The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-01
MY Bear Hunt with Con. Wade Hamp-

now more than fifteen years since I
passed through that soul harassing,
Notwithstanding. brain-exciting expert
ence yclept ga bear hunt;" and am
frank to confess that never felt anxious
to go on another. Not that don't like
the "bear" in the abstract. I do, but in
the concrete! say it solemnly, give me
the chances OF shipwreck, lighted cigar
IN powder-mill, the rattling volley Of q
line OF battle, kerosene lamp explosion,
anything. i'll short, that has reputation
ior being dangerous. in preference, to
4OO or 5OO pounds of wild meat that runs
riot without chart or compass, ignores
all rules of legitimate sport, and requires
flask of powder, q score of rifle shots,
ana the salient argument of a Bowie
knife, before you can enjoy the satisfac-
ton OF knowing that your game is so
emlnently dead as to deserve an obituary
notice. Ill tell you all about it as rest
from my summer labors. I determined
to devote couple of the autumn months
to jaunt Westward. did so. Rifle
In hand, had spent considerable Dor
tion OF the fall of 1856 on the prairies;
L had hob-nobbed with Indians until
could give Conanche war .whoop like q
native; drank 'hair-trigger" liquid light
nlng with the trappers until they agreed
l was entitled to vote, and shot buffalo
from my mustang until it seemed like
murder to kill any more. In fact was
tired with sport, and had reached st.
Paul on my journey East, when who
should unexpectedly turn up but my old
friend, Jim Kavanagh. for years after
wards q delegate and member of Con-
gress from the new Western Territories
and States--a born pioneer. The meet.
ing was mutually cordial, and after e1-
changing the usual salutatory compli-
ments, our conversation ended in nv
agreeing to accompany him on on expo
tlltlon down the Mississippi on the fol-
lowing day. He was going to look after
some land along the river; knew all the
planters worth knowing, and could pro-
mise an amount OF pleasure that would
make me feel as happy as Adam and Eve
before they knew anything about origi.
change, and it suited me.
Past st. Louis, past Memphis, past all
the pretty islands that have doubtless
once been in state of solution. nast
great bends and bluffs, against which the
Father Of Waters had written the
wrinkles OF his age; past great plnnta-
tions where thousands of acres. fiecked
with the snow of Southern summer. fore
told the wealth that would, in q few
months, pour into the coffers of the sue
cessful cotton planter, until at last we
reached Helena, Ark. This was nv
friends destination-a quiet, inconsider-
able frontier town at that time. where
boats wooded up and merchants landed
supplies. Our traps had not been at the
hotel more than an hour, when who
should make his appearance ut the hotel
but Col. Wade Hampton-like ourselves.
temporary sojourner, he having come
up Tor the nonce on an errand from his
plantation several miles below. To de-
scribe the man il scarcely necessary. for
pen and ink descriptions, as he has ap-
peared IN the character of the leader of
the Confederate cavalry in the late un-
clv1l war, have made his person familiar
TO almost every reader of every newspu-
per In the country. At that time, how
ever, he was the plain Southern planter,
perfect type Of his class, and never
better exompification of their hospitab!s
characteristics than when, finding us to
De gentlemen of some culture, (?) lie
pressed US to accompany him on his re-
turn homeward and partake of suoh
pleasure as his place afforded. remem-
Der that, among other things, he pro-
posed ''a bear hunt" and I, fool like.
jumped at the idea like school.boy.
But won't anticipate.
Have you ever boen on O Southern
plantation in old times, before tho de-
cree was promulgated as part of our
modern declaration of independence.
that white man is as good as nigger.
and witnessed the working of the vast
social machine? If not, let me tell You
the story in few words. Here are $50
slaves, the property of one person. We
land from the steamboat soon after they
have finished their respective tasks for
the day, and as we pass through the
little village Which they constitute there
ls not man, woman or child who does
not come rushing from his cabin to bow
or curtesy. "How 'dy, Moss Wade"
with oil the enthusiasm of unadulterated
affection. The mansion itself sets back
from the river, on high ground, aud rs
wo approach there are score or more
OF hunting dogs, of various breods, that
gather from their sleeping spots to give
us welcome. The house servants. stable
boys, garden and field hands mingle
with the quadrupeds, and thore is wng-
glng OF tongues nnd wagging of tails
that Enthusiastically attest the earnestness