Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-11

The Fate of tn Hiy Brown Bear OF
Alaska ga Mosquito season.

Alaska tN -FataQN Alo Sc dsObs
From Lieui Se6paf6.t's "Aiaska."
A fair wind one day made me think it
possible TO take hunt inland. but, to my
disgust, ii died down after had proceed
ed two or three miles. and my light back
20 camp with the musquitoes ! shall
always remainder as one Of the salient
points OF my lie. Ii ste,acd as il mere
were an upward rain Of insects from tae
grass that became a deluge over marshy
tracts-and move than half the ground
was marshy. OF course not sign OF any
game was seen, except lew ora
tracks; aud the tracks Of an amt
NAL are about the only part OF IL
that could exist here IN tine mosquito sea-
son, which lasts from the time the snow
is half OIL the ground uu'Il ihe htst severe
frost, period of some three or lOui
months. During that time every living
cTeature that can leave lhe valleys as
cends the noun ans, closely following
the snow line, and even tnpre peace is not
completely attained, the cEpOsure 10 lhe
winds being OF far more 6euent than the
GOODNESS due to the altitude, while the
mosquitoes are left undlsputed masters OF
the valleys, except for a lew struggling
animals on their way from one range OF
mountains TO the other.
Had there been any game, and had OBJ
tanned a fair shot | poeestlY doubt If l
bcould have secured it, owing to these
pests; not altogether on account of their
TavenOus attacks upon my face, and
especially the eyes, but Tor the reason
that they were so absolutely dense that it
was impossible to see clearly through the
mass in taking aim. W hen got to camp
was thoroughly exhausted with my in
cessant fight, and completely out OF
breath, which | had to regain as best 1
could in sitting smoke from dry, resin
GUS pine knots. A traveller who
had spent a summer on the lower
Yukon, where l did not and the pests
SO bad on my journey as on the upper
river, was of the opinion that nervous
person without mask would soon be
killed by nervous pr0stration, unless he
were to take refuge IN midstream. l
yRnOw that the native dogs are killed by
the mosquitoes under certain circumstan-
ces, and L beard reports which believe to
be well founded, both from Indians and
trustworthy white persons, that the great
brown bear-erroneOusly but commonly
called the griZZly--0f these regions is at
ftimes compelled to succumo to these IN
ssects. The statement seems almost pre-
pOster0us, but the explanation is cOmpar-
l-atively simple. Bruin, having exhausted
all the roots and berries of one mountain.
or finding them scarce, thinks he will
cross the valley to another range,
DIT perhaps IL Is Tue OuOE OF
salmon washed up along the
rivers banks that attracts him. Covered
with heavy fur on his body, his eyes,
nose and ears are the vulnerable points
for mosquitoes, and here. OF course, they
congregate in the greatest numbers. At
last, when he reaches a swampy stretch,
they rise in myriads, until his tOrepaw is
Kept 50 busy, as he strives 20 keep his
eyes clear of them, that he cannot walk,
whereupOn he becomes enraged, and,
bear-like, rises upon his launches to
fight. 1t is now a mere question of time
until the bears eyes become so swollen
from inuumerable bites as to render him
perfectly blind, when he wanders help
lessly about until he gets mired in the
mud and starves 20 death.