The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-08-13

totum of the place. For many years
his was the only house in the valley
and In his home were entertained all
travellers. Many came through empty
handed and he felt it his hounden
duty to provide for all their wants,
so to-day everybody goes to Mr..
Crawford. Pleasant and unnsten,a-
;lous his home is open to every needy
one, his house and barn supply all
who need. For myself he anticipated
everything and it was provided before
| mentioned it.
Everybody relies upon game for
their meat, and every table is sup
piled with venison and trout, but
close 10 town game and fish are getting
scarce and one must 60 two nr three
miles out 10 find them. This, they
think very inconvenieut.
We have been alone here and while
everybody is busy doing something
We have wandered about over the
mOuntaiu ard up aud down the
streams, alone and very lonesome.
Yesterday we went out tn find the
grizzly bear We were longing to See,
and We found him. We had very
pleasant Interview with him and both
came off untouched. We We're
mounted on Mr.. Crawford's hunting
pony trying 70 cross the divide. Some
fifteen miles away we saw what we
took TO be an opening over the noun
tain and made Tor it. We got into a
canyon and following a dim game
trail, We went along down the side of
the mountain, keeping a good outlook
for game. But it Was most unpro-
pitious place to met bear. We were
about half way up the steep, rocky
mountain the only trees near being
the lodge poles, which had been
burned clean of all limbs. Coming
along the trail anu approaching us
We saw Mr.. Grizzly. He was moping
along, smelling on each side of the
trail ana granting like hog. We
looked around, out there was no way
to run, no tree we coDld climb, and
we felt we were ia for it. Then we
bravely determined We would not Iun
anyhow, but We would dispute the
pass and if he came on, he would get
into trouble. Got down, cooked orr
rifle and faced the bear. He was
then 30 yalds away, but coming We
thought We might shoot him through
the brain at that distance and bring
bis skin home, and have a splendid
story to tell of our proves, aud we
brought the gun down on him, but it
would not keep still. The muzzle
wabbled around like it was bewitched.
We gave up that idea, but saw plain
ly the bear still unconcernedly CON-
ing. Finding we could not steady
the rifle, some very apprehensive
thoughts came over us. What if he
should want TO m Ike meal off of US?
We remembered Charles Dudley
Warmers encounter with a bear and
even in our extremity we laughed at
his thought of the epitaph on his
tomb stone of "Eaten by bear"
The environments were beginning
to look bad for us for the bear did
not seem to be thinking of any of
these things, but jast coming along
as though the mountain belonged to |
him and he was proposing to have his
own way. We waited his pleasure,
concluding to be governed generally |
by circumstances when the time for |
action arrived, When about % feet |
from US, he saw US, and stopped, evil |
IDENTIFY much surprised. We thought |
il time he was stopping, aud We were
so far much pleased with his conduct. |
We thought be surveyed US a long |
time, probably studying our charac-
ter, hesitating about what his duty
was some such things be must have
thought, for we had ample time to
look him over we'll. He wasn't a
very large bear and be had a rather
pleasant countensnce, though We
could see shade of disappointment
passing over his face, until it finally
assumed an appearance of fright.
We knew we were fierce looking,
with our beard week old and hat
which had stood the test of many
storms in fact. the bear was right.
We must have looked ferocious and
dangerous and he ignominiously
turned and fed. At once we lost ali
respect for him and as soon as he had
got off safe distance We opened fire
on him. Three leaden messengers
winged their way down the
mountain side after him, but
he only did as he was
accustomed, pursued the even tenor
of his way, disappearing in the shrub