Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-05-01
A cOWARDLY GRIZZLY MOTHER.
She Deserts Her Cubs When Holly Pur-
sued by Hunters.


She Deserts Her Cubs When Holly Pur-
sued by Hunters.
After resting my horse few minutes
went on, and had not gone far when saw
in the distance three black objects, which,
upon examination with my field glass,
took to be buffaloes lying quietly in the
grass upon the prairie. As the wind was
blowing from me directly toward them
was obliged to make q long detour to get
upon the opposite side, when l met one of
my Mexican hunters, who had discovered
and was going for the same animals l was
in pursuit Of
We united our forces and advanced
within rifle range, when the animals
jumped up, and to our establishment
proved to be large grizzly bear with
two well grown cubs. The instant they
discovered us they all started off rapidly,
and we after them, at a speed which soon
brought us near enough to give shots, but
owing to the frantic plunging and surg
ing of our frightened horses, to say moth
ing of our own perturbation, neither of
our shots took effect, and | doubt If even
Buffalo Bill, with all his mastery eques-
trian adroitness, and his skill in rifle
shooting, could, under the circumstances,
have made much better shots than ours.
AS we were obliged to stop and re-
charge our long muZZle loading rifles, this
gave the bears time to get considerably
the start of us. We, however, soon closed
the gap, and gave another shot that in
ficted slight flesh wound upon the dam,
at which she set up u vociferous growl
and plunged ahead, leaving her cubs be-
hind. Giving a hasty direction for the
Mexican to attend to the cubs, / pushed
nm aft tho old which M fb{o
time a good deal in advance, and going at
her best speed, while the panic stricken
whelps were giving utterance to the most
plaintive cries, which were heard by the
mother, but she continued on, and my
horse put forth his utmost efforts for at
least two miles before we came up with
her.
In the meantime the cubs continued
their incessant cries, at which the dam
would occasionally turn round, sit up and
look back, but as soon as she saw me
coming she resumed her running, and
this was repeated several times, until
came near her, and galloped along for
some distance by her side, but even this
close proximity did not induce her to turn
upon me, or to make the slightest demon
stration of hostility.
Her sole purpose was to escape, and to
effect this she deserted her offspring in
the most cowardly manner. When had
satisfied my curiosity regarding her ag
gressive procliyities ] gave her shot
back OF the shoulder, which caused her to
turn around and wall, slowly back with
her head down, severely wounded, but
another shot in the head brought her to
the ground, and after taking off one of
her paws, as II trophy. returned to camp
where / found the Mexican who had
lassoed the two cubs, and driven them
before his horse nearly five miles, while
they continued their piercing screams all
the way. Indeed they kept up their
cries during the entire night, SO that the
men got but little sleep and obliged us to
have them killed the next morning -
Gen. X. Is. Marcy in Outing.