The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-13

at dawn the trail of bear was struck.
EIGHT of the dogs were leashed in pairs,
md the ninth, Crowder, was twenty five
or thirty yards in the lead Suddenly
he threw up his head and bayed. He
had scented . trail. Drake rushed
ahead and let the leader go on The
cry of CrOwder made the other dogs
wild. They bayed and tugged and
tugged 1T their collars. 1t seemed as
if they all would be of on the trail be-
fare Drake could loose them. He did SO
as quickly as he could, allowing two
! to go at a time. They were off with .
series of yowls which echoed anu re-
echoed in the mountains. Through
the brush, over fallen trees, timbers
and logs they bounded after the great
| game which had been scented.
| The trail was on the side of the
| mountain, with . deep canyon below
| and a heavy ascent on the other side.
The scent was up the hill The bear
had started on the ridge of the hill,
three hundred yards away from the
hunters. The crash of branches could
be heard as the great animal made its
way through the brush. The noise
was almost terrifying, as the bear
could not be seen. and with the fright
full baying Of the dogs it was hard to
locate him.
Suddenly the branches parted . short
distance ahead of the hunters, and the
brown body of monster bear was
seen. He was going with terrific
speed, aad the hunters were directly
in hts path. He did not see them,
thoagh. The hounds were persistent,
and the great animal was blinded to
everything but the baying hounds
which were on his track.
Without noticing the hunters, he
turned from them and rushed on to
their back track. About one hundred
yards away a horse had been left graz
ing. The bear saw it and turned
egain, retracing the ground he had
travelled SO rapidly. When no more
than twenty-five yards away he saw the
hunters in his path and swung across
the canyon. For over FIVE hundred yards
be could be seen zigzagging up the side
of tho hill, his great body crashing /
through the brush. The fleeing ami |
NAL uttered hardly sound, but HIS |
jaws moved ominously. He was over |
seven feet long. and the hunters did |
not care particularly to take any |
chances with such beast.
The hounds were in full cry. Their |
baying seemed like the cries of thou
sand dogs. In = few moments the
bear reached the crest of the hill and
disappeared. The hounds were a few
moments behind him, and soon they
too had vanished on the other side of
the hill The hunters had silently
watched the hunt, but now they dug
their spurs into their horses and dashed
down the canyon 1t was a dangerous
chase, but in the excitement all !
thought of danger had gone, and if
faces were dashed by the swaying
branches and the bodies of the hunters
stung by thorns the wounds were I'M
noticed.
In an incredibly short space Of time
the hunters were on the crest of the
hill over which the bear and hounds
had disappeared. The crashing of the
branches and the baying of the hounds
were becoming fainter, but, though
the chase was now long one, few
minutes were lost. The splendid pros
pect held the hunters Far away in
the midst of the noun tains the north
and the south forks of the Trinity
could be seen. All around tho noun
tains were covered with snow. Far IN
The distance Mount Shasta could be
seen and almost at the feet of those
who looked was the Hayfork valley,
With its golden grain. 1t was early
the air was clear. the place,
With the exception of the distant bay
ng of the hounds, was solemn in its
No further time was to be lost and
he hunters dashed in the direction Of
he fast-dying sound. They travelled
or over three miles. Their clothes
we're torn, their bodies bruised ;
nd cut, but no thought was given to I
uch trifles. AS the sounds became
ouder and palmer it was evident that
he hounds had ''treed" the bear, and !
n few moments the hunters were on .
he ground. {
The chased animal had sought ref =
ige in towering tree three feet in s
iameter. Sixty feet above the ground /
Re crouched upon limb and watched
is pursuers. He moved his jaw,
hewed significantly and gave tha. :"
ocular blow which characterizes him y
he hounds were frantic They il
nrnped and yowled. but to no pur-
Ose.
The hunt was nearly over. As the
nest of Col Drake, Stone was allowed a
, take the first shot. For few min
ties be stood and watched the crouch
az bear. Then he raised his rife, II
1ok aim and fired. The ball struck G.
IL bear in the law which was broken. a
he bleeding flesh was torn. but the
reat animal simply drew his paw !,
yer the wound He began to descend ID
tree RI frrbf Efe i