The record-union., 1893-07-25
CAPTAIN FOSTERS BEAR HUNT.
The Steamboat Veterans Descrip-
ton Of It.
An Exciting Early-Season Incident at
the klamath Hot Springs
Well Described.

We IhleIeSLeu III reaulug the captains
story of an adventure that befell him last
May, when he visited the Klamath Hot
Springs in Siskiyou County.
The Captain wrote all about it to his
grand-niece, a young lady at Walnut
/ Creek, Contra Costa County, and the
story is so graphically and humorously
told that she has been induced to let the
RECoRD-UNIoN have it for publication.
1t reads:
KLAMATH Hot SPRINGS, May IA, 1895.
DEAR GRAND NIECU: l arrived at the
springs last Tuesday for my usual May
| fishing. l had not been here many days
| before | learned that bears were quite
plenty on the surrounding highlands, so
/ wrote to my friends Captain J. ID.
Young and Billy Hamilton, County
Clerk, both of Sacramento, and noted for
their valor and eXpertness in bear-kill-
| ing, to join me about the 10th for bear
! hunt; but circumstances have happened
| which will prevent my remaining till
| that time.
! While waiting for my friends | put in
| the time In fishing. My choice ground is
along the edge of grove fronting on the
| Klamath. This grove is at the mouth Of
| Shovel Creek, a short distance from the
| hotel. The underbrush has all been re-
moved. and one can see all through the
! grove. Mrs. Stiles, the landlady, who is
! ever mindful of the interests of her young
guests, both temporal and spiritual. had
arranged to hold Sabbath-school i'll the
| grove on the l4tE of May.
! Now, [ had no scrupIes about doing
! little quiet fishing on the Sabbath. but |
could not face this Sunday-school in fish
| ing rig, and this is why | was walking
! on the front porch and celebrating what
! to do. when Jerome Fay came riding uD
and greeted me with a Good morning,
| Cap, what are you going to do to-day ~
| NV ell.' / said, 81 don't know. l can't
| fish on account Of the Sunday
| II thought So" said jerome. 'Say,
come with me for a trip onto the table
land; l am going up to look after some
pany. We have got a good stout horse
down at the stable that would carry you
up the mountain like tlirt."
"Good," l said; 81 will go" and l
jumped down OIL the porch ready to go.
Say" said jerome, hadn't YOU be;tor
take Mr.. Edson's rifle? You might see
bear, though it's not likely at this time
Of the day; but the horse can pack it as
well as not.'
SO l went back into the house and got
| the rifle and belt partly filled with cart
ridges, and followed him to the stable.
The horse being ready, | mounted and
we started, going first up the Shovel
Creek bottom for half mile, then turn
ing to the right for about 100 yards we
passed through a fence, crossed Negro
| Greek and commenced the ascent in ear
nest.
| We went directly from Negro Creek at
! first, but gradually turned back, as We
neared the summit Of the hill, until we
were near Negro Creek again, but about
500 feet above. This was at the foot OF a
beautiful little glen with a sparkling
! brook coursing down the center, and,
| leaplng over the cliff, it soon joined Negro
/ Creek below.
AS we followed this brook up the val
ley we frequently heard the whirr of
grouse, and near the upper end we saw a
band of seven deer. They started to run.
but, changing their mind, they circled
around, coming head to us, and stopped
only for few moments, however, when
they were oil again, going several hum
dred yards, when they wheeled and
stopped again. There was one that
doomed up above the rest, and he dis
! played the most beautiful pair of antlers
/ ever b2held. They soon started again.
! leaving us for good.
Soon after this we came to spring Of
cold, sparkling water, which was the
source OF the brook. There was quite a
/ clump OF willows at this point, out of
which came about dozen young helters
after their handful of salt which they
were accustomed to get when any one
/ come that way.
Our course from this point bore more
/ to the right and up quite steep incline
| for about one mile, the large trees becom-
| ing more numerous and increasing in
size as we advanced. At the end Of the
mile we came to a large hill, not very
/ high III itself, but several miles long. AS
/ Jerome wished 20 examine both sides Of
| the hill, he proposed that we separate and
come together at the further end. He
! he.
half to Two hours by doing this. SO | took
/ to The right and he to the lett. 1t had be-
come forest OF big trees, and it was quite
| pleasant as we rode along together, but
seemed gloomy when faced it alone.
wheeled and sang out: Say, Jerome,
| do you think there is any likelihood Of
| my meeting bear up here?'
| ''Oh, no. At least, it is not likely. bnt
you always want to keep an eye open !"
and he was Oft.
! 1t struck me that we could hunt cattle
| better if we were together, so | wheeled
again and hallooed, "Jerome" but I got
no answer. l was alone, so | moved
along and made the best Of it, There was
dim path along my side of the hill. and
III less than half an hour | came to quite
a rise; SO, to rest the horse and stretch
my legs, dlsnounted and walked I'D the
hill. was also well aware that | could
shoot better from the ground should occa-
sion require.
On reaching the top of the bench 7
looked ahead, and Jupiter! Right in the
path, and not more than seventy-five
yards of, was huge bear He looked to
Inc, as he raised on his launches. to be
over seven feet high.
All OF the sportsmen that have been
hunting with me know that | am a quick
shot, and L think that l plugged that bear
before | took time to think what [ was
doing. ANYWAY. as he tuun blad in fo bo
brush l began to realize that a wounded
grizzly was dangerous playtning. SO
thought 1t best to mount at once and
wheeling for this purpose | was cha
grined TO see my horse going down the
hill on the jump. bad probably let the
/ bride drop when raised my rifle.
Well, | could do nothing with the hear
alone, and beside, he might not be dead.
SO started for the hotel. The general
course of the trail back to the hotel was a
gentle curve, so, to shorten the distance.
/ took a straight cut. This led down to
the ridge between the head of Trustv
Gulch aud Negro Creek, and to the left
table Mill, thence gradual descent
down spur to the road opposite the
hotel.
AS passed through the gate in the
path that leads from the cottages |
stumb led. 1t is quite steep for over ten
feet, and / landed in the road all in
heap, and there | lay. could not get M
and seemed exhausted. Mr.. Stiles and
Joe Edison, with several others, came 10
my assistance. As they neared me I
heard Stiles say: "A bear has been afouI
OF him and has torn his clothes nearly
all OFF,
They gathered me up. holding me to-
gether AS well as they could, and started
across the road. They placed me in big
rocking chair on the porch and some one