The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-05-25

not to shoot him, but to mercifully spare his
life. The whole country was soon apprised
Of the intent Of the hunting party, and hence
forth the life of Mr.. Grizzly was as sacred as
if he had been white elephant in his own
dominions.
In short time they discovered a spot
which seemed to be more than anv other the !
favorite haun, Of their expected captive-a
narrow ravine in the eastern edge Of Tuol .
umne county, at the foot of the Sierra Neva-
da Mountains, on the head waters of the Tu
o!umne River. Here trap was made in
the following substantial manner: A log
house was constructed, fourteen feet square
on the inside, and fourteen feet high-the
logs of which it was built were each from ten
to twelve incLes thick, all hewed smooth on
the inside and strongly dovetailed together
at the corners-huge heavy logs were piled
on the top that the trap might not be over
turned-an opening eight feet square was
left for the bear to enter, which opening was
to be securely closed by sliding door ar
ranged with spring to descend whenever
the bait was meddled with-the whole of the
inside of the trap was lined with smooth
sheet ilon closely nailed down that the feet
and claws of the animal might be at fault
when he cndca, ored. as he cer,aiil, would.
to dig ard guaw his way out. The bait was
a live deer, and there was one constantly III
the trap night and day from the day OF It's
construction Til Tie capture was achieved,
period OF more than seven months. This
deer was one OF the Wild species lasS0od for
this purpose, and fed and watercd resularl!
by man who was detailed to watch The tap.
The whole duty Of standing in trap to be
eaten was by no means done by one animal,
frequent changes being made as viii soon ap
pear. The trap being rea, fer service, the
efforts of the party were then devoted to the
inyieslins of the shaggy monster. There
was bu; one way to accomplish thIs-he was
to be fed or baited in the vicinity of the trap
until he became accustomed to frequent the
spot in search Of food, when he light event
ually be enticed into the lurking snare. Th.
mode Of proceeding was in this wise. The
party would occasionally discover the track
Of their bear and would then lead a IUilo,h
about in Val Gus directions, crossing and "
crossing the track, and thoroughly beating
up the ground where his bear>hip was y ing
The bullock Mould then be turned loose near
, the trap, the hunters retire, and III a short
time the bear ha,lng Caught the scent OF the
; bait " ould come forth and make short work
of the illia;et bull. Many ,ime the part!
5 could easily have shot him had that been
r their object. But although old grizzly Ill
! the course OF seven months dtyour.d nearl !
l thilty bullocks, he mad still kept ont of tn,
y trap. He made but a single meal from each
n animal, always refusing 10 touch u carcass ht
: had once lett. lie had now Become so ac
d customed to frequent the spot that the hopes
: of his pursuers grew daily more bright. A
Z last one hungry day in September, 1904, tht
i old grizzy walked straight into the fatal per
It paid his particular respects to the unhapp!
= animal there confined, and in an instant tn,
spring door closed and he was a prisoner 70
life.
o The good news of the capture was sool
6 told and in few days party OF about TWEEN
,, ty persons assembled, a strong iron cage wa
brought to the spot and the task of casin,
y then began. The top of the trap was takel
off and from above MIR. Grizzly was Iassoe
.e with multitudinous ropes of raw hides whic
were thrown around his neck and each of hi
. legs and was "strelched that is, his limb
-. were rendered unseryiccable by being Vic
. lently dragged in different directions. Fv
or six ropes being attached to each leg, Ii
was held fast dn,il his strength was exhaust
ed, muZzle put on his Jaws and he was I'D
-, dragged half driven from the log trap lnt
the iron cage. This operation took twrrt
men three days to accomplish. During TN
strong raw hide lassOes that were thrown ;
bout him, and when the strugo IL al last wa
" ended lie was completely dlenchvd III bloU
from the slaughtered bullock and himself
The exact details of the stretching and CAP
ing are unimporlant. Suffice 10 say that Il
resistance was Of the tercest, and that III Il
e course OF the fight he knocked Adams sh
high, an Indian sky higher. ard Iuckle
Du,chmen sky highest OF al, without, hoN
ever serious ) inJurlng amy one OF them.
- Being safely housed, 'oiu grizzly, now !
- chrls,ened "Sampson," began his invoIunt
~ travels. A hundred and fifty miles ,hr
the woods to Stockton, thence by steambo
to San Francisco, where he remained ii
Years, thence by the john l.. Stevens to II.
~ anna, anu by the Baltic from Aspinwail
49,, New York.
Sampson stands four and half feet hig
-, IS ten leet in length when fully extended,
~ eight feet round the body, and weighs 2,C
pounds. Lager bears have been killeu, b
none So largc have ever been taken alive.
-, Sampson is now in New York, being one
-, mong the MANY wonders comprising III
:. Adamss" California menagerie, and may
, seen of all curious men and women for t
low levy OF twenty five cents each.-N.