The Brookhaven leader., 1884-03-20
Habits Of the Grizzlies and OF Hunters.


adventures with the grizzly lear were
very common, and it was always fa-
vorite theme around camp fire. No
doubt many of these stories were lies
from end to end. But many true ones
were never penned. There were many
poor fellows who carried unmiStakable
marks of having had a dreadful en-
counter with a grizzly bear. These sto-
res naturally created a desire, especial
ly among those who love tie excitement
of the chase, to have q skirmiSh with a
grizzly. But the first sight of one oil
those monsters usually produces kind
of paralysis. cooling OF of the ardor
cngendered around camp fire, and the
first desire experienced is personal safe
ty, and, suiting the acton to the desire,
a place of safety is generally ought in
n hurry.
Grizzly bears are not yet ranked
among an extinct race of animals, for
they are frequently found in the Selk;rk
mountains and still further south.
They are the genuine stock. too,
weighing from 1,OJO to ?,0J0 pounds,
and have al the native ferocity of those
formerly found in Southern Oregon and
varieties of the bear fami found the
cinnamon, brown and black bear. Their
tracks are frequen ly en- in the sand
and mud on the banks of the rivers and
creeks where they 90 10 catch salmon.
The Indians say that they have killed
three grizzly bears this season-two
very large ones. We NUT not always
reckon Oh the size of the track. The
black / ear, the smallest of the family,
makes sometimes the largest track.
He is very loose iointed, has paws
spread out, and he leaves an i'm, res
sion on The sand and mud very large
for the size f his body. The nimb.e-
ness of his joints permits him to handle
his legs, particularly his fore legs, with
a great deal of deXttr.ty. He can 81 NIB
a zee faster than man. Not so with
grizzly. He stands more erect on his
legs. He is built more for strength
than nimhleness, and therefore is not in
the habit of climbing small trees. The
fact has saved many men from being
torn to pie es, and is consolation to
the pursued.
Bear stories are less frequent in camp
than formerly, but st II we have now
and then an adventure with these noun
tain monsters. One of our party, Cap
tain p, once went out prospect ng for
a quart lode. With pick in hand he
commenced climbing the mountain,
closely scanning every rock showing
indications of mineral. At last he
came to large fallen cedar lying
across his course. Fastening his pick
on the top of the log he hoistCd him
self up so he could l.Ok over it. Just
then large grizzly raised himself up.
They met face to face, each staring
right into the others e es with nothing
but the cedar log between them. The
CAPITA says the bear showed him his
teeth. He thinks there was a full set,
and in excellent condition. He does
not know how long this pantomine
lasted, but he remembers letting all
hold 90 from that log and sliding
down and making for a tres near by,
which he went up lin a jiffy.' just
as he was leaving the log, he says, he
saw big paw reach over on his siGe #
it and give a terrible scratch. He felt
thankful that he was not there to get
that scratch, and it was a ''bale
scratch that he was not there. Up
that tree the Captain felt safe for the
time being, and could look down and
see Mr. Grizzly. who was standing on
the opposite de. with his paws rhst-
ing lcisurely on the log. looking straight
up that tree, evidently studying the
situation for an offensive as well as de-
fensive operation. Grizz v soon cot
down and went off a short distance,
then turning around took another
glance at the man up the tree, then
went into the brush and was soon out
of sight. After some delay the Captain
ventured down from the tree and, find
ing smooth, narrow gulch, where he
sat down, gave wriggle or two, and
soon found himself on the bank of the
Columbia River, going down at 2:l5
speed He came int0 camp alone and
without his hat and related his adven-
ture. The Captain thinks that grizzly
went after reinforcements.
Now, this interview between the Cap.
tain and the grizzly is the Captains
side of the story. The other side has
not been heard from. AS 10th sides of
a story ought to be heard, the writer
would suggest that it is quite reason
able to suppose that the cause of the
grizzly's leaving the field first was that
he had become tired of the monotony
and disguised with the non-combat-
iveness of his intruder, and that he
went in search of more agreeable and
exciting amusement, but as it stands
the Captain claims the victory because
he left the field last. 1t was a noiicca-
bic fact thatthe Captain preferred stand
ing to sitting while partaking of his
camp meals for several days. The day
OF this adventure some Indians passed
and they were informed of it. They
pursued grizzly with Their dogs, and on
the following day large grizzly was
killed in that vicinity. NOtwithstand-
ing the evidence being conclusive that
the IDENTICAL animal has been killed, the
Captain thinks that some of his kindred
might still be living, and that he has no
desire, personally, to dispute grizzly's
claim to a quartz ledge.-P0rtiand Ore
Conl0n