The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-09-13

are acquainted with the habits of this
bear, which is not found, SO far Us can
learn or ever heard, in any other part
of the United States, never think of
attacking him. TEey never hunt the
bald-face for the reasons given. To
begin an engagement with him is to-
simply mean fight to the death.
shall 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 Saw
tooth mountains to hunt big game,
deer, bear and such like. We had been
told of the baldface, but having had
no experience with him, and having
two grizzlies to our credit, our party
smiled increduously when Joe Penning-
ton, an old hunter and trapper who
had of late years devoted himself to
the less hazardous pursuit OF chicken
rounding near Boise City, told us to be-
ware of the bald-face bear. Being IA
niliar with the mountains, after con-
siderable effort we induced Pennington
to accompany our party, taking along
three excellent dogs, we'll trained and
courageous.
But Joe stipulated that we were not
to get into controversy with the
bald-face, because he said it would
mean the death of his dogs and the re-
treat of our party to the foothills, if
nothing more serious.
We had been in the mountains
week; had killed several deer and BLACK
bear and any number of birds. On the
morning of the seventh day we left
young Englishman named Kingsbury
in camp, as on the day before some
animal had visited our quarters eaten
a lot of bacon and played havoc ge14er-
ally 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
old trapper shouted out, as ne whistled
to his dogs and walked away: ''Say,
Kingsbury, if you see a bald-face ad-
wise you to make break for the mule
and light out for the valley; for if you
don't we'll never collect enough of the
remains to ship back to the folks at
home"
The mule referred to was staled out
about one hundred yards away III a level
clear spot. The Engl .shman didn't re-
ply, but held up his rifle and big
hunting knife as ar, answer.
We thought nothing more Of the cir
cumstance The days sport was fairly
good, one deer, one mountain sheep
and several birds being the result Of
the hunt We met at an agreed spot
some three miles from the camp and
proceeded together to our quarters, ex-
pecting that Kingsbury would have
prepared for us a substantial dinner.
Reaching an elevation some distance
from camp we paused moment, when
Pennington remarked: ''Dy gosh,
where's the mule?'' We all looked, but
no mule could we see. Possibly it had
broken away and gone off, or it might
be hidden in the grass, lying down, but
a field-glass failed to reveal the animal.
Proceeding slowly toward camp, we
soon reached the space where the mule
had been left.
There was no longer any question
where the mule was. It was lying on
the ground completely disemboweled,
its back broken and it's head literally
torn off.
One word told the story. A bald
face bear had discovered the animal,
and it being hobbled so securely that
escape was impossible, had killed it.
The grass showed that there had been
q struggle, and the immense tracks of