Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-05-15
Jacks Bear Story.

peCutlarlty In MS social nature that, |
especially in his mountain trips, elected |
comment. No trip was planned to
his liking unless the party included
half dozen young men of pleasant adj
dress and bright social instincts.
With such party "Gallant Phir'
made his second trip to the Yellow
stone National Park about 1876. Out
fitting at Cheyenne the 4OO-mile jour
ney was made by army ambulance up
through Snake River Valley, reaching
the park at the middle geyser basin.
For twenty-five years Jack Barron
nette, an old trappcr. hunter and
Indian-ightcr, had made the upper
Yellowstone his stamping ground and
during Sheridan's first trip through
the park Jack was his guide. His
great good-nature, knowledge Of the
country and hunting instinct endeared
him to the fighting general SO much
that on the second trip Jack was noti-
fled that he would be expected at the
upper basin upon the advent of the
generals party there. Acting on his
information Jack met the party just as
it was going into camp the evening of
its arrival. After supper the camp
stools were placed about the fire under
the mountain pines, pipes were lighted
and the conversation gradually merged
into thrilling bear stories that were
told in numbers by the young society
men of the party.
Now q bear, during the first few
moments of his interview with a hum
ter, shows some very odd and impress
i've characteristics. These the man
who has read his story or "th1nked it
out himself" will always miss in the
telling and these omissions will always
stamp the story teller as a fabricator
to the nearer who mas stood up in front
of a wounded bear, his heart in his
mouth and his brain humidity calcula-
ting whether he or the bear will sup
that night.
On this occasion story followed story
till Jacks amaZement gave way to
disgust at the nerve of the ''tenderfoot'
contingent that was springing such
yarns on him. Finally Gen. Sheridan
turned to Jack with, "Jack, you can
tell good story when you want to !;
give us one now
"Wel, general" replied the guide,
81 have heard SO many of 'em this
evenin' that don't believe l know a
single one. Anyway, l don't know
any bear stories like those I've heard"
"Come, Jack" urged Sheridan, ''the
story, my boy, the story!'
"You're in command, general. and
1 suppose I'll have to obey, but
don't remember many stories just now.
However, last fall found had to 60
up to see some prospects at Cook City
on the CIarke's Fork. So as my pack
pony wasn't in the herd, just put the
pack-saddle on my ridin' pony and
started afoot, leadin' the pony. We
came past the mammoth hot springs,
crossed the Yellowstone at my bridge
and took the trail up Soda Creek
Along about four in the afternoon We
! got to Soda Butte Lake. The grass was
good there and the pony made up hi'
mind it was time to go into camp. sc
/ he kept pullin' back OH the lariat til
l gave in and unpacked him. HI
started to Craze and l shouldered my
rifle and wandered off down towards
, the like thinkin' l might get shot q
goose or maybe deer that woul(
furnish meat for supper and breakfast
, Ny rifle was single-shOt breech
I loadin' Sharp and mighty good gun
, trotted along the trail among tn
frs on the edge of the lake watchin
| the water pretty careful when suddenl!
l heard an Ugh! UGH! right in from
, of me. and there, in the trail, no
, thirty feet away, was as big roach
back bear as ever saw. He was sittin
= up with his front paws hangin' down
I and his red tongue, stained with sar
, vice-berrics, runnin' out in the most ex
I asperatin' way. l watched him for
I breath or two and almost made up m.
: mind that l hadn't lost any bear ant
v wasn't huntin' for any, but he sat 81
: still that couldn't resist the tempta
4 tation. So l hauled up the old riff
O and took a steady pull on his neck eX
@ p"ctin' to break his spinal column
|. Well, general, just as pulled the trig
d ger he moved and knew l had misse
Is him. The way broke for big fl
). tree wasn't slow l tell YOU. droppe
d the gun as l grabbed the tree an
I wasn't a second too soon, for he cam
# up with a rush and snaked the het
It off my boot in no time as swung my
It self into safety.
l 81 got up out of his way and watcf
v ed him while he howled and tore tn
o bark of the tree. saw then that til
bullet had just scratched tie skin O
O the side OF his neck. lie would rub
=, with his paw, then jump for the tire
If and below while he tore the bark o
# in chunks. Then he'd go to the othe
n side of the tree and repeat the perform
j. ance. Presently nc saw my rifle. H
|, picked it up and looked it all owe
J. Then he fixed his beady little eyes @
II me and seemed studyin' somethin
l. Then he cooked the gun, threw it
1t his shoulder and took good aim I