The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-03-16
Bear-Ifunting in Texas.
by AZ ENGLlSIIMkS.

In the foureca years of hunters life
with many strange adventures, WHICH. al
though know to be true, still should hes
itGtc to relate, so improbable would they
appear TO untravclcd hearers: and yet,
round the campfire on Harvest prairie, |
should readily speak Of them to circle OF
trappers and leather stockings, confident
that their own experience would confirm my
assertions.
There is what an old hunter would call - n
right smart chance Of bar in the forests of
the southwest. though the numbers vary
from their rambling habits, and from the
failure or abundance of mast in certain dis
trcts. Thus in some years the mast per
haps will fail altogether, or partially, on the
Colorado river, and yet be very plentiful on
the neighboring Brazos then the bears
migrate, led by instinct. to the banks of the
latter stream. 1t is those seasons when
here is a general failure through the country
of acorns, nuts. and other fruits. that are
most fatal to Cullce, for then, made bold by
hunger, he invades the cornfelds, where the
havoc he commits is soon discovered and
various are the methods employed TO bring
him to account for his larceny. AS he al,
ways comes over the fence at one spot. Tor
he is Il creature of habit, until he has been
disturbed VI frightened away, lie frequently
falls q victim to an old muSkct. the barrel of
which is half filled with slugs ; to the trigger
Of it string is attached and this passed
round a stick set behind the stock of the
gun, is for Bruin to stumble against, who
thus commits unintentiona suicide. Some
of the negroes ON the plantations are very
expert in setting these guns.
Very often planter, whose fields have
been raragcd in this way, will inform his
ncighbors that on Il PARTICULAR day he means
to have bear hunt, aud they are invited ia
meet at his house, an hour before daylight,
bringing with them all the mongrels, ours,
aud hounds, that they can individually mus
ter. a substantial backwoods break fast DC.
ing discussed, the main features Of which
are usually venison steaks, hot corn. bread,
and coffee, the whisky flask is handed round
and all having taken smile" merely &c
prevent the morning air from injurins them
''hoot and saddle " is the word, and each
gun in hand, mounts his horse. The YER,
dogs on such an occasion feel that some
thing Of Importance is to be done, andSbury
ing their cenine war hatchets, forget to have
a free fight among themselves, deserving thei
G. 4 h. L.. 4.
them is at hand. The order Of the day il
usually this: There is generally some one O.
two in the party who have an old steady doI
or two sailed "start dogs" broken cxclu
sively to run nothing but bear. These rid'
in front round the headlands of the field
the rest Of the party keeping with the mai,
pack, hundred yards or so in the rear.
When the leaders come to where bear ha
either entered or left the field, the " start
dogs" Immediately own the scent, and opel
On the trail; the main pack are cheered on
and then comes burst Of dog music tina
would do cross countryman's heart good
The hunters throw down the fence rails
which are easily replaced, and pass out
Sometimes the bears den, generally an oil
treetop that has been snapped of in som
gale, is not more than two or three hundre
Yards fror, tho fence, a bear having decid
ed objection to residing very far from hi
feeding ground. On some occasions, he i
surprised in his hold, where he sits. on hi
hams with quite Fitz James :: como one
come all " expression on his countenancc
and regards the dogs with what they con
slider by no means inviting manner. Thel
comes the excited rush Of the hunters, who
hearing the baying Of the pack, dismeunt
and each hurries through the cane or brus
as best he may, to get the first shot. A
other times, the quarry has shrewd CUES
as to what is in the wind when he first hear
the cry Of the hounds, and puts his best LEI