Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-09-26

They were at the foot of one of those
great mesas or table lands which in
New Mexico extend eastward from the
Rocky Mountains and fall precipitously
one down to another like vast steps, till
the uulf-coast plain in Texas is reached.
The object toward which the group
was riding turned out on near inspec-
ton to be half-grown calf, which had
been recently killed in violent and
terrible fashion. Its back was broken,
and it's skin was torn in shreds.
Evidently the cowboys had seen
something like it not long before, for
after looking at it in silence for mo-
ment, one Of them remarked: cts a
bears work, boys, dead sure"
It's the same brute that killed those
calves for Heckle last week." said an
other.
"Yes, and colt for Allison" spoke up
another. "We've got to turn out and
hunt him down as soon as the round zap
Is over"
IF we wait till then there won't be
much young stock alive on the range"
said the first speaker. HE kills about
q critter night"
The party turned their horses heads,
resumed their first course, and were
soon riding in single file up the narrow
trail that leads to the top of the mesa.
The Montoya mesa-a wide table-land,
the altitude of which is six thousand
feet-stretches as somewhat broken
plain to a meridian about sixty miles
east Of the town of Las Vegas, and then
falls abruptly fifteen hundred feet to
the next lower plateau. The Canadian
or Red river, which flows eastwardly
from the Rocky Mountains, divides
this mesa with its deep, PERCEPTIONS,
wooded canyon, and energies on the
lower level at a point fifty miles north
Of Fort Bascom.
1t Is not often that the grizzly bear
has been found at large east of the Rocky
Mountains, or elsewhere on the open
plain; but some large animal had lately
made sad havoc among the colts and
calves Of the cattle ranges about the
mesa In so wide country his ravages
among the scattered herds had at first
escaped notice, but they soon became
apparent. No one had seen the depre-
dator, but it was believed to be grizzly
bear which had followed the canyon
down from the mountains and made his
lair near its mouth.
Various plans for his destruction had
been discussed. There was little time
to organize a hunt for him during the
busy period of the roundup, and the
undertaking had been deferred TO a
more convenient season.
1t was up the long ascent of fifteen
hundred feet to the top of the Montoya
mesa that our five cowboys were riding
They made occasional halts to rest their
horses, and, near the top, one of the
horsemen stopped to tighten his cinch
This gave the whole party an opportu-
nifty to rest, so that the horses arrived
fairly fresh at the top.
As the foremost rider came upon the
table-land his comrades saw him wave
his sombrero. 1.-The bearl the bear!" he
yelled. "Come on, boys!"
The party pressed forward, and saw,
short distance away, grizzly bear
which was shambling across an open
space toward some rocky and wooded
ground beyond.
Here was q chance for cowboy sport
of most exciting kind. Owing to the
law which forbids the carrying of fire.
arms on the roundup, the boys were
unarmed, but nevertheless they raised
yell, and rode their horses hard fol
the bear
The grizzly quickened his pace al
their coming, and was evidently de-
sirous to get away; but his pursuers
soon overlook and surrounded him. As
some of them got before him and headed
him off, he stopped, as If taking the
matter of their presence into serious
consideration.
Lets rope him, boysv' shouted Joe
ampson, as he widened the loop of his
$50. The others caught at the idea