Telegram-herald., 1890-05-24
A SIERRA BEAR HUNT.
An wspeDer Ean's FLrsr and Cay
Meeting WITH Bruia-
sort whiea Proves Alt9seth~r Too Ex-
eitlag 80 Game sszr Eaaias an
First-Ci4ss 4 Eausral-Aa H.
disn's Tilnels shOE.

Twas located some few years since OF
The banks u small creek hlgh up "a
the Slcrras, N Nevada County. cal.
writes q New York Herald correspond
ont. was spending a suamors vzca-
ten il hunting and eshiag and other
wise enjoying The pare mountain ar u
that region
! rad caught rany fne specimens q
brook md lake troat an3 had shot more
or less sulan game an5 an occasional
buck had heard that bear abounded
IN the vicinity, but had not thus far seen
any, although ] had often encountered
their tracks
had about given up the idea Of this
exciting port when aS I cane outof u1y
tent ono morning / saw. 10 Iny surprise,
al Indian ~lgwam pitched less than
one hundred feet distant Standing IL
the door Of the wigwam was an Indian,
leaning or his rice, While number OF
squaws and children we're variously
scattered about, apparently gathering
fuel With which 70 build the breakfast
FIRE
Finding that the Indians were friend
IL disposed and that tho head Of the
family. whose name l ascertained 70 be
Joe, could speak good English. struck
up an acquaintapce then and there
Strange 70 say, Joe had moved up
from his winter quarters IN the valley
for the purpose of hunting In the mount
aims. and soon learned that Joe was
mighty bear hunter in those parts.
1t is hot to be wondered al then that
VIC, Joo and l, arranged a grand bear
hunt for the following morning. Joe
had a couple Of mangy-looking ours
that he said were good bear dogs, which
statement | took for granted, although
had ny doubts in the matter.
As we started out bright and early the
next morning noticed that Joes family
were trailing behind at a respectful dis
tance, and 7 wondered If they also were
20 join IN the hunt. ! aite-ward learned
that they were not only useful but
necessary part Of tho expedition.
After skirting along the brow OF
range of hills for somc time Joe or
dcred halt. The women and children
scendcd 70 the bottom of deep canyon.
"Sce," SAID my companion; bear! big
bear" ! looked about me, somewhat
alarmed, III admit, but whom l saw Joe
pointing 70 some bear tracks | felt re-
assured, and we then resumed our
course along the base of the hill.
We had gone on in this manner for
perhaps half an hour when | heard 4
succession Of screams and yells coming
from tho top Of the hill, some distance
of. Before / had time TO SEQ what il
meant a number Of largo rocks and
powders came crashing down the ra-
vine a short distance ahead. l then
noticed ono Of Joe's dogs acting IN a sus-
picious manner. Tho bristles on tho
ours neck began 10 stand out straight
as it suddenly stopped IN front of dense
mass Of chapparal and growled in d
threatening manner.
''Get gun, quick" said Joe. placing
/ his own weapon 70 his shoulder. Mean
( while the yolls continued, and tho rocks
came laundering down the canyon as
/ before. These were enough TO scare
any sor. OF bear out of his hiding place,
4 thought, IS / realized the cause OF all
{ the ruEpUe.
j 'AIl right, joe" said l, Gus. lot tho
bear show himself: I'll be ready for
oh! Lord. Here Joe, help" yelled.
was unable 30 move hand or foot and sud-
denly dropped my gun in absolute ter
ror
IT last had seen a bear, and a big
ono - that, scarcely ten feet OF, growl-
ing and swapping at the dogs, and, as
near - ! could determine, coming
straight for me, opon EOuthcd.
What q monster i. was. I could sec
its hugo claws IS it struck 81 the dogs.
l. was & very picture of savage powcr
and feroci'y.
again | yelled 20 Joe for help, and
then, as the bear had almost reached
re. / managed to run n few steps and
fell sprawling on the ground. Visions
Of being chevcd and clawcd into mince-
meat arose before ne, and ! could al
most feel tho brutc's hot breath when
two shots rang out upon tho air.
Tho next thing remember was Joe
asking nc 70 take drink from flask
be was holding 70 nv mouth. ] took a
long. dec7 pull and then looked around
for tho bear. There it was. lying dead
on the ground almost within reach. Tho
I dead and mutilatcd carcass Of Joe's best
dog was living close beside him.
"JoC, said !, II don't bclievc I want
any moro boar hunting IN mine
Ugh" replied Joe with his usuaI
Vrurt Dig bosr ldildoV. Kin you. too
s'poso not fro quick" I shuddcrcd 81
tho thought n this last proposition
hsvo mover hunted for bears since, mol
havo rad any desire %.
I brought the skin ~ that hea- baCl
vith 1o Sc So7 francisco though. wher'
f. lay f-- long tiuo in ny room as
tosr neriol lso ny friends thought q
ny Tro~ess as Mighty boar hunter
Criminal Aduif-rAt