The Opelousas courier., 1889-08-10
6ABE AND THE E A
An Idaho Hunters Encounter With
the King Of Grizzlies.
3he situation Was Highly Amusing Fo, a
"e-eane's Ingenious But Very .
Mean subterfuge and Final
. Triumph.

In the early days of Utah and Idaho !
oaoe Tucker was a noted Nimrod and
MS daring adventures and narrow
escapes could be numbered bv the
hundreds. He scorned the smaller
KINDS OF game, preferring the royal
sport OF hunting mountain lions and
grizzlies. He was really a terror to
the ions and slaughtered them wber-
eve or under - instances
they could be found. If a lion went
into a thicket Gabe went there too.
n If the animal lodged into a nook
or Granny, Or crawled into a hole for
safety. Gabe followed suit. II don't
kecr whar a lion goes" said Gabe, ..if
helepnly 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
q 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 a coward" was one OF Gabe's
trite sayings, land nuthin' hes a 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
a bear is related by enc of his compan-
ions. One day Gabe cfsne riding into
camp with a 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
I'm unusually large, d~ark-looking OBJ
iect, strangely meandering along the
loot hills of the mountains, aJ If in
quest of something to eat. It's 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 pereeiA ed Gabe it at once
began moving towardAhim. The old
hunter soon recognized1s he character
of the brute that was appfAaching. and
prepared to give it battle. Rapidly
riding to a cove, he sprang fronh bis
pony, and, taking deliberate aim, fired.
The shot failed to check the bear, and
on it came, f~uriously 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 thehorse, but after
following the cayu few steps gave
up the pursuit. Gabe now fired a sec
ond shot, when the grizzly recognized
the location of its enemy and rushed
toward him. Gabe skipped for
some. rocks near by in great
hsata When he reached themahe
was out of breath, with the bear
close to his heels. To add to his tell,
ror, In climbing a 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
froh the bear. Instead OF attempting
to foffaw him the bear made q circuit,
but before he could reach the hunter
the latter had recovered his fel and.
with his gun, had climbed as Iar as
possible out of tho reach OF n AMI
NAL. The bear, after making another
circuit of the rock to find the s
chance at its enemy, returned. rose
,Don it's launches, and opening its
mouth sprang after Gabe- Gabe would
have given the beast a shot with ms
rife. hut it was with difficulty he could
save himself by clinging to the stone.
and he could only meet the bears at
sacks with savage kicks from his
haavu boots. s.That bars mouth
said Gabe. when telling the story OF
tha affair afterwards, list opened SO
vide it looked as zif it eud take II
whole big mountain and l thougnt
avarv mint I wuz goin' into the IN
farnal regions The besS pulled OH
/ boots and socks and amused
himself awhile chewing them TO
pieces. While the bear was partaklng
of this sport Gabe's eyes were pl3ly
EMPLOYED exploring for 8 better en- pee
Of escape At a few yards distanf ne
recognized i still higher rocky pm
nacle, and dropping down the olner
side OF the stone to which ne clunolln9
dashed for the new hope OF safetylefa
hurry. The bear seemed someseya1
dazed at discovering Gabe's p
sance. for he failed to iollIW
him q for some Ieinutes, running
around and round, ash be was reaNII
suffering from an attack OF versagSeA,
rinaIly he saw the hunter perched stir
higher aloft. and his anger oecampl
Snrious. Reaching the foot OF TINS
erag he made various efforts to spring
81 the top and seize the hunter, but as
aftan fell back disappointed. Yer
a,,oht to hev seed the Varlnlnt shooelh
s;nself toward thetop Of that stone 70
~ me- and then drop back Ike an
isota rubber ball. exclaimed daoe.