Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-01-25
Facts About Bears.
A Bear Ordinarily no More Dangerous San a
Ecodehuck

/ nave known Drum Tor the past fUftE
years. | have met him on tbe trail III
Northern Michigan, Pennsylvania ana
the North Woods | have seen him in
Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Ordinarily bruin is about as danger
Gus as a raccoon or the festive wood
chuck Bat it does happen that the
mother OF any mammal viii ignore
danger to herself in defense OF her
young. Almost any animal will go wild
and reckless of danger in defense Of
her young, and the bear Is wonderful
on music. Consequently. when she
bear turns on her tormentors, il is well
to keep back about eighty-iiye and
half feet. She doesn't want to hurt
anybody. She only wants to get her
babes away from chat fearful bped
with the Derby hat and dead rabbit
cut on his hair
Ii you humor her you are safe enough.
II YOU want to put your hounds on her,
making the escape OF her cubs doubt-
ful-weli, you takes your choice. II
you drive her to desperation and she
has the GRIT TO stand h, her cubs. .'bet-
ter YOU stand leedle back"
have bagged q good deal Of bear
meat. | have been twice on a lone
cruise in the North Woods. | saw ser-
eral bears there-all intent on their own
affairs
SO slight was the dancer from wild
animals there, and so childish seemed
the immense ornaments of the average
tourist, that | came to leave not only
my rifle but my revolver behind. And
/ f,,tAl Nm, af.rlt4 4 =
pocket Ratchet all-suflicieut for. defense
against wild beasts All the same, a
she bear with cubs may be dangerous
viii give three instances that / can
vouch for:
Forty wears ago "Jim Steele" with a
record OF seven pantherS, twenty-one
bears and 1900 deer, resided at the
mouth of ''Asoph Run" He sent his
son, aged II, up the creek for the COWS
one evening. The boy came back
frightened and crying, saying that a
bio bear had chased and nearly caught
him. Old Jim was Disguised Mt the
boy 5 cowardice. Leaving his rifle, he
went back with the boy, and at the
mouth Of the Kennedy Ran the boy
commenced to say, ut was Just here, y
when an immense bear jumped from
under the bank, reared on her hind
legs, and. showing all the teeth she
had, growing, snarling and threaten
ing made at the party. Old Jim took
it in at once. Jump on my back" he
yelled to the youngstcr, which the boy
did at once; and yelling, backing, and
iourishing a knife, all the weapon he
had, old Jim and the boy got away.
Then they saw the mother bear cross
the ''rittie" on the creek and scatter up
the mountain side, to be seen no more
of men forever.
Thirty-two years ago Harry Ellis, y
born and bred on Pine creek, 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 a large fallen trunk,
and, rearing on her hind LEGS, made
directly at him, roaring, grunting,
snarling, and showing her best array OF
teeth Harry seized and nourished q
pine knob, whooping and yelling at the
top of his voice rs he ran backward at
his best pace for few rods only, when
the bear turned and quickly conveyed
her two cubs out of danger.
On the same range of hills | once
went huckleberrying with Farmer t.,
his wife and daughter, on invitation,
Our ri@ was 2 two-horse farm wagon,
the bottom of the wagon packed with
inverted tubs and buckets Distance to
the ground. twenty-one miles
BY dint Of starting at a M. and
abusing the horse TO unwouted speed,
we were on the ground at / ! q. m,
among berries 50 plenty that the ground
was absolutely hidden. 1t was q short
lob to pick bushel OF berries on such
ground; but ] had been there before,
and thought ! knew of place about
three-quartcrs al mile westward,
where the berries were equally plenty,
but larger SO took q large tin pail
and started. HALF way to the ground
there is gulch 70 be crossed, and this
guleh was badly blocked with fallen
timber When near the bottom | halt
ed TO select the best routes for getting
by or over some fallen trees that lazy in
my path; when 4 very large diugy-
looking "brown-nosed" bear sprang on
pine, sprang of again directly mt me-
got on her hind iegs. aud began to play
the usuat game af scare showing ali
her teeth, making the savage roaring
barking, growing noise common to- on
ragged bears. ON the instant / com
menced lively retr9zrala movement.
Once ! caught my heels and tumhled
over backward, but GOT up suddenly. 1t
was q Chinese fight Growing. saarl-
ing teeth and claws on one side. Whom
ing yelling and pounding tinware on