Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-24
After Grixzlies.


was out with Cadott. Toward shutdown,
leaving me near swamp. he went on on the
prairie, hoping to scare up some game, which
would probably seek refuge In the swamp. He
was about half mile away when saw him
motion me to 60 toward the boats / started
at walk In that direction, watching him - /
advanced. Soon saw him run rapidly toward
the boats, then suddenly stop. As he stopped
saw what took to be an Indian on horseback
come over q swell in the prairie. I struck across
boats In such direction as would bring Us to-
gether about half mile from them. When I
came near him saw that he was pursued by two
grizzlies. He kept ahead of them by running
until he saw the one nearest lift himself to
bear, when the grizzly would stop to q jog-trot
or walk. In this way we kept ahead OF them
until we came within hail Of The boats, (Cadott
was armed with an old-fashiUned round-ball
patch rife, had a cavalry carbine; neither gun
officers and men perceived ussthey came run
ming out to meet us, but ttheyomade so much
noise the grizzlies were alarmed, turned, and
ran down the river into a. thicket, where
we lost them. A few days after, one Of
our young officers and 1.-THE chief engineer
hunt, looking tired and dirty. They were
very quiet about their days sport Az
they had brought In no game, we were
quite curious to learn about their hunt At last
we got them to talking, when It appeared that,
after hunting some hours without finding any
game, they sat down under q small tree to rest.
Happening to glance toward the river, which
was about half a mile away, they saw what
they took to be couple Of buffalo coming to-
ward them at lope. Both prepared for shot;
but when the animals came close enough to dis
tinguish them the hunters recognized them to
be two full-grOwn grizzlies making for their posi-
ton. An animated discussion arose between
the officer and the engineer as to what they
should do. The engineer was for "lighting
out" at dOuble-quick, but the officer, be-
ing armed with Sharp's breech-loading
rifle, was for stand. AS he prevailed, the
engineer slipped off his boots and made ready
to climb the tree. When the bears came within
range he, forgetting his gun, made haste to
mount the tree. The officer prepared to shoot,
but being unable to determine which bear to
kill or possibly attacked with the ''bear fever"
he, so the engineer said. dropped his gun aud
made good time up the tree. The officer
claimed that he took his rifle up the tree with
him. However that may be- the two monsters
came on at lope, and, without so much as cast
ing glance no the tree, went on into the brush
beyond. AS these two gentlemen had been very
severe on Cadott and myself for not attacking
two grizzlies on the open prairie, we being
armed with small game rifle and carbine,
we thought that our valorous friends armed
with Sharp's breeci-loading rifle and an army
musket. might at least have tried a shot from
their safe perch in the tree. Before the inven-
ton of the destructive breech-loader. now in
common use the hunter never attacked a
grizzly unless he had some great advantage
such as being on horseback on the prairie
Gen. Hardin, in the United Service