Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-06-21
Jacks Bear story.

especially in his mountain trips, elected
comment. No trip was planned TO
his liking unless the party included
half dozen young men of pleasant ad-
dress and bright social instincts.
With such a party "Gallant Phip
made his second trip TO the Yellow
stone National Park about 1876. Out
fitting at Cheyenne the 40O-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 trapper, hunter and
Indian-hghter, 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
Il was going into camp the evening of
| It's arrival. After supper the camp
stools were placed about the fire under
the mountain pines, pipes were lighted
aud the conversation gradually merged
into thrilling bear stories that were
told In numbers by the young society
men Of the party.
Now bear, during the first few
moments of his interview with hun
ter, shows some very odd and impress
/ i've characteristics. These the man
who has read his story or s.th1nked Il
out himself will always miss In the
telling aud these omissions will always
stamp the story teller as "a fabricaior
10 the nearer who has stood up in front
Of 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 10
disgust al the nerve Of the ''tenderfoot'
contingent that was springing such
yarns ON him. Finally Gen. Sheridan
turned 10 Jack with, Jack, you can
tell good story when you want 10;
give Us one now
"well, general" replied the guide,
81 have heard 50 many OF 'em this
eycnin' that don't believe know d
single one. Anyway. | don't know
any bear stories like those I've heard. =
"Come, Jack. " urged Sheridan, ''thc
story, my boy, the story!"
"Yon'rc Ia command. general, and
| suppose I'll have 10 obey, but
don't remember many stories just now
However. last fall found had TO &c
up TO see some prospects at Cook City
on the Clarke's Fork. So as my pack
, pony wasn't IN the herd. just put the
. pack-saddle on my ridin' pony and
, started afoot. lcadin' the pony. W,
! 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 W,
{ got TO Soda Butte Lake. The grass wa
! good there and the pony made up hi
| mind Il was time TO go into camp, 81
{ he kept pullin' back on the lariat Ill
! gave In and unpacked him. Ill
started 20 Craze and shouldered my
) ride aud wandered of down toward
} the like thinkin ! might get shot a
: a goose or maybe IA deer that woul,
furnish meat for supper and breakfast
/, My rifle was n Einglc-shot brcech
/ loadin' Sharp and a mighty good gun
trotted along the trail among th,
: frs on the edge of the lake watchin
1 the water pretty careful when suddenl,
! heard an Ugh Ughl = right in from
/ OF me. and there, in the trail, no
y thirty feet away, was MS big roach
!. back bear as ever saw. He was sittir
r up with his front paws hangin' dow
1 and his red tongue, stained with sar
n vice berries. runuin' out In the most OK
A asperatin' way. watched him for
| breath or two and almost made up IN.
= mind that | hadn't lost any bear ant
v wasn't huniin' for any, but he sat s.
: still that couldn't resist the tcmpta
a taiion. So hauled up the old rifl
O and took a steady pull on his neck ex
. poctin' to break his spinal column
/. Well, general, Just as pulled the trig
4 ger he moved aud knew had misses
4 him. The way broke for big fl
!, tree wasn't slow tell you. / droppe
d the gun as l grabbed the tree an
/ wasn't second too soon, for he cam
4 up with q rush and snaked the heC
Il of my boot in no time as ] swung my
4 self into safety.
/ III got up out Of his way and watch
v cd him while he howled and tore tn
o bark of the tree. saw then that III
bullet had just scratched tie skin o
q the side of his neck. lie would rub
r, with his paw, then jump for the tire
II and below while he tore the bark o
e in chunks. Then he'd go to the othC
N side of the tree and repeat the perform
J. ance. Presently nc saw my rifle. II
|, picked IL up aud looked It all ovel
J. Then he fixed his beady little eyes o
II me and seemed studyin' somethin
I. Then he cooked the gun, threw II
Il his shoulder and took good aim |
g me before he pulled the trigger.
d "Of course the gun snapped, as II
n same shell was in Il that had just fire
4. y