The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-05-27
About Grizzlies.

Tue lion has long held sway in song
and story as the liking of beasts" but
In California the blaze of his royalty is
quite extinguished by the power and
might of the grizzly bear.
Once, in the early times, miner start.
ed from Oreville, central trading post,
with few supplies for his diggings in
Mud Canon. He was ON horseback and
sunset was upon him as he entered the
pine-woods trail, two miles from the dig
gings. But he was brave fellow, and
scarcely thought of danger, for he was
quite familiar with the way. He had
scarcely entered the woods, however, be-
fore he found the path suddenly con-
tested by horrid monster, which rose
up on its launches, and, before he could
draw weapon or run away, struck him
senseless to the earth, breaking an arm,
and severely decorating his shoulder with
its cruel claws. But the severity of the
blow, doubtless, saved the mans life, for
the grizzly, thinking him dead, dug a
hollow, rolled in its prey, and covered
him with leaves, as is the custom of this
animal, intending, no doubt, to return
later and make meal of him.
In the meantime the frightened horse
had returned to the trading-post, with
the saddle covered with blood; and a
party quickly formed to 60 to the rescue.
They found the wounded man covered
with leaves, as the bear had left him,
just returning to consciousness. They
bore him back to Oreville, where he was
well cared for, and next day turned out
to hunt the grizzly. Before night it was
captured, and, when dressed, weighed
fourteen hundred pounds.
The comrades of the wounded miner
took the bear meat and "peddled it out"
among the various diggings in the vicini-
ty for the benefit of the disabled man.
As each pound of meat readily brought
a dollar, you will see that the blood
thirsty animal paid very well for his
mischief.
Several men have been able to escape
from the clutches of these terrible Great
ures by feigning death. A half-breed
Indian Portuguese boy was recently
herding sheep in southern county and
was attacked by a grizzly bear. Although
severely lacerated by its sharp claws he
had the hardy presence of mind to pre-
serve the semblance of insensibility
while the bear paved him about, rolled
him over and over and at length covered
him with earth and leaves and retired.
After while the boy crept out and made
his escape.
Some years since grizzly cub was
brought to Hardy's Ranch and allowed
to grow up there. He was very sagacious
and gentle and was never confined. He
was carefully trained to many amusing
tricks and readily drove away cattle and
lid much useful service, like dog. He
seemed to know all the cattle belonging
% the place, and as he was never fierce
hey were not at all afraid of him. One
lay, when he had grown to be quite a
grizzly, some strange oxen appeared in
he road a little way from the house,
which was favorite country inn. Some
body babe the dogs drive the cattle away
md the dogs rushed out, followed by
Kit" the grizzly, who was lazy, lum-
Jering fellow, and only went out little
say and sat up on his launches, with
lis fore paws dropping down, to watch
he fun.
The cattle did not mind the dogs much,
out continued feeding about, until pres
nifty they spied the grizzly. Such an
The oxen snorted, beloved
heir war-cry, and then charged upon
'oor Kit, tumbled him over, and woul
AVE torn him in pieces if he hadn't
'een so tough. He recovered from his
urprise enough to get away from them,
nd proved himself a sad coward by run
ing to the house, crying with fear at
he top of his voice. Although all the
erocious elements seemed to be tanned
ut of him Kit developed an astonish-
ng talent for mischief, which ultimately
ed to his untimely death.
He had been taught to drink from
'ottle-an accomplishment in which he
ook much delight First the bottle
contained sweetened water, then whisky
vas added, until Kit would go reeling
md staggering about, quite like man.
One night the pop-beer" man stopped
It the ranch, leaving his wagon, as usual,
,efore the door. In the morning Kit
vas found standing behind the wagon,
lelpng himself to beer He would take
Up bottle, bite the wire off with his
eeth, strike the bottle upon his other
Jaw to make the cork fly out, then lux
lriously drink the contents and throw
he bottle away. The number of bottles
trewed around, and the nearly empty
wagon, proved that he had been indus
rious, and was exceedingly fond of beer
Loaded teams were constantly stop
oing here, and Kit showed great curl
'sity in investigating their contents.
# he found anything eatable he would
ear open sacks of flour, grain, potatoes,
ice and, after eating all he could him
'elt, sit up on the wagon and feed the
est to the pigs that ran about the prem
SEES.
This sport at length became too expen-
i've to the parties who were responsible
or Kits behavior, and after he had dam.
Iged several loads of grain and flour, and
aten nearly barrel of sugar, court
martial was called, and Kit was sentenced
o be shot.
Those who had treated him to whisky
we're sorry to part with the jolly COM
ade, but they asserted that he made very
rood eating.
Alas, poor Kit!
But l will not moralize. If there is a
moral to the story l cheerfully dedicate
t TO those who are moralists or temper.
'nce lecturers by Professionalism OPP
les Magazine.
A Remarkable Order.