Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-05
LADY AND GRIZZLIES.
THE CHIEF OF MOUNTAIN HUNTERS
FINDS A HERMlTESS.

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 demealOr 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. I'm
like his fellows, he is college bred man,
is versatile talker and tells a good story.
To correspondent who recently met
Solberg in Spokane Falls the hunter told
the following queer story:
''It was early in September that start
cd out to fill q Chicago order for q 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,
a shotgun, revolvers and plenty Of provi-
sions and ammunition.
"Monday, Sept. "a, will always be a
memorable day in my experience. Leav-
ing Ben and one dog in camp, l started
early in the morning for an all day trip,
directing my steps toward the headwaters
of tho little stream near which we were
camped We had gone about two miles
from camp when Tige and Fan struck a
scent and bounded off through the dense
thickct I quickened my pace in the direc-
ton the dogs had taken and soon came up
ON the tracks of what l knew must be
q large grizzly bear. Presently, as an
ticipatcd, the hounds brought the bear
to bay few hundred yards ahead. This
was clearly evident from the altered
tone of their cries. When came up with
the dogs, there, sure enough, was big
grizzly sitting on his launches and COM
placcntly taking in the situation.
II poised my rifle and was about to fire,
when to my utter surprise, saw stout
leather strap about the bears chubby neck,
while from the brass ring under his throat
danglcd roscttc 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 tub of soap and wa
ter.
"Was the brute an escape from some
menagerie? Was he household pet, or
was l dreaming? None of these surely
We were in the heart of a mountain wilder
ness, more than 80 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 ton.
II called off the dogs and put them in
lcashes Strangely enough, the huge beast
plunged instanter into the thicket and
shambled off up the creek, while followed
as fast as could lead tho hounds. I could
hear the cracking of dry twigs under the
bears feet, and quieting the dogs in order
to catch his course heard human voice,
the shrill, treble cry of a woman.
:" 'Ho, Dio, Dio, Dio-on it came
"Once more I was dazed All the fairy
stories Of bears and wolves had ever heard
or read came back to me, and was begin
ming to distrust the reliability of my senses
when the cry came again. a good deal
nearer and louder: 'Dio, Do Ho, Di-o-o!'
Claiming the hounds to a sapling,
plunged forward. l soon overlook the
bear, which paid no attention to me what
ever, but lazily walked along as if his bust.
ness was his own and nobody else's, halt
ing now and then to MUNICH few berries
from the bushes. AS bruin and emerged
from the thickct into u partially open
space, what was my amazement to sud
denly meet face to face woman-a real,
live woman! Tho apparition was clad in
buckskin frock and leggings, with high
brogans bucklcd over her feet, and her
head covered with brown SLOUGH hat,
from beneath which streamcd her long
hair. She was blond of the most perfect
type. She snapped her thumb and finger,
and the bear walked to her side, reared
up on his hind feet and licked her cheek
while she stroEcd his shaggy coat.
Now, sir, said the woman, will you
walk homo with mo and SEQ where live
with Dio and his family
"a 20 minutes walk on well beaten
trail brought us T.. limestone cliff few
rods from the sttcam. This cliff was near
ly perpendicular 40 or so feet high, and in
its face OH level with the bank Of the
creek there was broad opening, or cave;
perhaps 10 feet high and 30 or 40 feet
deep. just within was snugly built log
cabin, its front gable end extending out.
side far enough to catch the sunlight and
permit tho escape of the smoke from stick
and clay chimney. This retreat was the
home of the woman, while q family OF
bears occupied the farther end of the cave.
"Upon our arrival Mrs. Grizzly Bruin
and two half grown cubs made their up.
pearance, all exhibiting the same docile
characteristics as the great Dio. A big
Newfoundland dog also bounded forth tc
greet us. The cabin contained three airy
and we'll lighted rooms, studio, or par.
lor; bedroom and kitchen. While we sal
at luncheon she told me her history, and
assure you it was only the old story, with
romantic variations and practical illustra
tions The gist of the whole matter was 0
love sorrow caused by the interference Of
unwise parents and resulting in the aban
carious life Of recluse. Only two or thret
trusted friends know the secret Of he1
whereabouts and mode Of living.
"Backwoodsmcn built her the cabin five
years ago. and about that time she bought
pair of grizzly cut v from the Indians ant
reared them on condensed milk. To thi.
simple diet and the kindcst treatment thu
philosophical lady attributes the wonder
full docility of her grizzly pets. Frontiers
men hired for the purpose make monthly
visits to the cabin, bringing upon pacl
animals every comfort and many luxuries
"The herlnitess maintains that mercy
between man and man and kindness to thu
lower animals must constitute the great
panacea which is to redeem animated ma
ture, bring back the golden age and haster
the millennium. San Francisco Chroni
cle
Opposition to the New Woman.
The physician was surprised to find thu
head Of the household at the door with 9
shotgun.
Twin, xhnf,a kho ,nnAtore,I sta IN m GREY