The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-03
A Hear Hunt on tho Dosewilps.

"Tell us about some of your hunt
ing adventures William" we said one
Winter evening as we sat around our
bright fire.
viii Is a stout, young, half breed
boy, whose home is ON the DosewilpR,
a river, which flows into Hoods Canal.
Perhaps some Of my readers may not
know where Hoods Canal is? If they
have ever been on Puget Sound, or arc
not possessed Of a large map Of Western
Washington Territory it will be hard
for them to realize the "magnigcent
distnnces'' Of these far reaching inland
seas with their many beautiful tribu-
taries. HOODS Canal Is Southern arm
of Puget Sound. 1t Is sixty miles long,
averages two miles in width, and was
80 called because a man named Hood
was killed on its shore by Indians, a
number Of years ago, Its banks on
either side are high wooded hills, with
occasionally a valley, down which
some swift stream brings it's flood from
the mountain depths. The Dosewilps
ls one Of these rlvors, fow men have
made homes upon its banks, but there
is very little open land. Wooded hills
stretch out IN every direction, finally
rising at the North into the Olympian
Mountains. Through these woods
william. has hunted ever since he
learned to handle a gun and has had
some exciting adventures.
o1o
tember," said William, "when start
ed out for days hunting, had poor
luck though, and tramped the woods
nearly all day without seeing anything
worth shooting at. About sunset
came down to the river bank and saw
that l was nine or ten miles above
home, just then little dog l had with
me began to bark and looking up the
river l saw bear eating a fish. Raising
my shot gun ! fired at him and he fell
off the bank into the river, but found
cred around, got out and walked away =,
thinking to make short work Of him
stood my gun against tree and taking
my revolver In my hand followed him,
l soon. overlook him and fired hitting
him in the right shoulder, he gave a
big grunC bat run off. Tho third timo
1 came up with him he was going
around big cedar tree and | was be-
hind another tree about eighteen yards
of. AS fired he turned and seeing the
smoke, run at me. climbed up one high
rock, across which grew two slender
Vine naples, ono above the other.
walked out on the lower one holding
on the upper one to steady myself. |
thought the bear would not trust his
weight OH them and so could not get at
me, but Instead Of climbing up on the
rock he came around underneath The
naples and rearing up seized the vim cs
In his mouth and bent 1t, breaking it,
thus lowering me 80 that:.h could get
me around the knees and pull me
down, thon he gradually worked uD to
my waist aiming to get at my throat.
kept my left arm up to ward him off
ana let him claw OH that. a fter tusslc
we would both be tired out and have
to rest. Finally the bear made a spring
ana getting on my shoulder began to
bite and tear my hand which held uD
to keep him from my throat. had Il
dirk knife in my pocket bnt the bear
had his paw on my right hand, and
whenever / tried to get the knife he
Would roll over OH mo in suoh u way
that | could not move my hand; he
struck my arm with his paw once with
such force that thought he had bro
ken 1T, then he clawcd my head, all
the time trying to get at my throat.
AT last the the bear got kind Of worried
out and made a great effort and threw
him of and got away, then went II
short distance and jumped INTO pond
of water and washed the blood out of
my eyes. had three dcep gashcs In
one thigh, two on my head and my
left arm and both hands were pretty
we'll clawed up. got my gun and
went home, wading the river three
times, | was burning hot and the next
morning was very stiff and sore, but
went ont with my brother after the
bear. We found him in the pond whore
i had washed myself. lie was dead
my first shot had lodged in his un dor
jaw, and that saved me think, but |
was considerably clawod up and | shall
bear the marks as long as live"
''What did you do with the skin ="
we asked.
"Sold it for Il dollar" was the reply,
! sent 1t with seven others to San Fran
cisco and got only dollar apiece for
the lot"
water Crosses IN winter