St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-24
4 GuLnis0n Bear Story.

| LFclJ oHe VINO mas nau occasion dur
ing the past few days to pass Ed Sells
4 Co. $ store has doubtless had his GU
rloslty aroused by the sight of mon
ster bear skin suspended from one OF
the door-posts. Doubtless it has oc-
Cured to many that this very nam
moth skin might have behind it a very
mammoth story.
lnstigated by the natural curiosity
which such a suspicion would incite,
the reporter boldly attacked the sub
| lect and was at length rewarded by
having pointed out to him the man
who brought in this trophy of the
chase. Dressed in a duck suit, with
| high hunting boots. blue shirt, q soft
white hat; an athletic, well-knt form
surmounted by q head q painter would
envy, eyes Of steel blue, the observed
was q fair sample of American man
hood. He refused to allow his name to
be used, but gave the facts as follows:
Some time in August a party of three
or four went out from Ruby on hunt
When they had reached a point about
twenty miles west Of Ruby, on the res
ervat!on, they succeeded in killing
some half-dozen deer. Not being able
to transport their game they buried it
ana lett, intending to return later on
About month afterward two of the
party returned, and, much to their dis
gust. found the deer had been dug up
by bear, as they supposed. One OF
them, accompanied by two dogs start
ed IN pursuit of the bear on his trail
Il followed" said this gentleman, up
mountains and then down again, like
the King of France; across guIches and
basins. where probably no white man
had ever been before. All the time the
trail grew more distinct, and the suspi-
cion that palpitated my heart became
more certain as everything betokened
very large animal ahead. | might tell
you how [ scrambled over places al
most impossible, but to make long
story short, l came up to the marauier, |
and moment afterward wished | was
anywhere in the world except in front
OF that grinning bear. Why, gentle
men, and he turned to the crowd
standing around. "that bear was as
big as the side of a house.
1t was on the side OF the mountain,
miles from civilization, no assistance
was at hand. One of my dogs stopped
about one hundred yards from the ami
NAL, and with tail erect and every hair
brlstling. refused to go forward.
looked at the bear and the bear looked
at me. | looked around and saw there
was no way out of it. Bruin also tcGk
in the situation and growled, showing
the ugliest fly trap ever saw
"For moment hostilities were sus-
pended, and both sides studied the sit
1ation. Then old Sleep with
erocious snarl, sprang forward, but
he bear did not notice him. The
log went nearer and nearer, until
With one swipe of his paw the bear
Knocked him into eternity and down
he mountain side. My blood was uo,
md let fly with my Winchester, but
did not seem to do any good. The ,
'ear started at me. l fred again {
IT'LL he came on. | fired still another I
hot, but couldn't stop the avalanche.
he whole mountain seemed coming,
nd l know my hair stood on end
carer and nearer he came and again |
nd again shot, but without any eff {
ect. thought it was my last day.
ly chips were ready to go in, but when 6
e was Oft about ten feet fred my last r
hot and, thank God, dropped him. $
lade up my mind then that l hadn't !
'st any more bears and wasn't going =
look for any. Gentlemen, that bear
eighed nine hundred pounds, Yes, {
r, nine hundred pounds. And his {.
Kin, when green, weighed sixty
ounds. He measured from tip to tip, q
ght feet " a
cit is a fine bear skin, but when YOU +,
e me looking around for any live, I'M II
med animal that looks like a bear c
III can buy all the properties in
onundrum Basin for fifty cents s,
The gentleman in duck nervously W
lped the perspiration, which the re- 81
entrance had started, from his brow
ID nervously walked away. -Gunnison C
}Olo.) NeUs- Democrat. n;