The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-30
A FEARFUL STRUGGLE.
LAssOIRg . grizzly Rear.

The first fall after | arrived in California
l killed and put up enough bacon Of grlz-
ely bears to last me two years. This fur
nished US bacon and oil, IN which to fry
venison and cakes, and with which toshort-
on bread, make soap, and other purposes
for which lard Is usually employed. Our
wants were few and easily satisfied The
first fall We were rather extravAgant, and
killed more game than we really needed (;
but afterward We generally killed Just
enough to satisfy our wants, leaving the re-
malnder for another time. expect have
enjoyed the pleasures Of hunting as much
as any one, almost ! have killed seventy
odd grizzly bears, a hundred elk, more VI
less, and deer and other game without
number The first fall / killed fourteen
grizzly bears. In all my bear killing !
have never been caught by one, but have
run some pretty narrow chances | have
known others to be badly handled by them
some bitten and buried, to be eaten at
some other time, and after the bear had
left them, crawling out and making their
escape Others have known to be SO bad
IL injured As To be long IN recovering and
some who never did. have carried a grist,
/ expect, further 10 min than most n.an.
brought a sack of corn from Missouri to
California, and have had it ground and
made into bread
viii only give you one bear hunt out II
the many | have experienced. The bear
had been in the habit Of visiting bache
lors camp, and doing about as he liked. A
company Of hunters conceived the plan Of
taking him alive. We mustered about
twenty men, with horses, ropes and other
appliances, with which to secure bruin when
found
At night we laid wait for him, and soon
after the moon arose the huge monster Was
discovered leisurely crossing the plain to-
ward the cabin Of said bachelor. Our plan
was to let him get well out upon the PLAIN,
then lasso him and tie him securely, and
take him to the town and have him tight
with wild California bull But we gave
him chase too soon, for his bearship seeing
so many against him, deliberately mounted
the top Of large oak tree, and refused to
come down to be lassoed. A council was
called, and we concluded 10 retreat, and let
Mr. Ursa come down unmolested. When
we were, as he supposed, gone, he quietly
came down and resumed his journey to the
cabin for his supper Of pork, which thus
far he had failed to get. As soon as he was
On the road again, We pursued, and he once
more retreated to his tree. We then de-
cided, although the tree was cbout five feet
in diameter, to cut il down to secure our
prize, for we had no idea Of being outdone
by bear Consequently commItte was
sent for axes, and the work Of cutting down
the tree commenced in good earnest, and
was carried on without intermisslou for
about three hours, the elevated monster
looking down dlsdainfully upon US. At last
the critical time arrived, when like all
other monarchs, his throne begin to trem-
BILE. Meanwhile, our company all mounted,
and with ropes i'll hand, at safe distance,
surrounded the tree still supporting the
bear, while one man was left to give the
finishing strokes needful to bring 1t down,
and another held the horse of the chopper
close by, 50 he could mount and not only
be safe from the claws Of the bear, but also
to secure, if possible, our much coveted and
long sought prize By this time the east
ern sky was beginning to show signs Of ap-
preaching day Look oat n cries the watch,
''he IS coming Z" The man at the tree has
tily leaves 1t and mounts his horse. A tire
mendous crash follows, and the tree IS lev
eled to the ground All eyes are earnestly
scanning the vast pile Of limbs, branches,
and leaves, for the now Frustrated bear.
We did not have to wait long, for with a
tremendous snort, that would raise the hair
on the head of one not pretty brave, as
well as accustomed to the most unearthly
sound, the bear issued from the pile Of de
hris, not to try even to make his tscape but
to avenge his insulted dignity upon his per
severing pursuers Now began in good
earnest the fun 50 long delayed by the
bears previous maneuvers. Out upon the
nearest horses came the bear back went
horses and riders on came the bear, until
a clear space was obtained for the action Of
the ropes and horses. Two ropes were
thrown over his head, and as soon as he
found he was caught he sat down upon his
launches, took first one rope and then the
other in his fore paws, and deliberately
drew the horses and riders up to him until
they were obliged to cast loose the ropes III
order to back clear Of the bear. This kind
Of play lasted for about two hours, until
the bear had taken no less than eight Of our
ropes from us.
But by perseverance and determination
we finally succeeded in getting two ropes
over his head, and at the same time one
over each of his hind feet. These pulling
in different directions caused him tolose his
balance, and he came down upon his back
with his fore paws exposed, which we're
soon entangled by the ropes, which now
came thick and fast upon the struggling
giant After about another hour Of intense
excitement and fearful struggle, he was Sc
curely bound, and lay powerless for harm,
and impossible Of escape. The struggle
had been terrible, the excitement intense,
and the victory complete. We were al
lowed only the joy Of the capture, how
ever, "a the Infatuated beast refused to re-
main a captive, and died in an hour after
his forced surrender and confinement We
retired to our homes glad we had taken the
bear, but sorry we could not keep him for
the proposed bull-hght. IF. ). Kellogg il
Turf Field and FaVm.
An uuf,I pa%rihu%;or