Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-12-28
KING OF BEASTS.
soMe FACTS OF INreReS1
AOoUT THE oNIzzLv.


Ne ssss Aimsst oisaspsased Fem
t1Os NavWss. The Die Fellow 10
cempaeoa Wlth othes 0eass.
The grizzly bear IL becoming rare In
California. OF late years 1t has been
sometimes said that the animaD had
almost disappeared from the State.
but this Is by no means true. A we'll
known fur dealer ut San Francisco
buys as many as dozen skins each
year, taken from grizzlies killed IN
California. He says, however, tliat
these pclts IRE alf from small bears;
that there nre probably no longer any
large grizzlies In the State. From
many counties in which bears were
eommon in the enrly days they nave
entirely disappeared.
A few grizzlies may still he found
in parts Of the coast range, the Sierra
Nevada. and the SiskiyOu region. In
the high Sierrn there IRE many hun
dreds Of square miles which will NJ
ways remain wilderness. being un.
ut for cultivation and human habita-
ton. These wilds afford retreats from
which the grizzly may never be wholly
exterminated. though rnnchers and
stOckmen keep up an unccnsIng war
fare on bears Of all sorts wherever the
animals are found. The grizzly, in
particular, has been 80 much hunted
that II has become exceedingly wary,
and It's haunts are now fur from the
most remote settlements. But this
hunting Inns seldom been with the oh.
ject Of sport. the animal being too for
midable for the sportsman.
1t IL the general verdict Of hunters
that Il Is a mistake to run from a grizz-
" II the animal he close Mt hand. To
do is to invite instant pursuit. And
though the animal Is exceedingly
clumsy in appearance It il credited
with the ability to overtnke even n
horse on a sudden rush. Sometimes It
will charge without any warning, nd
vnncing mt gallop. with an angry
roar. when wounded and followed in.
to dense chapnriT,l It has been known
TO lie silently In wait. ready to spring
upon Its ,pursuer. To follow grizzly
Into close cover Is ms dangerous an
undertaking as can be attempted In
quest Of large game. The feroclty Of
the animal when reused In not less
remarkable than It's extraordinary ten
acity Of life. The fnct IL well attcsted
that the grizzly will sometimes live
for a number Of hours and perform
amazing feats Of strength after Its
heart hns been pierced by bullet.
Old hunters have laid down the rule
that II n man he set upon by n grizzly
ut close quarters and there Ii no chance
to use a rifle. 1t Is folly to attempt to
use a knife or to struggle In any way.
They say that the best course Is to
keep still and make no noise; to lie
PROSTATE, face downward. and feign
death, though the bear use teeth and
claws. In one instance hunter shot
mt and wounded grizzly. which i'm.
mediately rushed mt him. He attempt
cd to climb n tree. but the animal caught
him by the foot ana dragged him to the
ground. He shricked for help. strug-
gled, and tried to ply his knife. but
with one furious stroke Of its mighty
paw the bear tore out his vltnls before
his comrades could reach the spot.
And yet 1t IL related, In a number
of Hutcliing's California Magazine Of
1850. that a colOred man who was Mt.
tackled by grizzly near Mud Springs,
in FL Dorado county, succeeded In
stabbing It to the heart and escaped
serious injury. The adventure Oc.
Cured In 1910 and the bear IL said to
have weighed 100 pounds when
dressed. 1t IL further related that the
meat was sold ut $1.25 pound. ut
which rate the negro would have real.
lied 1885 from his exploit. To per.
sons acquainted with the eXtravagant
prices of the early days Of gold min
ing this story will not seem entirely
fabulous.
The grizzly rarely, II ever, hugs an
adversary. Its chief weapon Ii its
paw. The tremendous power of the
brute IL exhibited In crushing the ribs
Of steer with single blow. With
one stroke Of Its paw 1t has also been
known to stop instantly the rush Of a
muddcncd bull. Fights between bear
and bull were common In the early his
tory of California, and the grizzly was
often victorious. This ursinc monster
Ia more than match for the bison
and superior In strength as well rs
courage to any other member of the
carniv0ra.
The grizzly has sometimes bee.
Gale: ii.a G',ts. OF nm's hut ih'
pOler bear exceeds Il In weight and
length. Specimens Of the polar bear
weighing 0s much as $500 or ?,40(
pounds have been taken.
The grizzly prefers brushy cOun
try, such us affords good cover and
an abundance Of berries, edible roots
honey and insect food. 1t Ii a greedy
feeder, and not ut all particular. II
will feast upon carriOn, relishes ants
and beetles, mice, gOphers and other
small creatures; will capture deer
logs, sheep, cattle, horses and Other
domestic animals, when impelled ny
hunger, but IL by preference Il vegetn
r:an. Berries are Its favOrite food, b,II
on the confines OF civilization 1t mani
tests q most decided fOndness fol
honey, as many beekeeper In south
ern California has learned to his cost
In carrying off calf or young steer
tho bear will sometimes walk upon III
hind feet, clasping the prey In Its fore
arms, and In this way lift 1t over
al, -l~.A.