Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-05-16
a KENTUCKY BEAR.hUNT.
vsiorous Deeds OF Youthful sportsmsn =
Their Triumphant Return.


a few years ago there could be found
M h9orer hunters than the mountains
OF Kentucky afforded. The game has,
for the most part, disappeared. but there
still remain the "sons of sires" who
fought the ferocious bear and panther
OF former times.
Accordingly, when not long since it
was noised about that real bears
track had been seen not far from town,
there was n sudden excitement among
the younger generation that knew no
bounds. writes a Hyden (Ky.) cor
respondent of the Globe Democrat.
Every old rusty lirc-lock was called in
To use by plucky Nimrods who were
thirstlng to meet the bear face to face.
Ii was auimating to see the boys leave
the town in Il long trot. their feet far
apart in the stirrups and their guns
high in air. Every dog that could
make noise and would not bite was
taken along. Every man was to make
all the noise he could, also. This was
to give the bear chance. TO come
upon bear suddenly and murder him
was not considered fair When they
thought he might be in certain
thickct they gave him fair aud gentle
manly opportunity TO get out before
they got in. A lot of hunters more
courteous TO their game has likely never
been found.
But Notwithstanding such precaution
one Of the boys accidentally came in
sight OF the bear. All ut once this fell
Ilt thnnfyltf e a
his family or something else that de-
mandcd his presence at home. lie
dldn't undervalue his gun. but he was
in mighty hurry. aud so he left it till
angtler time. His hat fell of as he
yvet along. but it was getting late and
! he thought he would let it go till he
came alter his gun.
When he got home the .ci!.s asked
him what he had come for. He said he
had come after ammunition. They
wanted to know what he had done
with his hat. He said the bear had
eaten it up. Where is your gun?n
they asked. Il put it in hollow tree
| till 60 back he said. But how DO
you know the bear will be there when
YOU get back?' they inquired. Il guess
/ know how TO hunt bear" was his
answer. When some of the boys
brought his gun in that evening he was
mighty mad" IN let 'em know"
he said. that amt afraid to 90 no.
where after my own gun"
The method of the boys was rs fol-
lows: When one found the bears track
he at once gave yell, whereupon the
| other boys would close in on the track,
! breathless aud with guns cooked.
| When certain that the bear itself was
| somewhere else they breathed more
freely, and letting down the hammers
OF their guns went in quest of another
track. On the second day of the hpnt
one OF the boys, who carried - pistol,
was heard 10 discharge live shots rapid
ly. On fastening TO him they found
that he had reloaded and was Standing
with his pistol in both hands, presented
on some object in bunch of bush
Here he is, boys" he said. "Whcrer'
said dozen vices. Right there in
that bush.n Yes: that's him." they
al! said. Each one then proceeded to
empty his gun into the iil-fated bear.
over seventy shots were fired into him
broadside. The bear didn't even move.
This created some suspicion. But oae
old fellow said he knew what was the
matter. The bear was killed too dead
10 move. No bear could stand that
amount OF lead thrown into him aud be
expected 10 move. Then cautiously
slipping up closer on tiptoe. they peered
through the brush. when there ii was,
sure enough. big black stump!
Matters went on in this way for two
or three days more. The horses were
| jaded. Some of the dogs were knocked
oll OF the couuty--the bear was close
tofhc county line-while the Others
4 sx},n retusasi 10 ,oo,< ,e1 way ,a. v,~.,
, h:)f gone. Things were getting des
pefate. when ono North. who had hid
den himself in iree-top. spiel Mr.
BrlIin ~ he walked along and sho
him. 1t Is surprising lsw soon {
wound will heal on bear. Not les:
than score OF bullets had been shOt
into this bear; that il, by the nightly
reports, and yet when he was deal but
one bullct-hole could bc found in him.
Ii was funny to see how the boys faces
shonc with valor rs they marched into
town bearing for their ilag of triumph
Sruin's winter clothing held aloft on a
chestnut pole.