The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-12-31
GABE AND THE BEAR.
An Idaho Hunters Encounter With
the King of Grizzlies.
The Situation Was Highly Amusing For .
Timetables Ingenious But Very
Mean Subterfuge and Final
Triumph.

In the early days of Utah and Idaho,
Gabe Tucker was a noted Nimrod and
his daring adventures and narrow
escapes could be numbered by the
hundreds. He scorned the smaller
kinds of game, preferring the royal
sport OF hunting mountain lions and
grizzlies. He was really terror to
the lions and slaughtered them wher-
ever or under whatever circumstances
they could be found. If lion went
into a thicket Gabe went there too,
and if the animal lodged into a nook
or Granny. or crawled into a hole for
safety. Gabe followed suit 81 don't
:kecr whar a lion goes" said Gabe, IF
he'll only leave room for me to 60 there,
too" Many was the tussle and close
call Gabe had with the lions, but he
was practically without fear; and when
a lion fought hard for his life he
seemed to enjoy the sport much better
than when the animal appeared too
cowardly to defend itself "A cow
ardly whelp ought to die fur bein' born
such coward" was one of Gabe's
trite sayings, land nuthin' hes rite
to live tibet won't have 'nough gump-
ton to rustic for itself" For the
grizzlies, however. Gabe had far
greater respect, as on several occa-
sions he had some very close calls.
One of Gabe's queer adventures with
bear is related by one of his compan-
ions. One day Gabe came riding into
camp with huge bear skin. and stated
that while he was sauntering along
near the headwaters of the Green river
on his mouse-colored pony he deserted
an unusually large, dark-looking OBJ
iect, strangely meandering along the
foot hills of the mountains, as If in
quest of something to eat Its pecu-
liar actions and extraordinary size
greatly aroused Gabe's curiosity, and
he at once proceeded to ride nearer for
more accurate observation. AS soon
as the animal perceived Gabe it at once
began moving toward him. The old
hunter soon recognized the character
of the brute that was approaching, and
prepared to give it battle. Rapidly
riding to cove. he sprang from his
pony, and, taking deliberate aim. fired.
The shot failed to check the bear, and
on it came, furiously enraged. The
pony became frightened and, with a
sudden start, jerked the rein from the
hunters hand and went snorting and
dashing over the prairie in great
haste. At first the bear seemed in
clined to follow the horse, but after
following the cayuse few steps gave
up the pursuit Gabe now fired sec
ond shot. when the grizzly recognized
the location of its enemy and rushed
toward him. Gabe skipped for
some rookie near by in great
haste When he reached them he
was out of breath, with the bear
close to his heels. To add TO his ter
ror, in climbing ledge he fell head
long about, twenty feet, with his gun
and accouterment He had reached
the top of the rock. however, and the
fall brought him on the opposite side
from the bear. Instead Of attempting
to follow him the bear made circuit,
but before he could reach the hunter
the latter had recovered his feet and,
with his gun, had climbed as far as
possible out of the reach of the ami
NAL. The bear, after making another
circuit of the rock to find the best
chance at its enemy, returned. rose
upon its launches, and opening its
mouth sprang after Gate. Gabe would
have given the beast shot with his
rifle, but it was with difficulty be could
save himself by clinging to the stone.
and he could only meet the bears at
tacks with savage kicks from his
heavy boots. THAT bars mouth"
said Gabe. when telling the story of
the affair afterwards, list opened SO
wide it looked as zif it cud take in a
whole big mountain and Thought !
every mint WIZ -goin, into the In. /
fernai regions.n The bear pulled of |
Gabe's boots and socks and amused |