The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-14
HARPOoNING GRIZZLIES.
Daniel sexton's Remarkable Bear Stories
Sworn to Ia Court.

Daniel sexton's Remarkable Bear stories,
Sworn to Ia Court.
Tie title OF boss bear killer of North
America never has been definitely and
finally conferred. Grizzly Adams
achieved wider notoriety than any
ether man in his line, but that was be-
cause he caught the bears alive and
made a show Of them. Sylvester
Scott Of Sonoma county. with his rec
ord OF 400 bears. seemed 10 be entitled
to the appcllation, and even Morgan
Clarke did not dispute the claim, al
though he has been Il mighty destroy
,r Of bears.
But Daniel Sexton of San Bernar-
dino, whose modcsly has kept him in
the background for many years, now
comes To the front with some Of the
most remarkable bear stories ever
heard. Mr. ScXton's claim to rccog
milton is not based upon mere camp
fire yarns or country grocery cxperi.
ences. All that he says is sworn to on
the witness stand in the United States
district court.
Mr.. Sexton was a witness in the suit
of John Morongo and others against
Messrs. North and Glrd. "A case involv-
ing the title TO the Potrero village and
lands in San Bcrnardino occupied for
thirty years by the Indians, who have
failed, through ignorance, to conform
to the land laws Mr. Sexton was
cross examined about the condition Of
things ON the disputed land thirty
years ago, and developed either tc.
nacious memory or a fertile imagina-
ton
Counsel. to test his accuracy, put the
simple question:
Were there Il great many bears in
those years. and started Mr.. Sexton
on series Of "reminiscences that were
highly interesting The following re
port Is from the court stenographcr's
notes:
Mr. Sexlon-Oh, yes. | went out
one evening from my camp and coun-
ted fifty bears within ylnshot Of me,
eating cherries.
Q.-Wildi
A.-The bcarsl No, they were not
wild; they didn't scare ut anything.
Oh. YOU means the cherries. Yes, they
were wild cherries. But the bears did
MT know anything about being hurt
and were not wild. They weren't
scared Of tho Indians, because the In
dians never killed bc,ss.
Q.-What variety OF bears were
fheyl
A.-Grizzlics.
Odd you see that sight moro
han oncel
A.-Lots Of times. Why, B. d. vii.
son went up the mountain here to
Bear lake, and he had twenty-five
men with him -Califolnians. They
counted 100 bears at one time. The
mountain was what you aight call just
lousy with bears. Tho men divided
into pairs and went for the grizzlies
with their lassOcs, two men to a bear.
They lassocd eleven bcarsand brought
them into camp-juas4aturally led
em right in
Odd you kin any bearsl
<. Well, think ] did. When
Mr.. Temple came out from Los Ange-
les to get sOmo lumber, had pile Of
bears. and showed them TO him and
asked him how much bear meat he
thought there was in that pilo. He
said hc thought thcFp was about ten
tons think there was more than
that. because there was moro than fifty
bears in tho pile, and ! think they
weighed moro lllan 500 pounds apiece.
Who killed alI' those bearsi
\. killed them. harpooned them
When | went to the ranchcric, they
didn't know how TO scta haW1on. ]
made some harpe0ns and set them
and ! would have three or four bears
harp0oncl every morning-thrco or
four old grizzlies. II you had been
there like 1 was, and seen three or four
old grizzlies with harpoons IN them,
dragging logs and chains after them,
you would never forget It,
o Were there amy California lions
about thero that were dangerous to
stocki
Al never saw but one California
lion in this whole country, and | killed
him with an TX. May'b you think
that isn't sn, but the way killed him
was this: didn't have gun with me,
and | went out with an Indian 10 cut
some timber. ] had the AK and moth
ing else, and the Indians dogs ran Il
lion up tree. The Indian told me -
20 back and get my gun, but told
him, III go you will let him get
away The lisi WIS Oh small limb,
and / threw stone ut him and hit
him between the eyes, aud that stun
ned him. Returned tail and was going
to jump, but happened to hit him
Just right aud dazed him. Then ]
made the Indian fetch stones, and ]
peggcd stones at the lion for about an
hour and half, | should think. When
he turned tail | stoned him on the end
Of the spine. | stoned him until he
couldn't use his hind legs, and then ]
cut the tree down and Killed him with
thc 90. -I,nuuiuV Gal Letter