously
shot Lone Bull
Gny was mounted upon pony which had
been bought few days before at camp of
Grosvcnterss whose capacities for running were,
if Guys word was to be credited, unequalled.
The Blackfoot was mounted upon a mule, while
| had sturdy built horse, not good for wear,
and not much for run
When we drew near, our supposed buffalo
was seen to be a grizzly bear, of the largest
class lie had come down from the mountains
to dig roots; and as we approached, lie moved
off slowly to covert of low bushes.
Now am not particularly cowardly myself:
but there was a certain something in the appear
ance of that customer that involuntarily brought
to my mind the many stories had heard Of the
ferocity of his kind when molested and, his
numbering motion, as he went sideways over that
little prairie, was suggestive of considerable
when he chose to let himself out
halted at once; and, looking back, saw that
l was already in advance of Guy and the lndi-
an, who seemed to have no more stomach for the
fray than did.
Lander, however, shouting for US to come on,
dashed in the covert after Bruin the old horse,
true to his lessons in the Buffalo hunt, gallop-
ing up on the right side. The bear awaiting no
attack, but came furiously out from his shelter,
and charged, at racing speed, upon horse and
rider. Lander and the bear went headong one
way, and Guy, the Indian, and |, in about AS
nearly an opposide direction as was possible upon
so short notice, until we were out upon the
open prairie gain. Here, looking back, we
could sec Bruin, still in fierce pursuit of Old
Bufllo, every instant getting further from the
covert, and receiving the balls from Lander S re-
volver as he would turn in his saddle to fire at
him.
Again he shouted for us to come up; but we
could not trust our horses in a trial Of speed
with the now maddened animal, and 50 kept al
wary distance. LandeF aTpeare to have ex-
hausted all the loads in his revolver, and yet
save limping motion in his gait, the bear ap.
peared unharmed but the headlong speed al
which he had gone had evidently told upon him
and rs Lander galloped towards us, he slowly
turned again towards the coyet.
lie tried to prevail on Guy to ride up: tell
ing him there was mo danger and that both
of his barrels, loaded with slugs, would certain
ly kill him. But Guy sole answer was:
'Look-a-here, Kurnul, you can sock along at
ter that bar just as lang as you've a mind tu
and here's my six-shooter, but you can't tol
me up thar, now don't mind takin' turr
with a big black Arkansaw, but when it come,
to hunting grizzlies, on a pony, jist count me
out!'
But nothing could prevail upon Lander t'
allow the bear to escape; so exchanging reyol
vers, he again dashed into the bushes.
One of the stirrups caught in low bush, ant
the rider was thrown backward upon the sad
die; and found myself writhing in my seat, al
| fancied that all was lost. But no by a vic
lent effort he recovered himself, and | agail
breathed more freely but only again to suspend
my breath as, moment later, the old hors
stumbled over grassy mount. The bear wa
within six feet of him, and it seemed as if al
earth could not save the rider.
The bear, we could see, had lain down in
tangled spot in the covert, and seemed to avail
the coming of his enemy. Lander, supposin'
that most of his shots had been futile from thu
swerving of his horse, determined to make sure
this time and so he rode down to within twent,
feet of the bear, and taking deliberate aim a
his head, fired.
In bound the bear was almost on him, ant
l held my breath and closed my eyes, but wa
too paralyzed to attempt to render any assis
tance.
Guy seemed frozen on his horse but tn
Blackfoot, with wild whoop, charged down ii
a circle waving his blanket upon his gun, ant
making loud outcries to engage the attention o
the bear but all would have been fruitless hat
not the gallant old horse, true to his training
darted off to the right, and so sosuddenly tina
cou Id scarcely believe he had escaped, when
saw the BRUTE with mad howl, fall where h
had stood the moment before.
| dashed madly down, only to have ridden 4
nv own destruction but again the brave oil
horse redeems himself nobly; and, though evi
IDENTIFY much blown, stretched out across tn
nrairie like the swind, the bear close behind
Swinging along with rolling gait, his greel
ewes seemed to strike fire foaming at the mouth
and bowling with rage and pain, as ever an
again Lander would turn in the saddle an
fire.
When they reached the open prairie, Old But
falo gradually widened the pace between them
and firing low the fore leg of the bear wa
broken and rolling over and over on the prai
rie, and groaning over the wounded limb, tn
air grew frightful with his howlings. Ono
more backing his horse down, Lander fred tn
last shot in his revolver at the bear Is head, whe
Old Grizzly rearing upon his hind legs, stoo