The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-04-08
AN ADVENTURE WITH A GRIZZLY
BY SAMUEL wooDwoRTH cozzEYs.

AN ADVENTURE WITH A GRIZZLY
BY SAMUEL woODwORTH CoZZENs.
lFrom st. Nichoas.I
"Talkin' of grizzlies, here's the track
of one," said Tom Wilson, suddenly rein
ing in his horse short distance in ad
vance of me. After moments exami
nation of the huge impression, he con
tinued: "It's pretty fresh one, too
the feller can't be great way off, This
is just the kind of place for 'em."
"Are there grizzlies in these mount.
aims, Tom p asked 1, doubtingly.
Yes, sir; the fust one ever seed was
in this very range, and he jest about
scarf me to death, that's sartin," replied
Tom.
"That ii be good story for this even
ing, Tom, after we get into camp" said
/, regarding the great track with no lit
tie curiosity, for / was still in doubt
about its being that of grizzly. care
you sure it isn't the track ola cinnamon
bear?"
eyes, sir. There's no mistakin' the
prent of grizzly's foot" replied Tom.
"And here" continued he, as he fol-
lowed the trail short distance, els
where he sot down. wouldn't think
strange if We see one afore long this is
the sort of country they like"
"I WONDER" said /, as we again
mounted our horses, =" wonder il these
fellows are as savage as those found
further northp'
"Well. bars is like men. Once in n
while you run against cross-grained,
ugly feller that had rather fight than
not; then you may look out for trouble.
Ag'in, you find one that'll git out of the
way if he can. I've seen she bar desert
her cubs and take to the woods; then,
ag'in, I've seen them that would fight
every inch fthe ground for mile afore
they'd give up, and that, too, after they'd
got halfa-dozen balls in them. Bars is
sich curious critters, that Pve very ofen
thought that they had heap of sense.
If Bars been travelin' ag'inst the wind,
and wants to lie down, he alwuz turns in
an opposite direction, and goes long
distance from his fust track afore he
makes his bed then he can scent a hun
ter if one gifts on his trail, for bars have
got mighty keen smellers / once found
a big grizzly in a cave in these very
mountains, and bdilt fire inside the
mouth of it to smoke him out and I'll
be blest if that ere bar didn't come out
three times, and put the fire out with
his paws, and then go back into the
cave again. He didn't seem to mind my
shootin' at him no mere'n if the bullets
had been peas. After awhile killed him,
nd III ka1 ha 60, l.
many balls the old feller had in his car.
cass, and I'll be blest ifI didn't find nine.
"I reckon we sha'n't find any better
place to campt tonight than this ere.
You see, there's plenty of wood, water,
and grass-so we'll just stop here"
Dismounting from our animals, they
were soon enjoying the luxurant grass
that grew around us, while Tom COM
menced preparations for our supper. In
gathering the wood for his fire, his keen
eye detected herd Of deer in the dis
tance, and, seizing his rifle, he sailed out
for one, leaving me alone to guard the
camp.
During his absence, let me briefly tell
you about Tom, and what we were doing
in this wilderness.
1t had long been favorite theory of
mine that the Sierra Madre range, which
intersects the Territory of New Mexico,
contained large deposits of silver and
gold, as extensive as those found in Ne
vada on the north, or in Mexico on the
south and the recent arrival at Santa
Fe of party of traders from the
Navajoe country, with some very rich
specimens of gold and silver ore, had so
far confirmed my opinion, that deter
mined to spend a month in the noun
tains, prospecting for the precious
metals.
Chance had thrown ME in contact with
this well-known scout and once Texan
ranger, by name Tom Wilson, whom
had engaged to accompany me on the ex-
pedition. Tom was true specimen of a
long, lank, and loose"
he used to say, and certainly his ap-
pearance justified the description. Orig
inally from Kentucky, he had emf
grated to Texas when it was vet a re-
public; had taken part in its early strag-
gle, for independence, and when that was
achieved had joined Jack Hayes COM
pany of Rangers, with which he remained
until his superior knowledge of fwoodcraft
attracted the attention of Gen. Persifer
+. Smith, at that time in command of
the military department of Texas, who
made him what he termed his "head-
quarters scout" After remaining with
the General some years, he found his
way up into New Mexico, where he had
since been in the employ of Major
General Garland.
As he bore the reputation of being
thorougly acquainted with the country,
was brave, honest, and generous, as
well as one ofthe most skillfil trailers OF
the frontier,-I deemed myself particu-
larly fortunate in securing him for a
guide and travelling companion.
At the time my story opens we had
been five days on the road, and were fast
approaching the very heart of the
Navajoe country.
After an absence of about halfan-hour,
Tom appeared staggering under the
weight OF a fine fat doe, which was soon
dressed, and portion of it broiling over
the Goals for our supper. This over, we
threw ourselves upon our blankets, and,
while enjoying the cheerful light of our
camp fire, Tom related his experience
with the first grizzly he ever saw.
You see, when first came up TO this
country did mt know much about IL ;
but General Garland allowed / was the
man he wanted 10 scout for bin, and 10
/ entered his service. When he was A.
travelin' over the country, used TO
make IL a pint to look round consider
ohIo wbou m rau,p a, "a IN sxof a or a, n m 4