Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-06-09
A COWARriY GRIZZLY MOTHER.
she Deserts Ter Cubs when Holly Pur-
sued by Hunters.

After resting my horse n few minutes I
went on, and had not gone far when I saw
IN the distance three black objects, which,
upon examination with my field glass, |
took to be bulraloes lying quietly in the
grass upon the prairie. AS the wind was
blowing from me directly toward them I
was obliged to make a long detour to get
upon the opposite side, when | met one of
my Mexican hunters, who had discovered
and was going for the same animals | was
in pursuit of.
We united our forces and advanced
within rifle range, when the animals
jumped up, and to our astonishment
proved to he a large grizzly bear with
two well grown cubs. The instant they
discovered us they all started of 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 il even
Buffalo Bill, with all his mastery eques-
trian adroitness, and his skill III rifle
shooting, could, under the circumstances,
have mad much better shots than ours.
As w We're obliged to stop and re-
charge our long muzZle loading rifles, this
gave the bears time 10 get considerably
the start Of lis. We, however, soon closed
the gap, and gave another shot that in
flicted a slight flesh wound upon the dam,
at which she set up a vociferous groWl
II plunged ahead, leaving her cubs be-
hind. Giving n hasty direction for the
Mexican to attend to the cubs, ] pushed
or after the old one, which was at this
time n 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 w with
her.
In the meantime the cubs continued
their incessant cries, at which the dam
would occasionally turn round, sit up and
look 1ick, but as soon us she saw me
| coming she resumed her running, and
this was repeated several times, until l
came near her, and gailoped 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 names When ! had
satisfied my curiosity regarding her ag-
gressive pr~oclivities ! gave her a shot
back of the shoulder, which caused her TO
turn around and walk slowly back with
her head down, severely wounded, but
another shot IN the head brought her 10
the ground, and after taking off ono of
her paws, as a trophy, ! returned to camp,
where | found the Mexican, who had
lassoed the two cubs, and driven them
| before lis horse nearly live miles, while
they continued their piercing screams I'll
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. K. Is. Marcy in Outing.