The Bessemer indicator., 1893-11-04

Along in the early fifties the grizzly
bears were so plentiful In the canyons
near Fort Fillmore. N. NJ, that
domestic animals were in constant
peril from their nightly incursions
In fact. they were dreaded by lore
travellers almost as much as tho saw
age and hostile Apaches.
had occasion during my sojonrn
in Ell Paso, Texas. ut that early period
of the history OF that country to visit
Fort Fillmore. was detained there
several days and made my headquar-
ters at tho post with the sutler.
The second day after my arrival
one OF the cavalry horses, while play
ing in corral. received vicious
kick from another horse. On OK
animation it was thought to be i'm
possible for tho poor 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
tho canyon, about mile from tho
fort.
As it was we'll known that there
would be grand carnival of tho
grizzlies and other wild beasts over
the carcass that night. the .boys,"
that is Lieutenant Cook and others,
consisting OF quito respectable cor
porals guard. concluded to witness
the feast. The sky was clear and in
that soft, transparent atmosphere the
full moon lit up the canyon almost
equal to midday.
We selected two small brass howitz
ers 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
convenient range OF the carcass and
secreted ourselves in ambush behind
clump OF cacti.
We waited some three hours,
which seemed almost an age to the
eager watchers. and about 10 o'clock
the first intimation OF the approach
ing carnival WAS made known by the
distant howl of PACK OF hungry
coyotes. Tney were not long. how
ever. in putting in IN appearance, in
such force that 1t was all we could
do to prevent Sergeant McGilvey
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, when, fortunately, monster
spotted tiger appeared on the scene.
putting the coyotes to flight and. TAX
ing possession Of the banquet, pro-
ceeded in the most ravenous manner
to conduct the interesting ceremonies
alone. He did not enjoy his mo-
nopoly long, however, for a few min
utes later the awe-inspiring growls
Of three large grizzlies were heard in
chorus over tho banquet table and In
turn putting to flight that beautifully
ireckled but somewhat discomfittcd
iaguar.
BY the timc we had placed our
guns in position Two more monster
grizzlies had arrived at the fenst,
making five Of the huge beasts. tina.
caused the ground to trcmble by their
roars and savage growing us they
tore the carcass to pieces and fought
each other like demons.
Suddenly the deafening roar OF tho
two guns, almost simultaneously,
awoke the echoes OF the canyon, and
slso the fears of the two remaining
grizzlies. leaving three of their num-
ber dead and wounded on the battle.
feld.
The whole scene was in plain Wow
from my position, and | remained
secreted under that cactus Ga large
variety OF what is generally known AS
priclsly pcar) until tho guns had
been heavily charged again. and was
fully satisiicd that the bears were in
no condition to give further trouble.
Two OF the bears wore killed out
right. says the Philadelphia Times,
being literally torn to eces by too
canister, and the third was so badly
mangled that he lived perhaps hall
an hour in great agony.
BY tho time we had taken Il tope,-
graphical survey of tho CORY field It
was past midnight and we concluded
'to make night OF it" hoping for
return OF the coyotes.
About i o'clock in the morning the
l:stant wall OF hungry coyote told
US OF the commencement Of thoir
march to n second banquet ut the
augmented tablo Of good things. 1t
'comed that the wall OF that lone
'oyotc was re-echoed by q Thousand
'nvenous throats, and in lesa thnp