Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-05-03
LADY AND GRIZZLIES.

LAD i AMI VhlLLlllLO.
THE CHIEF OF MOUNTAIN HUNTERS
FINDS A HERMITEss.
She Likes the Lower nimal Is Compan-
ions and Has q Theory Which Culni-
mates In the Millennium-The Old Story.
with Romantic Variations.
Among the daring hunters who for
years have tramped the Businesses of the
Cascade and Rocky mountains Dave Sol
berg is acknowledged chief. He Is of mod
est demeanor and no boaster, and yet he
has killed in his solitary wanderings more
cougars, California lions, wolves and griz-
ely bears than would suffice to stock all
the menageries in the United States. Un-
like his fellows, he Is q college bred man,
Is a versatile talker and tells a good story.
To a correspondent who recently met
solberg in Spokane Falls the hunter told
the following queer story:
st was early in September that I start
cd out to fill q Chicago order for a lot of
cougar. black lynx and cinnamon bear
skins. l directed my course toward the
upper Salmon river, my objective point
being 200 miles southeast of Pierce City.
Besides Ben, stout Lapwai half breed, my
faithful hired man of all work, caterer,
tent keeper, etc., my outfit consisted of
two Indian ponies for packing service,
three old hounds, camp fixtures, two rifles,
q shotgun, revolvers and plenty of provi-
sions and ammunition.
MONDAY, Sept. "a, will always be a
memorable day in my experience. Leav-
ing Ben md one dog in camp, l started
early in the morning for al all day trip,
directing my steps toward the headwaters
Of the little stream near which we were
camped. We had gont about two miles
from camp when Tige and Fan struck a
scent and bounded off through the dense
thicket. / quickened my pace in the direc-
ton tho dogs had taken and soon came up
on the tracks of what I knew must be
a large grizzly bear. Presently, as I an
ticipated, the hounds brought the bear
to bay a few hundred yards ahead. This
was clearly evident from the altered
tone of their cries. When l came up with
the dogs, there, sur enough, was a big
grizzly sitting on his launches and com
placently taking in the situation.
Il poised my rifle and was about to fire,
when, to my utter surprise, I saw a stout
leather strap about the bears chubby neck,
while from the brass ring under his throat
dangled a rosette and tassel made of red,
white and blue ribbons. Besides the ami.
mails coat was as sleek and clean as If he
had just come from a tub of soar and wa
ter.
WAS the brute an escape from some
menagerie9 Was he a household pet, OF
was l dreaming2 None of these, surely
We were in the heart of a mountain wilder.
ness, more than 30 miles from the nearest
border settlement and 200 miles from the
nearest town ever visited by circus or men.
agerie. Besides family pets are not made
of grizzly bears weighing half a ton.
II called off the dogs and put them liz
leashes. Strangely enough, the huge beast
plunged instanter into the thicket anG
shambled off up the creek, while l followed
as fast as l could lead the hounds. 1 coulc
hear the cracking Of dry twigs under the
bears feet, and quieting the dogs in order
to catch his course l heard a human voice,
the shrill, treble cry Of a woman.
'Ho, Dio, Dio, Dio-ol' it came.
Once more l was dazed. All the fairy
stories OF bears and wolves I had ever heard
or read came back to me, and 1 was begin
ming to distrust the reliability of my senses
when the cry came again, q good deal
nearer and louder: .Dio, Dio. Ho, Di-o-o!
"Chaining the hounds to q %sapling, I
plunged forward. l soon overlook the
bear, which paid no attention to me what
sver, but lazily walked along as if his bust
hess was his OWL and nobody else's, halt
ing now and then to MUNICH a few berries
from the bushes. AS bruin and I emerged
from the thicket into a partially, open
space, what was my amazement to sud-
denly meet face to face a man real,
live womanl The apparition was clad in
buckskin frock and leggings, with high
brogans buckled over her feet, and her
head covered with a brown SLOUGH hat,
from beneath which streamed her long
hair. She was a blond Of the most perfect
type. She snapped her thumb and finger,
the bear walked to her side, reared
up on his hind feet and licked her cheek
while she stroked his shaggy coat.
Now, sir, said the woman, will you
walk home with me and see where I live
with Dio and his faruily2'
"A 30 minutes walk on a well beaten
trail brought us to @ limestone cliff a few
fods from the stream. This cliff was near
~ perpendicular, 40 or SO feet high, and in
>S No vi A'SCA W1Ul ullC DdlK OF G16
creek there was a broad opening, or cave,
perhaps 10 feet high and 80 or 40 feet
deep. Just within was a snugly built log
cabin, its front gable end extending out
side far enough to catch the sunlight and
permit the escape of the smoke from a stick
clay chimney. This retreat was the
home of the woman, while a family of
bears occupied the farther end Of the cave.
Upon our arrival Mrs. Grizzly Bruin
two half grown cubs made their an
pearance, all exhibiting the same docile
characteristics as the great Dio. A big
Newfoundland dog also bounded forth to
greet us. The cabin contained three airy
and well lighted rooms, a studio, or par
Tor; a bedroom and kitchen. While We sat
at luncheon she told me her history. and I
assure you it was only the old story, with
romantic variations and practical illustra.
lions. The gist Of the whole matter was q
love sorrow caused by the Interference of
anWlse parents and resulting in the aban.
donHent of a comfortable home for the pre-
carlous life of a recluse. Only two or three
trusted friends know the secret of her
whereabouts and mode of living.
Backwoodsmen built her the cabin five