The morning call., 1892-08-16
HUNTING 4 GRIZZLY BEAR.
A Member Of the Country Club
Relates His Experience.
An Animal That Travelled Five Miles After
Beng Pierced Through the Body With an
Express Bullet-A Doctors Plight.

1t is said that small army of sportsmen
who delight in the quiet" pastime of bear
hunting is now making Preparations for
grizzly bear hunt In the ranges of Kern
County.
Harry Babcock of the Country Club. who
has been rusticating for several weeks
among the sheepherders OF Kern County,
has returned. He has had au experience
with the king of bears-the grizziy-which
witt go to prove that bear hunting is much
more hazardous than most sportSmen are
willing 10 acknowledge.
The general supposition is that bear hunt
ing is by no means dangerous, provided the
sportsman is good shot and well equipped
Tor the sport if such it can be termed.
Old hunters will seldom acknowledge that
bear hunting is any more dangerous than
deer shooting This may possibly be true
when reference is made to the black or
brown bears which are to be found fire.
quently IN the counties of Mendoeino and
Hum boldt; but when the grizzly is men
toned as being harmless, then the man who
spins the yarn" is evidently drawing the
long bow on his hearers.
OF the grizzly, Mr.. Babcock saws: al
camped with the shepherds Of Kern County
long enough to become acelimated, or i'm
other words, TO feel sure as if l had gOL To
De as wooIly as the guardians of the flock.
Night after night | watched under the pale
moons tight Tor the arrival of the animal /
mad lonrneyed long way in the hope OF
meeting.
RIFLE ON HIS KNEE.
"With an Express rifle on my knee / felt
as II. on fair field with no favor | could do
justice to myself in ease grizzly made its
appearance within the lines | was
finally rewarded for my watching after
loct Nivhf
camp. and about midnight. when my atten-
ton was attracted 10 a noise made by a
stampede in the flock, that | discovered
large animal moving toward the spot where
l was ensconsed The bright light of a
inll moon gave me splendid opportunity
OF catching good view OF his royal
hIghness. Nearer he came until finally |
raised my rifle slowly expecting every mo.
ment he would turn one way or the other
so as / could get a broadside shot at him
Unfortunately | waited too long Some
thing must have happened that caused the
animal TO become suspicious that everything
was not just exactly right. as he turned like
flash and ran to my left. [ knew that
my chance for good shot was gone and
taking snap shot at the big fellow as he
was rapidly fadingl from sight, | luckily
hit him, but l should judge too far back to
bring him down.
Such roar as that grizzly gave when
the express bullet pierced him, shall neve
forget. should imagine that it could bs
heard in this city.
A TRAIL OF BLOOD.
Next morning, in company with four of
the herders, | trailed the wounded beast
FIVE miles by the bIood-stained ground. The
bullet must have gone clean through him
as the stains Of blood were apparent on
either side of the path we traversed. We
finally arrived at a heavy thicket, into
which he had gone. a consultation was
held as TO what course we would pursue,
and surmising that The animal might prob
ably be still living we abandoned thechase,
knowing that our chances with a wounded
grizzly in heavy cover might prove fatal TO
some of the party"
Mr.. Babc0ek tells a good story of physi-
clan from Bakersfield who had located at
another camp few miles distant from tine
place he was stationed. The doctor was
also looking for bear, and one beautiful
night one of the largest grizzlies seen in
that county happened along within 20 yards
of the medicine man."
"You can imagine how the doctor felt"
said MI. Babcock, when he snapped the
hammers of an Express and Winchester and
neither rife muttered Il sound Ii was
afterward learned that the doctor had for
gotten to load his rifles properly, and the
herders blessed their stars that the bear
was not disturbed by pills, fer if he had
there might have been nigh old row ia
camp that night"