Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-04-06
ZEKE'S BEAR TRAP.
THE FATAL HELMET MADE OF
A BEERKEG.
Experiences of lucky Hunter-Mhen
Bruln Gets uls Head Into the spiked
Neg IL l. hn Up With tim "A =
Pennsylvania Forest

wears" said Zeke Campbell, OF the
Pine creek region, during visit 10
Williamsport, Pa Ieke is one OF the
chaps who last winter invented q new
bear trap that has proved very effect
i've, according 10 the Pittsburg Dis
patch. This new trap is beer key,
with sharp spikes driven in II for the
purpose OF holding bruins head fast
when once the inquisitive old fellow
pokes his nose in after the chunk Of
raw meat which is fastened 10 the
bottom of the key The keg is chained
to tree, aud when once bruin gets
his head fast he becomes an easy prey
for the owner OF the trap next morn
ing Zeke says he has killed fourteen
bears this winter, one OF the
number weighing $40 pounds. and
.rollin in fat And, by the way,
this same bear was taken in IA boer-
/ keg trap. too. He was seen prowling
around an old-fashioned log-pen trap
few days before, but this being too
high for his form. he coutented him
self with being taken in the new
tangled way.
Eeke SAYS he never saw bear
make such fuss as did this big fel-
low lie said il was not yet daylight
when he left his hut In the vicinity VI
the BLACK forest "a make tour OF
his traps. having with him a. com.
panions tru.ty rifle and his dog
Cub, big bull 4 light snow had
fallen during the night, and when
within half mile Of his first tran, a.
ran across the tracks OF "a bear
monster footprint il was, too, /eke
reckoned IL was the big tat fellow
that had been seen on several coca
sions, and before be- came wit4in
sight Of the spot whore his b'ar keg
was chained he heard great fuss
There was a series oi ,queals a.
though a hungry pig were trying TO
get out OF a pen then the sounds
would suddenly change 20 tho most
dismal grunts imaginable The dog
Cub whisked up his ears, tbs hair
along his neck bristled toward MA
head. and the old fellow showed his
teeth in threatening manner Ieke
knew what that meant, but would not
allow the dog to rush forward as he
was anxious to do
Suddenly he came within sight of
the trap, aud a funny thing he saw
There sat a big. black bear, with the
beer keg stripped down over his head
tie sat on his launches, and with his
forepaws was trying his best 10 push
the keg of Every push sent the sharp
spikes deep into his fur and neck, and
the thing would not or worth
cent. All this while the -dueallny
and grunting were kept 40 with a
vim, and Leke's dog was nearly Wild
to rush at helpless bruin The hear
evidently knew that thcre wa. dog
about. for he tried harder than ever
TO force his head from tho krg
and the way he tugged At the trap.aud
then at the chain, was d sight 10 sac.
Lske watched the .crittrr,n a. mo
called IL. for some time. then raising
his rife he sent two bullet. into the
big black body which caused IL to first
cap into the air and then roll ~ flll 4
length Of the chain 4 minute moro
and the bear was dead and Loke re-.
moved the kcg from tho biz fellows
head Then It was found what IA
noble eudeayUr th big chap ha, put
forth 10 free himself The .hnrt,
spikes had worn a ring about hi. mock
and horribly cut the e-h from b.ing
forced by the bears 'oecpaws hi. no4o
was bloody and the hair worn OF Tho
sides Of his head Irke saws ho
thinks the boar had been trying to
Tree himself several hours before no
reached the trap.
/eke was in luck that morning. Hc
not only captured bear in his beer
Seg trap but also had the extreme
Of finding another in one
1f his log-pen traps, And more than
That. when he reached point on tho
'op OF the ridge where he could
see the trap in the rayine below. no
saw bear scrambling OH the ton Of
Inc pen. II was not set bright day
but he sent bullet living after nj.
Dearshtp just rs he scrambled OH into
he thicket OF hemlock. Then Cub
started on chase. but the doc corld
not do much in the thicket and Zeke
ct the bear 20 "a soon as he die
covered that the pen contained an.
'ther. Zeke's bear pens are no gimsv
Ihairs; they are built to STAY and IN
stand the onslaught Of bruin. whether
rom ms dc or outside Now this
elbow, on this occasion. was trying
lard to find weak place in the loo
structure. First he would trot around
With his nose poked under the bottom
Ill; then he'd stop and paw and gnaw
u the logs; then again he'd prance
Lround on his tired feet and trv IN
each the big square hole in the roof
Ibovo, through which he had "a
freddy tnmbled after the feminine
.alfs head which lay on the pround I
5ut 1t was no use. Mr.. Brnin wasa
prisoner. Yoke poked his rifle through
me OF the Stats between tho logs.
here was crack, a pun Of smoiIc
md bruin wasdead.
Ieke tells OF thrilling affair in {
ghich ne and Raunt she bear wero, :
ne principal actors. II happene1 fl ,
aFIv fall bafoFn I.t,o a.. "