The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-09-08
GEN. PUTNAM DISCOUNTED.
A California Bear story.

The party of Sacramentans who re-
Gently left for Mendocino county on a
hunting trip, and of whose fit out we
gave brief description, were yesterday
heard from through brief letter re-
ceived here. They reached their hunt
ing-ground without more than ordinary
trouble, but had On adventure the first
day they got into their permanent camp,
which was Immediately adjoining the
farmhouse of a gentleman who used to
reside in Sacramento. Shortly after
they arrived, the ranchman intimated to
them that he had discovered that bear,
supposed to have been the cause of the
disappearance from the ranch of sundry
young pigs and goats, had secreted him
self in crevice in ledge of rocks not
more than 100 yards from the house, and
they could kill him easily if they
"meant hunting" We doubt whether
a bear had ever been killed by these
hunters, but what could they do2 Of
course they declared, with more or less
emphasis, that if there was anything
they wanted it was chance at bear.
The ranchman volunteered to show them
Bruins headquarters, and after thorough
preparation, they started out to do bat
tie. Arrived at the rocks, it was deter
mined after careful survey that the bear
had crswled through narrow opening
into a cave, which might be large or
small, there was no way of Judging.
George G., the quie.est man of the par
ty, now showed the most pluck. Ev-
identity he had heard of Israel Putnam g
exploit, for, after careful reconnois-
sance, he announced that he would
crawl in with his gun after the bear,
previously affixing rope to his ankles,
and when the parties outside heard him
shoot, they were to pull on the rope and
help him to crawl out, as the bear might
institute vigorous pursuit. Once out
side, the other members of the party
could cover his retreat with their guns.
That was excellent. He carefully made
his way through the hole until he caught
sight of Bruin, then took good aim and
fired.
Meanwhile the remainder of the party
had been standing outside, nervously
clinging to the rope, and when the shot
was fired, giving loud and very pecu-
liar sound, to which the bear responded
with a terrible roar, which, rushing to
them through the narrow opening,
seemed to indicate that the animal was
making terrific charge, they started on
rush for camp, and, though uncon-
scious of the fact, dropped their guns
but clung to the rope. The result was
that George found himself snaked out
of the hole like creased lightning, and
bumped along the ground at a famous
pace. The more he yelled the faster his
friends ran, believing that the ferocivus
beast had made short work of him and
soon would operate upon them. They
never stopped until they reached their
wagon, and then, hearing large amount
of fragmentary catechism at the end of
the rope, they investigated and found
George barer than the bear had ever
been, and with every bit of sun-burn
skinned off his face, while his hands
were lacerated and full of slivers. 1t
took long time to explain to his salts
faction. Afterward some one thought
about the other bear, and he was found
to be dead in the hole.-Sdcran,ento
Record