The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-09
BEARS In ALASK A
MORE FERocloUS THAN THEIR eRIz.
zLY COUSINS NOW ARE.
The Brown Bear Of Alaska Weighs From
500 to 1,56c Pounds-He Is an Expert
Fisher ard Good observation-disclosures
Of Thrilling Encounters.

| Eula, Dorderlng the shores OF LOOK iniet,
Kodiak island, and the Alaskan peninsula
as far westward as Unimak island, is the
habitat of the Alaskan brown bear (Ursus
richardsoniil, q huge, shaggy animal,
varying in length from to ~ feet and
weighing from SEQ to /, 500 pounds. This
bear possesses all the courage and fiercs-
ness Of his southern cousin, the grizzly,
and he has been hunted so little as yet
that he is absolutely fearless Of man and
Is an exceedingly dangerous adversary.
Being an expert fisher, the bear fire.
quents, during the salmon season, all tbs
rivers emptying into Boring sea and the
north Pacific and their tributaries as far
as the fish 60. After the salmon run ia
over the animal retreats into the recesses
of the hills, where berries and small game
are plentiful.
The brown bear is the great roadmaser
of this part Of Alaska. Not only are the
banks of the streams trodden into good
trails by the huge, Inbering brutes, but
| the swampy plains are crossed in every di-
| rectiOn by paths leading to the hills. Tie
traveller will do well TO follow them in
! journeying across the country, as they in
variably lead 10 tho best fording places OF
streams and form the easiest routes to the
| bears habitat is as yet undetermined
but have seen them in the interior as far
| es latitude 81 degrees, and they probably
range still farther.
| My first encounter with ono of these an
finals was startling experience for me,
and, have always thought, equally so for
the bear. We had been working up against
the strong current of the Koowak river all
day, and toward nightiall pitched our tent
at the base OF a high bluff forming the
right bank of the stream. While supper
was being prepared 1 climbed the bluff to
get look at the country and was walk
| ing leisurely along with my gun oarelessly
| held in my left hand
The top of the bluff was densely covered
| almost to the edge with spruce and alders,
| and the underground was so thick that it
was impossible to see more than few feet
through it. Ahead Of me a cluster of rocks
offered temporary place to sit down and
| enjoy the view, and made for it,
Just as reached the nearest rock ire
mendous shaggy animal arose apparently
from under my feet, and Immediately
recognized in him the brown bear, Of
whose herceness the natives had been tell
ing me for weeks. My FIRST instinct was
to shoot, and probably would have done
so had my gun been in my right hand, but
the first motion made the bear reared On
his Launches and was SO formidable look
ing that 1 concluded to wait and see what
he intended doing. After a moments
hesitation, during which he turned his
head from side to side and licked his chops
in a most suggestive fashion, he dropped
OH all tours, and with wonderful quick
ness turned and sprang out of sight in the
dense underground.
When returned to camp and related
my experience, Tah-tah- rok, my native
guide, assured me that the bear must have
recently concluded heavy meal, as other
wise no would have attacked me.
The mainland of Alaska ad jacent to the
island Of Unga is full of brown bear, AMI,
although somewhat smaller than those
found Oil the west side of Cooks inlet,
they are sufficiently fierce and aggressive.
Some officers from one of the vessels OF
the Boring sea fleet went ashore at Herein.
deem bay during the summer OF 1891 on a
deer hunt. and ono OF the party saw bear
about 100 yards distant eating berries.
Without thought of the consequences
ho raised his gun and fired at the animal
The shot Went wide of the mark, bub at
the report of the gun the bear started for
the hunter on dead run. His charge
was met by a shower of bullets from the
officers repeater, but although badly
wounded the infurieted brute did not hest
tate an instant, but rushed straight at his
enemy. When within about 10 feet of the
hunter, the bear rose on his launches and
prepared to close. Blood was pouring i'll
streams down his body. One bullet had
shattered his upper jaw, but he was still
so full OF fight that the outcome of the
struggle would have been eXtrenlsly doubt
ful had not another Of the party arrived
and ended the fight by shooting the brute
through the brain.
An examination of the bears bod,
showed that it had been struck six times
Three Of the shots were in parts of the
body ordinarily considered vital and would
doubtless have caused death but the vi
tality of these animals is almost incred.
ihie, instances having been cited Of theii
running over 100 yards after being sho,
through the heart.
One Of the best places in Alaska to find
The brown bear is in the vicinity of Port
age bay, 10 or - miles across Unga strait
frouI Sand point Last summer, while l
was At Sand point, two hunters came in
after an absence Of little over a month in
the vicinity of Portage bay and reported
having killed 80 bears One day they
killed seven. In order TO show that they
were not spinning hunters yarns, they
brought the skins with them and sei6
them at the trading point at Sand point.
In dealing with the Alaska brown bear
& hunter should never go alone. A COM
panion is almost as essential as gun. II
possible. man well acquainted with the
peculiar habits of this animal should be
engaged to act as guide. Good bear dogs
would be of great assistance, but would
have TO he brought into the country by
the hunter, as there are very few dogs
here. There are no trees as far west a
Portage hay, and tine hunter must be ex-
ceedingiy careful how he enters the heavy
thickets which cover the river bottoms.
Is the bears favor this kind Of ground.
and if aroused Or wounded will unhesitat.
ingly attack