The Van Buren press., 1896-07-04
BEAR HUNT In A CAVERN,
Uncle Jim Day Surprised by the
Behavior of the Game.
The Bear Died Standing and Tried to
XIII Him After Dying-A Chase in
Honeycombed BLUM in
California.

tafffOrnia.
'.There is a curious bluff or ledge of
rocks ON the east side of Trinity river
in California; said Col. Parker OF Gar
deau. 1T is perhaps a mile in length,
and rises nearly 100 feet almost perpen-
dicularly above the valley. Outwardly
it presents no feature that would attract
any particular attention to it from the
casual observer. unless it might be
numerous assures, seams, and openings
of various widths ard heights along its
face, all of them apparently leading
into the very depth of the great wall.
This, in fact, they do. That formidable
looking ledge is virtually hollow. Its
interior is a succession of eaverns, some
of them wide and lofty chambers, and
others passages where man can scarce
ly stand erect. Some of these dark caves
are connected with each other by de-
vious corridors and passages. narrow
and wide. and high and low. Others
have but one opening. This honey
combed cliff is the day haunt of, not
thousands, but millions of bats, and it
is a sight never to be forgotten to see
them issue from the many vents of the
cliff as evening approaches, and fit
away 10 their nights foraging about
the country. The ledge at such times
might well be compared to a vast bee
hive. with its myriads of busy workers
lowering about the entrances. 1t is
said. out there that men have been
known to venture into the depths of
the cliff who have never come out again.
either having been lost in the intricate
labyrinths of its dark interior, or killed
and defoured by wild beasts that are
alleged to make the caves their lairs and
hiding places. That may or may not be
true, but it brings me to the story had
in mind about this curious hollow wall
or rock.
John Day and his uncle, Jim Day,
had no little fame in the Trinity valley
as bear hunters. Especially Uncle Jim.
One day during the time / was out in
that country, John came to me and said:
Colonel, trailed bear pretty near
all day to-day, and what has he gone
and done to me but holed up somewhere
in the inside of Old Scarface. He amt
a very big bear, but | started out to get
him and | can't afford to let little
thing like hole in the rocks cheat me
out of him. I'm goin' to squeeze into
the inside of Old Scarface and run that
bear down if have to camp in there
month. Uncle Jim is goin'. You better
jine in and see the fun
Il liked the novelty of the thing, and
said would be glad to go along The
three of us started next morning to fol-
low Johns bear into the heart of the
frowning cliff, Old Searface, as 1t was
Familiarity called. John lead us to the
place where the bear had gone in. Uncle
Jim gazed at the opening a moment,
and, with a eontemptuous sniff, said to
John:
lyon don't mean ter tell me, Jack,
that you're goin' ter follow a bar that
is little enough TO climb into hole the
size o that thar one, do yuh?'
John said he did.
Then I'm 'shamed of yuhl' ex-
claimed Uncle Jim.
"'You needn't go in, if you're afraid
replied John.
"'Afraid. Ne afaid,' cried Uncle Jim,
and squeezed into the opening.
"1he creyice was not more than foot
and a half wide and scarcely three feet
high We had 10 lie down on one side
and work our way along the passage.
pulling our guns and torches after us.
There was ten feet of this contracted
entrance. Then we found ourselves in
a more roomy place, where we could
stand erect. Lighting our torches, we
went on, and soon came out into big
cavern. where We instantly became the
center of myriads of bats which ouf
coming with lights had disturbed.
They dashed frantieally about us, SINCE
ing themselves in the blazing torches
and filling the cave with shrill squeak
ings. With ali those thousands of wings
IN motion. scarcely a sound came from
The flight of the bats, so silent of wing
is this strange night-prowling bird ami.
NAL.
For a time the barrier OF bats made
our progress difficult. and the sensation
Of these by no means agreeable crea-
lures surrounding you and coming in
contact with you at every stepwas any
thing but pleasant. They either be-
came used TO US by and by. OF tired of
Investigating us, and the great mass
of them returned 10 their hanging
places on the walls.
II that bar come in that openin'.
rs he sartin did said Uncle Jim. after
~c had explored the cavern pretty
thoroughly, he oughter be in this here
iugout somewhat. 'Cordin' to the ma
tuf' o. bars he oughter be here some
nhar, less he's ben eat up by bats
We went around and around the
cavern. which was at least so feet across
and 30 feet high. our torches revealing
m parts Of it within the area Of their
lighting power bat no bear or sign of
lear did we see.
lie must a gone on 20 some other
ptit % this seooped-out derrick. said
lncie Jim. 'Lookin' for place, maybe.
har he don't have 10 bunk in with so !