Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-29
BUNTING THE BEAR.
Alaska tportsmen Both Frozen and
Frightened.

Alaska tportsmen Both Frozen and
Frightened.
One dark day In winter during
ncavy snow blizzard with the Their
mometer down to forty degrees and
the wind blowing 1t the rate OF forty
miles an hour when the mere thought
OF Tout doors sent n cold shudder
through the system. native camo
running into the station exclaiming.
Nan nook! hammock! hammock"
writes correspondent To say that
all were startled would be speaking
mildly. We were excited. A few
questions put to the native located
bruin about ten rods from the station
quietly eating his breakfast from a
dead walrus that had drifted ashore
the fall before Grasping our rifles,
handing one to the native. which we
kept conveniently at hand showing a
few cartridges into our pockets.
throwing on whatever garments came
at hand. we sailed forth for Mr..
Bruins scalp.
A short distance from the station
the assistant passed the writer, his
long legs having decided advantage
in wallOwing through the deep snow.
Some four or five rods from the sta
tion the steward was met returning,
with face and ears frozen. The writer,
however. kept on doing his best to
keep the two hunters just seen through
the dimncss ahead. in sight when he
heard the report OF rifle. quickly fol-
lowed by the report OF another. Think
ing that bruin had at last succumbed.
the writer hurried on until he came to
the dead, walrus whom he stopped TO
listen. Nothing OF bruin or hunters
could be seel and nothing bat the
bowling OF the winds could be heard.
ketracing his steps he arrived at the
station with face frostbitten and both
ears frozen. Some half an hour after
the assistant and native returned, and
the assistant tells the following story.
Approaching the place they sud-
denly came upon bruin quietly feeding
scarcely ten PAGES distant The ma
tive being in advance. without init.
mating his inten ton. raised his rife
and fired causing bruin TO raise his
head and give an ominous growl. The
assistant, in order to use his rifle more
dexterously. had taken the mitten in
his right hand, in his agitation drop.
ped it and the wind whirled it in.
stantly out OF sight. In stepping aside
! to bring TIE native out OF line he
stepped into hollow and came near
falling, thereby losing his sight on the
/ bear when he fired. He thinks his
bullet must have struck very near the
/ animal, as the snow flew all over him,
and he was so frightened that he
marched OF; they following. but soon
lost sight OF their object Perhaps
they did not care to get too near and
were perfectly willing he should 60.
One OF the natives of the old signal
station, hearing Of the occurrence,
muiied himself up in skins took his
rifle and a supply OF cartridges went
down to within fifteen PAGES OF the
| dead walrus, sat down and waited fol
Mr.. Bruin TO come back and finish his
breakfast. He had not long to wait,
for bruin soon came and commenced
tearing off the flesh at a great rate, "a
though in anger for having been
driven away and now determined tc
make up for lost time. At the prope,
moment the native raised his rife ant
fired killing the brute instantly HelI
being near he was dragged into tn,
old station and skinned. the carcass
furnishing "a good supply Of fresh mea
for the natives. and his skin proving
to be one of the largest and finest the
writer ever saw.