San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-09-26
MAULED BY A BEAR.

Perhaps the most or us associate the
idea of bear with the grizzly Of the
Rockies OF the fierce denizen Of Polar
regions. All the same, the Indian speci-
men, as the following will show, is by
no means to be despised.
He is of two kinds-one the red brown
bear of Cashme2e, n native Of the Hima-
layas, living chiefly about the snow line,
which in that range lies at an altitude
of $1,000 feet; the other is tho black
bear, found on lower slopes, where he
haunts walnut and apricot trees, and is
partial to honey. He is found also in the
table land of southern India, In the jun
giles.
Both kinds sometimes measure as
much as six feet from the tip Of his nose
to the end Of the stump Of his short tail.
The black bear is adorned with q queer,
horseshoe shaped white mark on the
chest, good place at which to aim at
him.
Tho strength Of bears is enormous.
One constantly comes across natives
who have been brushed odt Of the way
by rude push with the paw Of a bear,
with the result of losing limb or part
of their jaw.
One of the great dangers Of the sport
of bear shooting is that Of getting below
the animal, who may then charge down
upon his antagonist.
But, owing to their bad sight-they
have queer, small eyes, deep sunk in
their heads-and their greediness, which
absorbs them in their feeding, a bear is
by no means difficult to stalk, and far
easier prey than an ibex or deer or tiger.
My largest bag was once four bears in
one day. 1t was in Cashmere; we had
marched ten days across the hills to
valley high up In the mountains, where
we had pitched our tent. was alone,
accompanied only by two shikaris, or
native hunters.
1t was the month Of April, the best
season for bear shooting, for Bruin, thin,
hungry and full furred, had only just
emerged from his winter Information.
Rising about 8 q. M, and leaving the
smoldering camp fire, we climed, under
a bright moon, steep pull up neigh
boring peak.
It was essential to reach our point of
vantage before the sun was up, as after
sunrise the wind blew down the noun
tain. and would be between us and our
quarry.
With field glasses to our eyes we
scanned the panorama, bounded to the
north by the sharp cut peaks of snow
standing out clearly in the growing day
light. The bears were then returning
from the nights prowl, and on lucky
day I have seen as many as seventeen
within radius Of four or five miles.
When likely beast is spotted, hard
at work, unearthing some root or inves-
tigating a bees nest, the stalk follows.
1t may be over difficult ground, and
mean steady hard work.
At last we reached to within hun
dred yards of where the bear was last
seen, and, with doubled up figure and
cat like steps, peered over the point of
rock, with cartridge put in and rife
pointed.
1t was all right. Within thirty yards
was bear, unconsciously feeding. But,
ahi he suspected something, for he rose
on his hind legs and snuffed the air. i
fred, aiming at his chest Bruin tumbled
over and rolled down the hill, dead.
So much for number one.
Leaving the second shikari to take the
skin, we made for a point above us, to
look for more sport. On turning corner,
however, we saw a little above us bear
coming toward us.
To retire hastily out Of sight and to
struggle up the hill, so as to get on better
terms with the animal, was the first
thought. Then, with rife full cock, I
peeped cautiously over the edge Of rock
10 get a view Of my friend, when-was
Il possible:-I found myself almost face
TO face with Bruin. Our heads nearly
touchedi
But he was the more surprised OF the
two, for he had no notion / was any
where about, and be swung slowly
round, only to receive his death wound
and to topple down the hill
Then followed breakfast and the bot
hours Of the day. spent lying on ones
back in the shade, sleeping, or enjoying
dreamily the wonderful panorama Of
fold after fold Of mountain and valley
ypread out before one. Il was about
o'clock, when the sun had begun 10 90
down. that accounted for bears num-
Der three and four.
About a mile Of re szv . bear oross
! patch Of snow. After . careful stalk
re came Close upon him But be Vas