The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-07-06
Anecdotes o1 1he VvhIto Bear.

upon the powers Ot tHe WuIIS " AN'~.
bear, [ursus maritimusl Accumstomed
to see those creatures Gagged and crampod
in tue Geological Gardens, with only
small pond to swim in, we can form no
idea Of the swiftness with which they
move either on land or in the water. The
great breadth, length and flatness Of their
paws afford large surface whereby to
apply their immense muscular power In
progression, and is admirably adapted to
the yielding surface of the snow, or to
the safe passage over newly formed ice;
were it not fur this provision, the unwield-
" weight Of their bodies would be an in
surmountable obstacle in pursuing their
prey.
From the deck Of one Of the Arctic
ships, a white bear was seen cautiously
approaching from the southwark over the
uneven surface Of land ice, stopping from
time to time and raising his black.tipped
muzzle to sniff the air. The bears sense
of smelling is highly developed, the bones
and membranes upon which the nerve Of
smell to spread being unusually large in
proportion to his other organs OF sense
and hence we find him trusting more to
it than to sight. This is the cause Of the
peculiar attitude they assume when doubt
ful Of objects before them. The head is
thrown back, the nostrils dilated, the
breath forcibly drawn in, and the body
swayed from side to side.
One Of the officers snatched up his rife
and started alone to shoot the animal. In
order to avoid being seen, he made cir
cult TO obtain the shelter Of some elevated
portions Of ice, and by so doing was
considerable distance from the ships be-
fore he came within ri6O shot. Many
officers had by this time come upon deck,
and two Of them, seeing their comrnde
single.handed, hnstencd to join him
Before they were many yards on their
way, he fired. The white bear turned
and dashed towards him at full gallop.
There was no time to reload, and nothing
left but to run for his life. Away he went
over the foeice at terrible pace, the
bear after him, greatly infuriated from the
slight wound he had received in the skin
Of the back. The sight from the ship
was one of great anxiety, although the
officer was one Of the best runners In the
vessel. The bear gained rapidly upon
him. His two messInates. who had gone
forth to make diversion, also ran as fast
as they could, with the hope Of coming
within rihs,shot before the victim should
be 0verpowered. The suspense Of the
next few minutes was intense, and excla-
nations Of "run, run for your life" and
God help poor p" were heard from,
many lips. "Not the shadow Of q hope,
unless Mr.. c. can pick the animal off
alta few hundred yards with his rife"
said an old quartermaster. Every eye is
steadily fixed upon the chase, till at last
the bear is within few yards Of P.
Now he Is close, his ponderous paw Is
raised in the air. Crack went Mr.. C--'s
rife, and the brute was arrested in his
course for a moment, and his lower jaw,
or rather the front part Of it, Is seen hang.
ing down. The ball had taken effect, and
at all events, would prevent the use Of his
teeth still, q blow from the fore paw
would prove sufficient to destroy life, IL
aimed at the head, and this Is the point
they attack in the seals. drawing il back
ward and breaking the neck. The bear
now turned In his agony, ami, seeing his
other antagonist, rushed towards him.
a deep breath was drawn by all the spec.
tators. the relief was so great when tho
animal turned away from his breathless
enemy. His new assailant was armed
with doublc.barrelcd fowling piece load.
ed with balls. The distance grows less
between them, and no report rs yet has
reached the ear. Only about twenty five
yards intervene, and still no report. Can
his gun have missed Rrs? No; he is now
coOlly dropping upon one knee, and de;ib.
eratcly taking aim. All, there in the fash
and now the report! The creature is
down and has rolled over. Look he is
up again, but only raised upon his fore
leg. Now the officer is going close To
him; ah | there is another report. and the
bear lies full length upon the floe.ice, in.
capable Of further mischief And now
the three hunters meet over the body of
their victim. All, mani" said P,
IL" felt my heart knock against my ribs
as il it would beat hole there for be.
gan to think it was all over with me, when
| could hear the bears snort close ut INV
heels. But for that shot of yours, c.,
| should be in poor case by this time"
From that period, an order was given
that no one should leave the ships un.
armed and alone.
The polar bear is capable Of getting n
living even when blind, as the following
nnccdote will prove: a travelling party
had encampcd for rest and the men were
all slowed awny in their blanket bngs, be-
noath tho wolf skin cOvcrlet in their small
tent. Suddenly q shock was given to
their flimsy house, and presently down
it came upon them with great crash
In q moment they scrambled from beneath
the coverings, and beheld o. large white
bear, quietly poking his nose amongst the
articles upon the sledgc. Not a mement
was TO be lost an old bombardier of ma
rine artillery dived beneath the fallen tent
and brought ont n loaded gun, and placing
it close to the bears head, stretched him
lifeless upon the ice. The party was
much astoniShed at the animals standing
quietly to be shot at. On examination. he
was found to be totally blind, from cata.
ract in both eyes, and must for some time
past have procured living by scent
alone.
A sailor who belonged to the crew of q
ship employed in the whale fishery. once
undertook to attack q large Polar bear
which he saw on the ice at distance. II
was in vain his companions tried to per.
suade him to give up his design. lie laid
hold Of whale.lAnce, and approached
the bear; the bcar was, however, as brave
as the sailor, and stood waiting for the
attack. The sailor seeing him 60 bold
and powerful an animal, grew taint.heart.
ed, and, after standing for some time mo.
tionless, took to his heels. The bear pur.
sued him with mOnstrous strides, when
the sailor dropped the whale.lance. bis
cap, and then his gloves, one after anoth-
or, to prevent the bear from following
him. Bruin examined the lance, toto the
cap in pieces, and tossed the gloves over
and >over but, not being satisfied with
his spoil, he still pursued the sailor, whom
he would, without doubt have torn 10
l. Al "a