Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-28
#istellamepMs.
Governor Pacheco Is a Bear Hunter.

a correspondent of the San Francisco
Alta gives this description of thrilling
encounter with a grizzly bear, in which
Gov. Pacheco figures prominently :--a4as
Gov. Pacheco has among his accom-
plishments-and they are many-one pos
sessed, we believe, by no other governor
in the United States. He can lasso and get
away with wild grizzly bear and we saw
him do it, in May, 1852, on the Rancho de
los Oses (Bear Ranch) in San Luis Obispo,
then the residence of Gov. Pacheco's moth
er Away up in the mountains, among the
wild oats, the grizzlies take their morning
maps after their nightly prowling about in
search of any stray calf, pig or other small
game. Early one morning the enormous
print of a grizzly's foot was seen in the
earth close by the dwelling of the govern
or's mother, and in few minutes Romu-
aldo and two or three others were in the
saddle and off for the mountains. When
the tall wild oats, halt way up the noun
tain were reached, the party had not rid
den more than two minutes among the tall
dry wisps, when the horses suddenly start
ed, snorted loudly, and instantly huge
grizzly stood erect, with a terrific pres
ence, high above the dry wild oats. He
looked just like gigantic negro. with
shaggy, fur overcoat, his eyes cleaning
fiercely, his cruel teeth and red mouth un-
pleasantly conspicuous. Each man and
every horse for the instant seemed petri-
fied-as If, while every nerve and every
muscle and every sense was at its ut
most tension, they had suddenly
looked upon the Medusa. In seconds
time Pacheco spurred forward, swinging
his lasso. The bear commenced sparring
warily, and few professional boxers can
iend off as these creatures will. But Pa
checO's lasso shot out like an arrow, and
clasped about the huge forc-foot, when the
horse (who saw every movement, and
was just as wide awake as Pacheco)
sprang the other way. and the lasso being
fast to the pommel, the bear was instant
ly thrown to the ground, while two other
men, quick as lightning, had thrown their
lassos. and caught the hind-feet; then
another caught the loose fore foot and the
four horses took their positions like caval-
ry animals trained by some noiseless sig
nal, and slowly marched down the noun
tain side, two horses in the van and two in
the rear, dragging Ursa Major quietly
down the grassy descent, the rear horses
keeping just taut line enough to prevent
the bear from getting any use of his terri
BILE hind claws. Nahl mas painted some
of these California lassoing scenes, that
have been as near justice to such exciting
tableaux as could be done by the painters
art, but nothing could portray the iutensi-
ty of excitement and action brought forth
at such moment. Pacheco was at that
time, 2l years old, and the handsomest
man We ever looked upon. ,..s fas a
Il guess the panther in the wilderness
was not more fair than he"
When he first realized the sudden pres
ence of the terrible enemy, and stood
erect in his stirrups, his face cleaning
with the glory of youth, fearlessness and
excitement, his great black eyes sparkling,
his white teeth tightly pressed upon his
neither lip, perfectly still for second, he
was the most glorious object in nature
In no longer time than the sight of this
could be just taken in, he sprang forward,
his long dark hair tossed wildly fer mo-
ment, and. then, he had captured the bear.
The captors slowly took their prisoner
down to the house, where a long. heavy
piece of timber lay upon the grass. Fas-
tening the bears hind feet to the timber
with the strong lassos, and the fore feet to
a strong deep-driven stake, they stepped
away TO a respectful distance, their eyes
upOl IciotlouS CltdtuIc, anu INelr
hands upon their saddle-pummels. We
walked up close TO the bear to take care
full look at him. All cried out :-"Cnida-
do" Take carer
"Why. he's all secure" we said
..Yes. but look OUT
You don't think he could get loosep"
"Perhaps not, but you'd better keep
away" And we did.
The bear lay with his head between his
huge paws. covering his eyes, save occa-
sionally. when he would iurtively lift his
eyes. like sulky child. to look at his cap
tors then covering his eyes again. remain
moment, and steal another look. Soon
he gave heavy signs, and some one said.
'He is dying!' We expressed surprise
to learn that the bear was wounded.
"He is not wounded" they replied, .but
his heart breaks-he dies of rage" And
in few moments he had breathed his
last, and was dragged away some distance
from the house and left.
Pacheco pointed to the sky We looked,
and saw u hundred carrion crows. whose
watchful eyes had seen the feast long be-
fore it was half way down the mountain
side; and before we were hundred yards
from the dead bear, its body. was COM
pletely hidden by the sable, tapping wings
Of the hungry undertakers. -