The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-04-15
GOVERNOR PACHECO AS A BEAR
HUNTER---KIS SKILL WITH
THE LASS0.

A correspondent of the San Francisco
Alta gives this description of a thrill
ling encounter with a grizzly bear,
in which Governor Pacheco figures
prominently:
Gov. Pacheco has among his accomp-
lishments-and they are many-one
possessed. we believe, by no other Gov
ernor 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 Osos (Bear
Ranch) in San LUIS Obispo, then the
residence OF Governor Pacheco's no
ther. 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 OF other small game.
Early one morning the print
of grizzly foot was seen in the earth
close by the dwelling of the Governors
mother, and in few minutes Romualdo
and two or three others were In the sac
die and off for the mountains. When
the tall wild oats, half way up the noun
tain, were reached, the party had not
ridden moro than two minutes among
the tall dry wlsps, when the horses sud-
denly started, snorted loudly, and in
stantly huge grizzly stood erect, with
terrific presence, high above the dry
wild oats. He looked just like a gi-
gantic negro, with shaggy fur overcoat,
his eyes cleaning fercely, his cruel
teeth and mouth unpleasantly conspicu-
Gus. Each man and every horse for the
instant seemed petrifed-as if, while
axva,-v y,orvo an1 QCQrv cameo of re
utmost tension, they had suddenly
time Pacheco spurred forward, swing
sparring warily, and few professional
will. But Pacheco's lasso shot out like
an arrow, and clasped about Ghe huge
fore-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 instantly thrown
to the ground, when two other men,
quick as lightning, had thrown their
lassos, and caught the hind feet; then
another rider caught the loose fore-foot,
and the four horses took their positions
like cavalry animals trained by some
noiseless signal, and slowly marched
down the mountain side, two horses in
the van and two in the rear, dragging
Ursa Major quietly down the grassy
decent, the rear horse keeping just taut
line enough to prevent the bear from
getting any use of his terrible hind claws.
Nahl has painted some of these Cali
iornla 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 intensity
Of excitement and action brought forth
at such moment. Pacheco was, at
that time, 81 years old, and the hand
soonest man we ever looked upon.
81 guess the panther III the wilderness
was not more fair than he."
When he first realized the sudden
presence of the terrible enemy, and
stood erect in his stirrups, his face
cleaning with the glory of youth, fear
lessness and excitement, his great, black
eyes sparkling, his white teeth tightly
pressed upon his neither lip, perfectly
still for a second, he was the most glori-
GUS object in nature.
In no lorger time than the sight of
this could be just taken in, he sprang
forward, his long, dark hair tossed
wildly for moment, and then, he had
captured the bear, as related. The
captors slowly took their prisoner down
to the house, where long, heavy piece
of timber lay upon the grass. Fasten-
ing the bears hind feet to the timber
with the strong lassos, and the fore feet
to strong, deep-driven stake, they
stepped away to respectful distance,
their eyes upon the ferocious creature,
and their hands upon their saddle-pom-
mels. We walked up close to the bear
to take careful look at him. All cried
out: "Cuidado'' ''Take care -
'sWhy, he's all secure" we said.
eyes; but look out !"
you don't think ne could get loose?"
perhaps not, but you'd better keep
away =" And we all did
The bear lay with his head between
his huge paws, covering his eyes, save
occasionally, when be would furitively
lift his eyes, like a sulky child, to look
at his captors; then covering his eyes
again, remain a moment, and steal an
other look. Soon he gave heavy signs,
and some one said. che is dying 70 We
expressed surprise to learn that the bear
was wounded.
HE is not wounded" they replied,
shut his heart breaks--he deis 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 n hundred carrion
crows, whose watchful eyes had seen
the feast long before il was half way
down the mountain side; and before we
were a hundred yards from the dead
bear, its body was completely hidden
by the sable tapping wings Of the hun
cry undertakes.