Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-22

How the Big Bear OF Santa Rosa
Was Caught
The Wonderful Exploit Of Expert Msxiean
L1rist-ThFoweFs, As Related by
Newspaper Which Makes
Tooga stories . Speciality.



Of those maryelousiy clear nights such as
the countries OF dry air alone can show,
when the moon sesfcs like bail Of quick
silver hanging ia the SKY only half mile
away, when every elf or scar or jutting
crag ia the mountain stands out and over
hangs the mountains base, and the deep
shadows OF the Canyons seem solid hills OF
jet trying TO oyertop the giant mass be-
sid them About 2j) yards away. up on
the leeward side Of the dead COW, th party
halted and tied their horses, while some OF
them went ahead ON foot TO reconnoiter. Be-
hind little knoll, hundred yards or SO
from the bait, they stopped Over the
dead animal half dozen coyotes were
snarling and feeding, but no bear was
there.
Hours passed away, when there was
sudden lull in the noise of the coyotes, and
they began 10 sneak away from the bait
The crack OF brush was heard, too, in the
chapparal, and in a minute huge mass of
shaggy blackness emerged. At nearly
two o'clock in the morning the bear had
finally decided To eat, and started toward
the carcass.
Quickly the men went back for the
horses. The horses knew as well their
masters what was coming, and each one
trembled like leaf as the great horse hair
girth was "clinched" as tightly as the long
running strap could draw it. Don Fran
cisco Machado, one of the owners of the
ranch, was selected TO make the first
throw. They rode quietly up TO within
about one hundred yards and then, like
flight OF arrows, the six horses shot for
ward beneath the impulse of the spurs. ii
such :. charge Do not Unto the jaws OF
heli' it is very much like it. Certain it is
that more mon can be found TO lead a
charge like that OF the Light Brigade than
10 lead such "a one as Don Francisco led.
At the clatter of the hoofs the bear rose
with savage growl from his supper.
Right up to within fifteen feet of the brute
rode Don Francisco, with his brother, Don
Juan Wachado, and friend close behind
him. Another brother, Don Jose Wachado,
and two other horsemen split off and
pressed upon the other side OF the vic
tim. Wheeoo, wheeoo, went the moose
twice around the riders head as he
approached the bear; whizz
went the moose as it few from his
hand. With faint zip it fell
over the bears head and in a twinkling
the other end of the rope was wound
around the horn of the saddle and the
moose drawn tight with a sudden jerk.
The bear, instead of being pulled off his
feet or trying to loosen the RATA, made
rush for Don Francisco, but the quick
horse he rode sprang forward fast enough
to keep the riata tight, and in a moment
another moose, from the hand of Don Jose,
dropped over the BEARS head from behind;
but it also went under one foot, making
the moose catch over the shoulder. Vainly
the horse set himself back upon his haunch-
ss. No horse could hold such hold as
that, and Don Jose had to drop his RATA.
| Don Francisco now tried to jerk the.bear
sideways as to get him of his feet or to
| get him to raise his feet so that they could
be easily noosed by his com mpanions. His
horse sprang beneath the spur like snake
! from coil, but the RATA frightened on a
weight no horse could overthrow.
Meanwhile moose after hoose aimed
| for the brute's legs whizz ID throu gh
the air. But be would not keep foOt
clear Of the ground long enou gh for a sue
cessful throw, and his movements were SO
! irregular that it was impossible to base
calculations upon them so as to cast the
loop in time. But N moment more zip
came another loop over the BEARS head
and fell luil around his neck. AS it tight
ened be rose upon his feet, while both
loops we're pulling in opposite directions.
In tNsinkling his paws were beneath
them, in a IN oment he had them both N his
mouth. Such strength surprised and
alarmed his prosecutors. The air was fill ed
with Spanish CALCULATIONS, and the worst
OF it was that both fore paws were now so
protected that neither one could be laSsoed.
Amid the ''Carrajo" and "Carrambas" and
''que diablo es este" one OF the riatas,
fraysd and cut half in two by teeth and
claws, parted beneath the strain, and be-
fore ano her cast could be made the sec
ond ons gave way. The great bear was
again free and two of the best hands were
empty.
But the bear was free for but an instant
The very incarnation OF fury, be made a
rush at Don Jose, whose horse wheeled
with a whiri that would have landed an
ordinary rider in tho claws of the enemy.
Just as Re rushed upon him, open -mouthed
and raging. another moose came with a
sudden snap around his head, catching ia
his mouth and tightening on the instant
behind his teeth and behind his ears. AS
ae reared upon his feet another one fell
,ver MS head upon top OF the frat one. AM
~ the two ne was jerked over backward,
and then there was n wild confusion oil
horses and men aud ropes and bsar aud
spanish ias rjections an cries Of "A garra
IN pie, "Pronto" "De veras - Ell diahlo. "
,tc. Bs.ore one % h : feet could be secured
ae had - CIT the second RATA around his
neck vith his claws that &c gave way and
sad turned himself over and was again
lpon his feet. The moose In bis mouth still
held, aud a. he raised one paw 20 get that
soo.e. alp landed another loop right Over
he paw. In twinklinx that paw was
,utss ched, pulling the bear 80 that hs
fsi sd The hind foot upon tho other side
9aickr than lt can be told that loot va,
,aught np hy a dextsrsas iing srom bon