Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-10
INTERESTING NEWS.
How a Party Trailed a Big
Bear.
MISSING YOUTH.
The Mysterious Disappearance Of
Gus Schaeffer-FOul Play
Suspected.

On the 5th of last July a merry party
consisting of Messrs. R. A. Irving, Ed.
Mellus, J. Riley and Andy Campbell,
left town for hunting and fishing tour
in the mountains. They returned last
week with the usual amount of adven-
lures to narrate, and the following is
recital of the experiences of Mr.. Irving
as narrated by him to HERALD man
last night
"We had two-horse team we'll laden
with provisions, blankets, rifles and shot
guns and at the wheels trotted $500
brace of bloodhounds, the property Of
Ed. Mellus. We headed over to the
Temescal, where we camped for time
to enjoy the shooting, for there are mil
lions of quails there and in addition to
this pastime we went deer hunting and
had the good luck to bring down two
fine bucks at one outing. We then went
over to Coldwater Canon and found
superb fishing. The streams are full
of magnificent speckled trout and we
had royal time of it for
some days l can tell you. There is one
thing though that think ought to be
brought before the notice of the Fish
Commissioners and that is the practice
that is carried on mp there of throwing
dynamite in the water for the sake Of
killing the trout. 1t is carried on openly,
and all sportsmen will agree that it is dis
graceful, for the trout is too good fish to
be killed off in that way. But want to
tell you of our greatest experience, and
thatis
ABEAR STORY,
Every word of which will vouch for as
being the truth. After leaving Coldwater
we crossed over into Horsethief Cafion,
and there we saw bear tracks leading up
the mountain side. We decided to trail
him down and Ed. Mellus went ahead
with the dogs, Riley took one side of the
ravine, the other and Campbell climbed
up to the top of the ridge. I was creep
ing cautiously along, for the brush is
rather thick thereabouts, and
suddenly my heart went into
my mouth, for about seventy-five yards
ahead saw his bearship leisurely lolling
with his back toward me. Only those
who have enjoyed the experience of
bear-hunting can realize how l felt at
the introduction, but ! determined to
bring him down, if possible; so raised
my Winchester to my shoulder and fred.
Either my aim was not true, or else he
moved Just at the moment shot, for the
ball only struck him in the leg, and as
he looked angrily round unloaded and
gave him second dose. He WINGED
little, but did not seem to be badly hurt,
and as he sprang to his feet | saw that /
had an ugly customer to deal with, for
he must have weighed about 1000
pounds. He started toward me, and as
he did SO 1 involuntarily dropped my
rifle and commenced to climb up an
adjacent live-oak tree. When l looked
down again the bloodhounds were just
on their way to him, and then saw him
throw out one paw, and one of the dogs
fell back dead, completely ripped
open. The other boys began to close
in, and Mr.. Bruin, who had doubtless
heard that discretion was the better
part of valor decided not to stay and
meet such a majority. In less than q
minute afterward he was half way up
the mountain side and although regular
volley of bullets followed him by way of
salute he was evidently not hurt much
for he went numbering off at lively pace
after he reached the plateau and was
soon lost to sight. Beyond this little ad-
venture l do not think that there is any
thing else in our trip worth chronicling
unless it is that we killed four fine deer
one morning near the Santa Margarita.
The trip throughout was delightful one
and for those who need rest and recrea-
ton know no cheaper nor more pleas
ant method of putting in the time than
the inaugurating of an excursion party
ay-ah Ov1ro ~