Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-08-03
THE GRIZZLY BEAR

Inc following interesting account of the
grizzly bear of the Rocky Mountains is taken
from a recent work, entitled "The Prairie
Traveller, by Captain Marcy of the United
States army. Besides the common black
| bear OF the Eastern States, several Others are
found IN the mountains Of California, Oregon,
Utah, and New Mexico, viz. the grizzly, brown,
black, and cinnamon varieties; all have
nearly tie same habits and are hunted in the
same manner. From all have heard of the
! grizzly bear, / was induced to believe him
one of the most formidable and savage animals
IN the universe, and that the man who would
deliberately encounter and kill one of these
beasts had performed a signal feat of courage
which entitled him to lofty position among
the votaries of Nimrod. So firmly had I
become impressed with this conviction, that I
should have been very reluctant to fire upon
one had | met him alone and On foot. The
| grizzly bear is assuredly the monarch of the
American forest, and SO far as physical
strength is concerned, he is perhaps without
rival in the world but after some expert
ence in hunting, my opinions regarding his
courage and willingness to attack men have
changed. In passing over the elevated table,
lands lying between the two forks of the
Platte River in 1853, encountered a full
grown female grizzly bear, with two cubs,
very quietly reposing upon the open prairie
several miles distant from any timber. This
being the first opportunity that ever occurred
to me for an encounter with the urslne mon
ster and being imbued with the most exalted
notions of the beasts proelivities for offensive
warfare, especially when in the presence of
her offspring, it may very justly be imagined
that | was rather more excited than usual
|, however, determined to make an assault.
| felt the utmost confidence in my horse, as
she was afraid of nothing; and after arrang-
ing everything about my saddle, and arms in
good order, advanced to within about eighty
yards before | was discovered by the bear,
when she raised upon her launches and gave
me ascrutlnizing examination. seized this
opportunity to fire, but missed my aim, and
she started off followed by her cubs at their
utmost speed. After reloading my rife, I pur-
sued, and on coming again within range,
deliveted another shot, which struck the large
bear in the heshy part of the thigh, whereup-
on she set up most distressing howl and
accelerated her pace leaving her cubs behind.
After loading again gave spurs to my horse
and resumed the chase, soon passing the
cubs, who were making the most plaintive
cries of distress. They were heard by the
dam, but she gave no other heed to them than
occasionally to halt for an instant, turn around
sit up on her posteriors, and give hasty look
back; but as soon as she saw me following
her, she invariably turned again and redoubled
her speed. pursued about four miles and
fred four balls irto her before succeeded
in bringing her to the ground, and from the
time l saw her until her death wound, not
withstanding was often very close upon her
heels, she never came to bay or made slightest
demonstration Of resistance. Her sole pur
pose seemed to be to make her escape,
leaving her cubs IN the most cowardly name.
Upon three other different occasions I met
the mountain bear, and once the cinnamon
species, which is called the most formidable of
all, and in none of these instances did they
exhibit the slightest indication of anger or
resistance, but invariably ran from me-
Such is my experience with this formidable
monarch of the mountains. 1t is possible
that if a man came suddenly upon the beast
in thicket, where it could have no previous
warning, he might be attacked; but it is my
opinion that ifthe bear gets the wind or sight
of a man at any considerable distance, it will
endeavor to get away as soon as possible
| am so fully impressed with this idea that
shall hereafter hunt bear with feeling of
as much security as [ would have in hunting
the buffalo. The grizzly, like the black bear,
hibernates in winter, and makes his appear
ance in the spring with his claws grown out
long and very soft and tender; he is then poor
and unfit for food. I have heard very
curious fact stated by several old mountain
GERS regarding the mountain bears, which, of
course, cannot vouch for, but it is given by
them with great apparent sincerity and can
| cor. They assert that no instance has ever
been known of a female bear having been
killed in state of pregnancy. This singular
fact in the history of the animal seems most
inexplicable to me- unless she remains con-
cealed in her brumal slumber until after she
has been delivered of her cubs. was told
| by an old Delaware Indian that when the
bear has been travelling against the wind,
and wishes to lie down, he always turns in an
opposite direction, and goes some distance
away from his first track before max ing his
bed. If an enemy then comes upon his
trail, his keen sense of smell will apprise him
| OF the danger. The same Indian mentioned
that when bear had been pursued and sought
shelter in cave, he had often endeavored to
| eject him with smoke, but that the bear would
advance to the mouth of the cave, where the
fire was burning, and put it out with his paws,
then retreat into the cave again. This would
indicate that bruin is endowed with some
| glimpses of reason beyond the ordinary in
stincts of the brute creation in general, and,
indeed, is capable of discerning the connection
between cause and effect. Notwithstanding
the extraordinary intelligence which this
quadruped exhibits upon some occasions, upon
others he shows himselfto be one of the most
stupid brutes imaginable. For example,
when he has taken possession of cavern,
and the courageous hunter enters with a torch
and rifle, it is said ne will, instead of forcibly
ejecting the intruder, raise himself upon his
launches end cover his eyes with his paws,
so as to exclude the light, apparently think
ing that IN this situation he cannot be SEEM
The hunter can then appoach as close as he
pleases and shoot him.
The new daily paper, the Sentinel,
star ted in New York, to advance Mr..
Douglas interests, has collapsed after a