The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-23
HUNTING WITH CANNON.
Wholesale Slaughter Of Grizzly Bears an,
Coyotes.

TON iNG WI n CANNON.
Wholesale Slaughter Of Grizzly Bears and
Coyotes.
Along in the early fifties the grizzly
bears were so plentiful in the canyons
near Fort Fillmore. New Mexico. that
domestic animals Were in constant
peril from their nightly iuearsions
In fact, they were dreaded by lone
travellers almost as much as the savage
and hostile Apaches
| had occasion during my soicurn in
Ell Paso, Tex, at that early period of
the history OF that country to visit
Fort Fillmore. | was detained there
several days, and made my headquar-
tiers at the post with the suffer.
The second day after my arrival one
of the cavalry horses. while playing in
a corral, received vicious kick from
another horse, breaking one of his
hind legs above the hook On exam
ination it was thought to be impossible
for the brute ever to recover from the
wound SO as to be of any use, and to
put him out OF his misery he was shot
and hauled up the canyon, about "a mile
from the fort.
AS it was well known that there
would 10 rrand carnival of the griz-
lilies ana Other wild beasts over the
carcass that night the boys that is
Lieut.. Cook and others consisting OF
quite respect2 BILE corporals guard
concluded to- witness the feast The
sky was clear, and in that soft trans
rent atmosphere the full moon lit up
the canyon almost equal to midday.
We selected two small brass howit-
zers from the battery OF six guns and
loaded them almost to the muzzle with
grape shot and canister We then
hauled our ordnance to within a con-
venient range of the carcass and Sc
GREETED ourselves in ambash behind a
clump of cacti.
We waited some three hours, which
seemed almost an age to the eager
watchers, and about ten o'clock the
first intimation of the approaching car
nival was made known by the distant,
howl of pack of hungry coyotes. They
were not long, however. in putting in
an appearance in such force that it
was all we could do to prevent Sergt.
McGiivey opening the battery on them.
We reserved our charge for the larger
game. as we knew the grizzly would
not fail to attend the feast.
We had begun to despair of the
coyotes leaving anything for the bear.
tiger appeared on the scene, putting
the coyotes to fight. and, taking pos
session Of the banquet, proceeded in
the most ravenous manner to conduct
the interesting ceremonies alone. He
did not enjoy his monopoly long, how
ever, for few minutes later the awe
inspiring growls of three large grizzlies
were heard in chorus over the banquet
table and in turn putting to fight the
beautifully freekled but somewhat dis
comfited jaguar.
By the time we had placed our guns
in position two more monster griz-
lilies had arrived at the feast. making
five of the huge beasts, that caused the
ground to trembie by their roars and
savage growing as they tore the car
cass to spieces and fought each other
like demons.
Suddenly the deafeniug roar OF the
two guns, almost simultaneously.
awoke the echoes of the canyon, and
also the fears of the two remaining
grizzlies, leaving three of their num-
Der dead and wounded on the battle |
field
The whole scene was In plain view |
from my position, and l remained
secreted under that cactus Ia large
variety Of what is generally known as
prickly pear until the guns had been ]
heavily charged again. and | was fully |
that the bears were in no con-
dition to give further trouble.
Two of the bears were killed out !
right, being literally torn 20 pieces ny /
the canister and the third was so badly I.
that ne lived perhaps half an
hour in great agony.
BY the time we had taken t1po- 1
was past midnight. and we concluded /
Ito make night of it," hoping for a
return of the coyotes
About four o'clock IN the morning !
the distant wall of the hangry covofe 4
told Us OF the commencement Of their 4
march 10 second banquet at the aug 4
nsnted table of good things Itseened J
that the wall Of that lone coyote was
re-echoed By a thousand ravenous
shroats. and in less than thirty min
utes bowling mob Of them we're tear
ing TO pieces and fighting over The re-
mains OF both horse and bears.
When the guns again belched forth
the deadly message the earth .rembIed,
the carnival ceased and quiet once
more reigned over the scene.
In looking over the field 81 de&.ruc-
Ton ate. the battle WAS over we did