The morning call., 1893-07-16
and the Sawtooth mountains in Northern


Idaho.
These Idaho mountains are in reality a
spur of the great range OF the Rockies,
which extend like vast buttresses across
the entire middle western front OF the
United States. In many places the Saw
tooth range is lneypresSibly rugged, and
there are stretches and depths which have
never been explored by anv human being
In these vast wilds are to be found the
pn o. st lerociousz and altogether most dan.
gerOus animal of which there is any record
in this country. an animal which as fa
outranks the dreaded grizzly as that mon
arch does the comparatively little brown
bear, whose chief mission is to frlghten
children indoors after dark and catch an
occasional straying' shoat. This animal is
the bald-face bear. he is emphatically d
royal edition of the grizzly, has all the
tenacity If life, and is not only absolutely
fearless. but persstently aggressive.
The "bald- face" owes his distinctive
title to face which is white. He is larger
than the grizzly. Beginning above his
ewes several inches. the dark color of his
body fades into dirty gray. thence down
tn the point OF his nose and on either side
it becomes pure white. Hence the name
"bad face"
The grizzly will never run from man. 1t
will move on its course frequently after it
sights him. when wounded it will pursue
the hunter for reasonable distance. and
when bodily hurt it sometimes gives up
the fray and beats retreat. Herein lies
the dangerous difference between the two
species.
The bald-face not only never retreats.
but he always advances. And 1t makes
no difference whether he has been
wounded or is especially enraged. When
ever he scents man he immediately goes
toward him. Nothing but death stops his
On-coming. For the purposes OF warfare
he ls always mad, always anxious to fight.
II 1t takes dozen shots to Kill
grizzly half hundred will often
fail to stop the bald face Heavy
and protect him as coat OF ermor.
The heaviest express bullet simply adds to
his determined assault. The bald-face has
been known 10 follow man for thirty
miles clear out Of the mountains and
down into the valley. The scent OF this
animal is keen. and his motto is, be sure
you are right and then 90 ahead.
Pioneers and settlers of Idaho who are
acquainted with The habits of this bear,
which is n OF found, so far as l can learn or
have ever heard. in any other part of the
United States, never think of attacking
him. They never hunt the bald-face for the
reasons above given. To begin an engage
ment with him is to simply mean hight to
the death.
Ishall never forget an experience had
with one of these animals. 1t was in 1892.
In company with three other young men,
had gone into the SawtOOth mountains
to hunt big game. deer, bear. and such
like We had been told OF the bald-face,
but having had no experience with him,
and having two grizzlies 70 our credit our
party smiled incredulous when Joe
Pennington. an old hunter and trapper
who had of late years devoted himself to
the less hazadrOus pursuit OF chicken
rounding near Boise City. told us to
beware of the bald-face bear. Being
familiar with the noun tains, after con-
siderable effort we induced Pennington to
accompany our party, taking along three
excellent dogs. we'll trained and courag-
eouS.
But Joe stipulated that we were not to
get into a controversy with the bald-face.
because he said itwould mean the death of
his dogs and the retreat Qk our party to
the foothills. if nothing moi serious.
We had been in the mountains a week:
any number OF birds. On the morning of
the seventh day we left young English
man named KIngsbury In camp as on the
day before some animal had visited our
quarters, eaten lot of bacon and PLAYED
havoc generally y with supplies. There had
been a good deal of chatting about
the bald-face. and Pennington had grown
tired Of warning us of the danger Of an en-
counter. However. as we left camp the /
Dld trapper shouted out. as he whistled =
his dogs and walked away: ''Say, Kioss-
bury, II you see bald-face I advise yed 70
make break for the mule and ligss OUT
for the valley; for if you don't WEI never ho,1
collect enough of the remains to ship oaoA
to the folks at home"
Ihemule referred to was stakea aOo. ous a%"Hs Tbs
100 yards away in level clear hnI spot Inc ne
didn't reply, naa ne,u sar up us
rifle and big hunting knl'e k as a. ai she o;r
We thought no.hies more nn,, o. ,s she foir,v Gi,
cumstance. The days spo,r shasn Tns na.,iy any
sood one deer oDit the result Of the hunt
met u'tas al ao agreed spot some three miles
rom the camp and proceeded together to