The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-27
An Old Grizzly,

A 10" years ago, on an August alter
noon. mounted on patient old horse, n
man was leaving cabin in California
where some comrades fingered over the re-
mains Of primitively cooked game dinner.
The elder of jolly quartet Of hunters, he
boastod the ownership of an ancient doub O.
barrclcd shotgun. Ills chums carried
rifles and ievolvers. 1t Is for from incre-
dible that he was the ''colonel" of tho
target for concerted fun, and, too, because
he SO faccti9usly bore 1t.
''The colonel" he had more than once
repeated, twill run tou of grizzly somo
timo; then his old Daniel Boone piece will
be the death Of him." But he frequently
declared that he wanted to meet grizzly,
to which he was az often rctortcd:
"Aye, you'd scratch up tho nonl est tree,
or beat for your life, If he didn't swallow
you instanter."
"1Ienvc the dishes until come back.
I'll have treat for supper" said the
colonel" on this August afternoon. His
three friends uncorked another bottle of
wit, but ho retreatcd too rapidly to see or
hear the cffervescence. Galloping toward
mountain stream, five miles distant,
which in the summers decrease of its vo-
lunle left in the narrow valley pools here
and there wherein small fish thrivcd, ho
hoped to spy stray deer. A fow occa-
slanally loitercd behind after the herd That
had roamed down from the mountain snow
feds in the rainy season returned at tho
approach Of the dry season. They seemed
loath TO leave the green willows and chap
parrel around these pools.
Our horscman had trimmed his gun with
nine piston shot bullets. lie now descend
cd the slope, and, having reached q grassy
spot, was preparing to Iariat, not having
dismounted. Suddenly hc discovered an
enormous bear lying fast asleep under
scrub oak, not more than hundred yards
from where he had halted. Ills surprise
may be imagined. He afterward dcclartd d
that at the moment he felt no twinge of
alarm, but that his first thought was to gal
lop to the cabin and bring tho boys out for
grizzly. Then his repeated boasling camo
to mind, and he thought, 81 must shoot at
him." And 80 ho walked tho horse eau
tiously some PAGES nearer to tho ''gamc"
between the bushes. Now the old gun was
levelcd, his finger on the trigger, but his
hands trembled slightly. "rhis won't do
what oils my armf" thought the veteran
hunter, who would not risk OIL unsteady
shot over so little short of frmness IIe
lowered the piece, and sudden vision Of Il
ghastly scene flashed across his BRAN. IIc
thought Of young man whose bowels had
been literally torn out in an encounter with
grizzly Toe, and whom he hud assisted In
burying In a mining district.
lie hesitated no longer; slid down on
his feet; placed his arm within the bride
moose, and aiming at tho bears car, dis
charged. Quicker than thought he sprang
to the saddle, spnrrcd 10 utmost speed, ven
turing not a a.glance backward till a miic or
more up the slope Then, hearing no roar
or rush behind, he turned and slowly re-
traced. Almost incredible to his Judgment
his eyes behcld the bear In a slightly alter
ed position stone dead. The effective,
judicious shot had entered tho brain. /,
Now tho colonel rode trlumphantly back
to his comrades .
There's big old grizzly over yondcr.
"Why didn't you shoot him?" all IN
quick breath.
II did shoot.
Don't believeit. With shotguni"
~ tell you, boys, have killed him.
"Tell that TO tile babies.
say he is 40 dead as other bears have
ded. Come with me and bring him home
]. Atwo wheeled cart was borrowed Of d