Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-20
HIS FIRST AND LAST GRIZZLY.
A Bear Experience that was Enough for
a Llfatima.

- ~~~~A
Lifetime.
My friend Tom Coleman and were
discussing various matters over our
afCer-dinner cigars at an uptown res
taurant the other evening, writes a
correspondent, when the conversation
turned on hunting and fishing ex-
periences Tom had just returned to
this city from an extended tour through
southern California. Incidentally 1
asked him if he had run across any
grizzlies on the Southern coast range.
ANY grizzlies?" repeated Tom.
"Well, rather. That isl he added, II
ran across, as you call it, just one so1i-
ing, though, the bear ran across me. 1t
was my first and last grizzly, too, as
sure you. 1 was down in San Ber-
nardino county, about the middle of
last month, when it happened.
had been trout fishing all the
morning with Indifferent success,
and about noon I concluded to
rest awhile. An old log lying under a
clump of manzanita bushes afforded
me good seat, and 1 had soon filed
my pipe and was smoking away with
that degree of natural comfort which
AVA
ways inspires
81 had started out with old Jack
Waterman, at whose ranch was stop
ping; but Jack had become tired and
gone home. l had no gun or weapon
of any kind, but didn't suppose would
need any, as Jack had told me on start
ing that they warn't nuthin' to shoot
round these parts but bars, and they
hain't been a bar seen round here for
a year past
GAS l sat there contentedly smoking
l thought 1 heard a rustling in the
bushes just back of me. Some bird, I
thought. 1 then picked up a stone and
threw it in the direction of the sound.
Pretty big bird, thought I, as the
rustling continued louder than before. 1
then threw a larger stone, and immedi-
ately following my shot the sound of
some heavy body crashing through the
chaparal made me think that some of
old Waterman's cattle had strayed that
| way. was satisfied with this, and sat
down again and resumed smoking.
"Say," remarked Tom, suddenly,
''can you imagine bear as big as
house? No? Well, that's just what
| saw as I suddenly turned around.
| That's what was making the noise in
| the bushes, a bear, regular grizzly,
| and a whopper.
Scared? Well, l should say so.
| My teeth chartered like pair of Span
| ish castanets. There he stood, though,
not more than thirty feet away, sort of
| sizing me UP, as it were, and all could
| do was to sit there and stare back at
| him. l wasn't sure whether grizzly
| bears, like Bengal TIGERS made their
| meals off strangers or not. This ami
NAL looked as if he could have swal-
| lowed me whole if he had wanted to,
and the more looked at him the big
! ger he seemed to get.
! We'll, just sat there as still as a
bump on log for, it seemed to me, a
| number of hours. Then the bear DELHI
erately walked up to where was sit
ting. Oh, Lord! thought I, I'm done
| for now surely. Well, sir, that brute
| just walked by me, gave snort and a
sniff, as if to say: What excuse have
| you got for living, anyhow and then
off it went down the ravine.
| 81 must have sat there an hour after
| that without moving. Finally I braced
| up and started for home. I forgot both
| pole and fish. Old man Waterman
| thought I'd been bitten by rattlesnake
when 1 reached home that evening
mo, Stree" observed Tom, I'm not
hankering after grizzlies this week.
That same bear is there yet, I've nc
doubt, only if anyone wants to go out
there and hunt for it advise him tc
take Calling gun with him, that's all. -
N. Y. Herald.