San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-28
FACTS ABOUT BEARS.
A Rear Ordinarily No More Dangerous rnAn
Wsodehuck. Il

have known bruln for inc PhSe ioA'J
years. have met him on the trail IN
northern Michigan, Pennsylvania and
the North Woods. have seen him IN
Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Ordinarily bruin is about as danger
GUS as raccoon or tho festive WOOD
chuck. But it does happen that the
mother Of any animal will ignore danger
to herself in defense of her young. Al
most any animal will 60 wild and reck-
less of danger in defense OF her young
and the bear is wonderful on music
Consequently, when she-bear turns
on her tormenters it is well to keep
back about eighty-five and a half feet
She doesn't want to hurt anybody. She
only wants to get her babes away from
that fearful biped with the Derby hat
and dead rabbit cut on his hair.
If you humor her you are safe enough.
If you want to put your hounds on her.
making the escape of her cubs doubt
ful-well, "you takes your choice" If
you drive her to desperation and she
has the grit to stand by her cubs, bet
ter you stand a leetle back"
I have bagged good deal of bear
meat. I have been twice on lone
cruise in the North Woods. saw
several bears there-all intent on their
own affairs.
So slight was the danger from wild
animals there, and so childish seemed
the immense ornaments of the average
tourist, that I came to leave not only
my rifle but my revolver behind. And
found the eight-ounce rod and the
pocket Ratchet all-suficient for defense
against wild beasts. All the same,
she bear with cubs may be dangerous.
will give three instances that l can
vouch for: -,
Forty years ago "Jim Steele" with
record of seven panthers, twenty-one
bear and 1900 deer, resided at the
mouth of the "Asoph Run" He sent
his sou, aged IA, up the creek Tor the
COWS one evening. The boy came back
frightened and crying, saying that a
big bear had chased and nearly caught
him. Old Jim was Disguised at the
boys cowardice. Leaving his rifle he
went back with the boy, and at the
mouth of the Kennedy Run the boy
commenced to say, "It was just here"
when an immense bear jumped from
under the bank, reared on her hind
legs, and, showing all the teeth she had'
growing, snarling and threatening.
made for the party. Old Jim took it
in at once. Jump on my back" he
yelled to the youngster, which the boy
did at once; and yelling, backing. and
fourishing knife, all the weapon he
had, old Jim and the boy got away,
Then they saw the mother bear cross
the "liffle" an the creek and scatter up
the mountain side, to be seen no more
of men forever.
Thirty-two- years ago "Harry Ellis"
born and bred on Pine Greek, guided
a party to the huckleberry hills OF the
Barrens. While prospecting for the
best berrying grounds he was suddenly
confronted by an immense bear, which
arose from behind large fallen trunk,
and, rearing on her hind legs, made di-
rectly at him, roaring, snarlng, and
showing her best array of teeth. Harry
seized land fourished pine knot,
whooping and yelling at the top of his
voice as he ran backward at his best
pace for a few rods only, when the bear
turned and quickly conveyed her two
cubs out of danger.
On the same range of bills 1 once
went huckleberrying with farmer T.,
mis- wife, and daughter, on invitation.
Our rig was two-horse farm wagon,
the bottom of the wagon packed with
inverted tubs and. buckets. Distance
to the groud twenty-one miles.
By dint of starting at a. m, of
abusing the horses to unwonted speed,
We were on the ground at IL a. m,
among berries so plenty that the ground
was absolutely hidden. 1t was short
job to pick bushel of berries on such
ground; but had been there before,
and thought knew of place, about
three quarters of a mile westward,
where the berries were equally plenty, |