Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-21


 shot mark and found 45 caliber hole through the skull just below the horns. The old scout cut and dressed the meat and laid it by for future use. making me present of the horns
 That night, while sitting around cheer ful blaze booming from 6 by 10 fire place, Frontier Jim catching my gaze resting upon monster bear skin lying on the floor, said:
 IH tell you the story of that hide, will Over in those two corners you'll see pair of smaller skins, and hanging against the wall another hide. The big one belonged to an old she devil of silver tip, and them in the corner were her pups. The hide on the wall belonged to my dog, who was killed in scrlmmage with all three O them cusses. It all happened not twelve months ago, when I, like the rest O the boys, got all daft on the Lost Cabin mine, said to be over in the Dig Horn mountains, just loaded full O gold. A fellow came here one morning from over the range, and said he knew where the Lost Cabin was agreed to go with him to hunt it up, and SO we set out together and travelled for a week in com pany, when one night-would you believe ita the 'tarnal cuss stole everything in camp even to the blankets on my bed, and never seen him again. started back home to this very cabin, and over on the eastern edge of the park ill the Hoodoo mountains I ran upon she silver tip, who was knocking and rolling her cubs about in a sort O clearing. Here was chance, and let old Sal speak at once Now, stranger, there ain't no use in any tenderfoot's saying that a bear is danger ous and bent on killing somebody. Tisn't so for grizzly, or silver tip, or cinnamon, will run as quick as rabbit unless you poster them and get i'll their way. I've bagged a good deal O bear meat in my day, and know they are cowardly brutes and will not fight unless you force them. When I fired at the big girl she turned tail and ran like the very Old Nick was after her. One cub took to a tree, my dog grabbed another, and it was lively tussle for few minutes. but She'll ba-k GShellbark was my dog, you know)- well, that dog soon got onto it's windpipe an1 that ended the cub. Now, it happened that cub No. 2, after the death of its mate Slid down the tree stern foremost tyou know, q bear always comes down a tree hlndquarters frst), and started like a streak O lightning after it's mother, all the while Ittering the most piteous howls you ever heard The dam caught these walls and came back to the spot again like a locomo- tive under full head O steam I'd seen a bear before under similar conditions and
 
 way. jumped behind tree out O sight. and just then the old she devil came bowling along, hammer and tongs. My dog didn't understand the situation as true as I, for he was i'll death grapple with the cub just as the dam came up, and paid not the least bit O attention to her. With one wipe O her paw she laid Shellbark out and then I com menced business. You know had my Win chester along with me, and while she was nosing over the cub let her have one back O the neck. She paid no attention to this messenger, so sent another which clipped her ear and the crown O her head. Upon this she raised her nose, sniffed the air and scented me at once. Just then fired at her again and caught the beast in the brisket, She wiped the spot crazily with her paw, and, dropping on all fours, came at me with a sort O shuf1iing gait that knew meant business and no mistake. Let me give you a pointer right here. It's mistake most people have who thinks bear comes at fellow standing on his hind legs. No man ever saw ? bruln attack in that way They always drop on all fours and roll or shamble toward you, and when they get to close quarters then they do rise on their hind legs and pro- ceed to hug or strike. And let me tell YOU another thing: A bear, when he or she is on business, walks on his fore legs, rolls or waes ais la~..l e., -ilo r,,sys atten- tlon whatever to powder or lead fired my last shot at this old monster when she was within three feet of me; but, seeing that it nad no effect, threw away the gun and whipped out my long hunting knife, ready for a death struggle. Without a pause or the feast bit of hesitation she came straight on with jaws wide open and paws raised; then, just as she made Q lunge at me, the beast tot tered and trembled and fell back on the ground as dead as door nail Would you believe it, she had,a hole in her head as big as your fist; but didn't know it, you see, until l skinned her. I thought surely my time had come. When she lay over on her side and didn't move, plunged knife into her ribs two or three times, but there wasn't quiver. Then l skinned the brute, her two cubs and my poor Shellbark, and them are the skins you see over there. "-J. M. f. Par tello in San Francisco Chronicle.