The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-07
A HoosIER N1MRoD.
CLOSE QUARTERS WITH BRUIN.

CLOSE QUARTERS WITH BRUIN.
A BOONE COUNTY MAN IN THE ROCKY NOUN
TAINs-HIs FIGHT WITH BBAR-HE VIM
pIoATEs OLD INDIANA-EXCITING TALE OF
A SUCCESSFUL HUNT.
The following letter, which equals the
best OF hunting romances and is yet truth
ful, was written as private correspondents
to Mr.. G. Daily, of Lsbanon, and by him
kindly furnished for publication to the Sem
tinel:)
APACHE VALLEY, Jan. %, 1S76.-I ann
stopping this winter in the Apache valley.
1t Is located 100 miles south of Pixies Peak,
30 miles north of the Spanish peaks, and east
of Greenhorn mountain, 40 miles from the
railroad and 10 miles from postofice. /
am on the bank of beautiful brook of
clear, pure water. The bed OF this creek is
Is or 20 feet below the surface of the valley,
and exposes to view some of the ruins OF an
ancient city. The southern outer wall (the
only one 1 have exsmined) runs due east
and west, Is very high, and perfectly i'm
penetrabe. The streets, all that / have
noticed, run north and south, are about 100
feet wide, paved with dressed stone, cut in
oblong squares, and fit together with such
perfect exactness that sometimes think
they are the ground floors of what have
been magnificent mansions or palaces in-
stead of streets. But, as you are one OF the
fixtures of Lebanon, what are you caring
about an ancient city away out here in Colo
RADIO 20 feet under ground? So will just
drop this, and write about something that
Will interest you. This no 4
GREENHoRN MOUNTAIN
is spur of the Rocky Mountains, about 80
miles long, Tery high and rugged. It takes
q he
shape, and being covered with a
thick growth of evergreen timber.
1t is very notorious for its abundance Of
game, such as bear, deer, elk, bison, Rocky
Mountain sheep, etc etc. will just give
you minute account of my first and as yet
only hunt in this mountain. Two miles be-
low me on the creek live two old hunters,
one by the name of Weaver and the other
Howell. They claim to have been chums
of old Kit Carson. Just above me lives
man by the name OF Whitman. He, too, Is
q nimrod. They three had fixed day to 90
to the mountain on a hunt, and invited me
to accompany them. Not having laid in
my winters meat, readily consented, they
furnishing me with arms and ammunition.
So, early on the morning of the day liked
found as four seated in q two horse wagon,
armed and equipped as the law directs.
Driving rapidly toward the foot OF Green
horn, where we landed about 10 o'clock A.
M, partook of hearty lunch, and sailed
forth in quest of prey. 1t not being consid-
cred safe for man to hunt alone at that
season of the year, we divided into parties
OF two, Howell and Weaver starting to the
left and Whitman and to the right. / be-
ing termed a tenderfoot by the old hunters,
was admonished should by any accident
get separated from my comrsde and run
across q bear, not to shoot unless / was
oln N troa lxnaU oOuld oli m
of his way before he could reach me, all.of
which 1 assented to, thinking ct the same
time would be likely to shoot at all the
bears 1 would see that day.
Well, hunted to the right of Whitman,
and was to keep little behind and in sight
of him, which did for while, but became
careless, and finally lost him entirely.
saw q great deal OF si.ns, but no game, be-
canne very leg weary, aud sat down to rest.
Guess / had been there near half an hour
when along came deer and stopped about
sixty yards from me. raised my gun and
over dead. l reloaded my rifle, and was In
the act of starting up to il when / happened
to look OF to the left and saw
HUGE BEAR
passing along in the direction where the
deer lay. instantly looked around for
tree, but there was none near except few
were much, If any, higher than my head.
kept perfectly still, and as he nesred me
he seemed to grow in size until though he
! was as big as ayouug elephant. By this
time had fully made up my mind toifol-
low the instructions of the old hunters. he
kept on his course until be came right up
! to the dead deer, stopped, seemed to smell
| of Il, then picked it up apparently with the
same ease a cat would q rat and started of.
| This was mpre than l could stand. My
| blood began to boil, and was fighting mad
| In an instant. leveled my rifle, took good
aim and fired. AT the crack OF the gun he
| dropped the deer, whirled round and came
right towards me like perfect
tornado. j commenced jamming in another
cartridge and may be said over short prayer.
When had mysgun already for another shot
looked up, and, good heavens! there he was
within ten feet OF me. Ears back,
MOUTH OPEN AND EYES LIKE FIRE.
Ijust tell you, CAL, il all the demons of he'll
had been let loose en- me would not have
felt any more as though my days were ended.
But there was no time to be Lost, If thought
about aim at all, it was to shoot him in the
mouth. fised, dropped my gun, and
| whirled to see what my legs would do for me,
but before could take a single bound, diff,
the old devil took me in the back and sent
me kiting away down the side Of the noun
| tain, but 1 lit running. When 1 had got
about three or four hundred yards from
where started, happened to think had a
! navy revolver in my bslt, / isrked it ont,
cooked it and ventured to look back to see
how near he was upon me, and TO my utter
astonishment aud gratificstion l saw Eim
lying quietly right where / stood when
shot. stopped, my nerves relaxed and i
sat down on the ground, almost as helpless
as baby; hadn't been there but a short time,
when my friend Whitman, being attracted
by the reports OF my rifle in such quick
succession, came hurrying up to see what
was the matter. 1 told him be was a little
too late, the fun was all over. We then
walked up, and, sure enough, there the
monster lay sprawling right on top of my
gun, as dead as q door nail. Why couldn's