Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27

News From the Pfttsburg Nimrods in eth
RocI<ies-Deer and Antelope Do No
Count-Baiting the Traps-Mr. Lyon'
Narrow Escape.
| rcoRRKsPoNDENcR OF THE p1spArcH1
IN CAMP, ROCKY MOUNTAINS, Col.
Sept. 8.-Our party arrived at Ft. Steele OF
the Sd inst. in good shape and found oul
outfit waiting for us. We got good star
the same afternoon and crossed the Sierrt
Madre Mountains into Colorado and pitched
our tents on the headwaters of the Tamps
or Bear river some 40 or 30 miles west of the
North Park. Our guide, old Joe Walters
says that this is the paradise for grizzlies.
Our party consists of IL persons, with 9
pack train of 80 horses, including saddle
horses, etc Nothing occurred until this
morning worthy of note, except an occasion
al deer or antelope being shot. Deer are
quite plenty in bands of from two to eight.
Antelope are thick. We have noticed some
bands with probably 80 head. The deer
were all what they call black tail or mule
deer, and are much larger than the white
tail deer found in the Allegheny range. We
probably could have shot 20 deer to-day had
we been so inclined.
feel quite comfortable with my overcoat
and arctics on. All day yesterday signs of
elk were quite plenty, but as yet none have
been sighted. In the evening we took two
bear traps, went up the gulch and baited
them. We took one large trap and a
smaller bear trap that Mr.. Holmes has used
for black bear in the Adirondacks We
smeared these traps well with honey and
hung piece of antelope on tree above
them, and were then ready for business.
By this time it was night. We returned to
camp, and what time we were not awake we
spent dreaming of grizzlies. This morning
mounted, went to examine the traps. When
We were within 40 yards of them we could
hear fearful growing. In a few moments
we were in sight of the traps.
In the smaller trap was 00-pound griz-
ely caught by the hind leg. On sighting
US, the trap not being heavy enough, he
pulled loose and ran down into small
patch OF willows and brush, about quarter
OF an acre in extent, where he remained to
await further developments. None of the
party semed to have "sand" enough to go
In after him, so we concluded to surround
him and set fire to one side Of the brush.
AS the horse rode would not stand shoot
ing from the saddle dismounted and took
manded the lower and upper end of the
patch OF willows. Lyons was at the head
OF the gulch, Holmes on the east and Nc
Cloud started the fire on the lower side.
The small drv brush burned rapidly.
really expected the bear to come out on
Holmes side, as he was next the timber,
but instead he came out sooner than we e1-
pected, and charged full on Lyons Before
Lyons could fire his horse became unman-
ageable, and being among some small fallen
trees, fell over backward with Lyons on
him.
At this critical stage of the game the
bear halted about five yards from LYONS,
apparently not having made up his mind
what to do. was 25 yards off and Holmes
35. The bear was now between our cross
fire. Holmes was the first to get lead into
him. l did not dare to shoot until had
changed my position as Lyons was in line of
my shooting, still lying on the ground, and.
supposed, killed by his fall. From where
the bear first halted he did not change his
position ten feet before we battered him
down. Holmes and myself had IA bullets
into him in half as many seconds. Lyons,
who had been unconscious from his fall, was
now getting up and outside of scratched
face and sprained wrist, was not hurt. The
sights were broken off his gun. His horse
had Jared worse. His hind leg was broken
and we were compelled to shoot him to put
an end to his sufferings. The bear was a
and quite fat. We will have our
first bear steak for supper.
Tomorrow we shall move our camp about |
Is miles from here to small park where
we will find excellent grazing for our horses,
make permanent camp and go to work in |
earnest, and from the signs of bear in this |
vicinity, think we will have our hands full. |
W. -1,,1 =
the range to rancho where there is a post |
office, about IS miles from here, on branch |
Of the North Platte. The guide will take |
an extra horse with him, and expects to |
make the return trip in three days. |
A. !. SCOTT.