The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
GREAT NEAR Trapping.
How n Mixed Herd OF C~innnmons nnd
Hacks Was Driven or.

blacks Was Driven or.
From tho Denrcr Republican.
About the middle of August a party OF som,
nifty laborers, In charge OF engineers employed
by the state. began work on the new highway
In the San Juan district. An appropriation tC
pay tho cost OF constructing the road was made
by tho late Legislature. 1t is now nearly com.
pleted, aud runs from Molus Lake. near Silver.
ton. to the junction of the Rico aud lockwood
roRds. twenty miles above Durango. The work
of construction was started at the Molus Lake
end. Between there and the other terminu OF
the road lies q stretch of country that Is wild,
broke en-, and almost totally devoid OF human
habitations. Heretofore 1t has been avoid ed,
even by the almost ubiquitous prospectors.
r. s.. Sumner, who was assistant to Engineer
HoIbrook. remained with the workmen
almost steadily. while MIR. Holbrook had to
make frequent trips to Silverton. Durango, or
some other neighboring settlement. Toward
the latter part of August Engineer Sumner was
away from the moving camp OF road builders
on one of these periodical trips. During his alb
sence tho early autumn snow set in on the
mountains higher up, and bears OF all varieties
which frequented these parts were driven lower
down by lack of food. This accounted for their
presence in such largo numbers. rs the road
builders report, around the vicinity OF the new
wagon road.
On his return journey to the camp OF the la
borers early In September. Holbroob found all
kinds OF bears along the way. Their presence
did not cause him disquiet, however. until he
had reached a point a little beyond Rock wood,
and eighteen or twenty miles above Durango.
He was riding along the road early one morn
ing when his horse suddenly snorted. sh ed, and
showed every indication OF a desire to turn back.
Holbrook tried to quiet the animal, but its evil
dent fear OF somethinR In the neiGh borhood
only Increased, The engineer look ed around
over fhR Wllu nA N FAnlilC Lat a ~ fAt
the cause OF his horses terror.
Ia, an open tract, among a tangle OF scrub oak
that made him sympathize TO some extent with
the feelings of the animal he rode. There. In
fully q dozen big bears engaged in gambnling
together like a group of schonlboys at play.
about equal proportinn; 1t looked to Holbrook
AS though the animals had been feRsting OH the
IGoTn Is !, the brush fnrhi.ned them aud were
Some were lying inert under the sun, others
rolled, over and over. while half q dozen dis
game of leap-frog. One bear would lie paws
down on the ground while another took a short
race toward. the spot, stood on his head. and
then clumsily turned a somersanlt over the
body or the PROSTATE, animal. This trick the
bears seemed to enjoy hugely, taking turns at
But Engineer Holbrook had neither tho tune
nor the inclination to, watch the game, so as
soon as he could quiet his horse he sat out on u
eallop for the nearest house along tue road, the
residence of g, q. Love. He remained there tho
III VI NLc Il anu blIhl uIkHl, tHthlUE
the camp of the road construction crew. IL little
WAYS below. early next forenoon. On the way
he deserted quite a number Of other bears. some
of them disconsertingiy close to the route he
was following-the old Baker trail.
On arriving AT me camp he wAsintormed that
there. The entire neighborhood seemed to have
bears IN abundance, lurking among The brush
and rocks. AT night some OF the animals had
themselves to %prowlinE around the
tents OF the laborers and stealing the meat the
men hung up on trees near By in order to keep IT
sumner sat up with wiSchs-ters, watching Tor
number of bullets FOR their pains. The meat
that had been hung out TO Jerk" was gone, as
Holbrook then determined tn adopt another
mode, of warfare against the bears. oy sending
reached the camp a few days later. and. assisted
by u. q. Love. Engineers Holbrnok and sum
ner, set It under a pine tree which stood alone
the camp; A hole was dug for the trap at the
foot OF the pine tree and a low enclosure OF
around II. The mouth of the trap
was then covered over with leaves and tw g.
chunk of fresh beef was suspended-and the
hunters returned TO camp 10 IVA acknowledgements.
visited the Her tr"p. ITfRR,SFGfS FOUND Ia a 455::p @"q I cine
namon bear sitting on top Of II crying like a
human being in his discontinue and agony
steel jaws OF the device. A,counril wa. held re-
what means should be used in getting
imprisoned bear to Loves house. where lie
could be killed. skinned. and converted into
steal hide. ana bears grease.
On the suggestion Of Mr.. Love. who Is an old
1t was finally decided to drive the bear.
as dome~ttc animals are driven, 10 the place 7
aga nSt the possibliity Of some bear a% carrying of
the trap 1t had been chained tn a stout LOG In
addition to being buried. With some d niculty
amid n ciump ~ brush. he bear all the time
and swapping vic!ously At those engaged
Having got the log loose. Holbrook and Sum-
ner cut two long poles, and getting, in the ear
vigorously over the sn4ut. He ros" upon MS
hind leg. with "A mighty roar and sprang
lie trap and log behind him. Once free, he
showed IA disposition to turn on his turmentors.
every time he faced about down anne tho
poles on he nose, and with another roar he
started down the hill.
BY d nj, Of constant whscking and careful
herding the strangely handicapped bear was
finally brought to the highway. After this It
vas comparatively easy 10 get him TO a point
sufcrings. The scheme OF driving lie bear
ahead OF them. as desert! ed. saved the hunters
.ance of nearly four milrs.
After -kinning the cinnamon, securing choice
steaks. and getting the oil out OF his fat the
md reset il as before. Next day they they o a
Ionng black bear. weighing about $50 pounds,
loves house, as was his predecessor in misfOr-
.une. and disposed Of in similar fash on.
Dit at the bear.trap meat. Bear number three
was, n giant OF the cinnamon species. weighing
n me neigh b0rhooh OF 700 pounds. When the
.hrte owners Of the trap first saw him he was
lifting outside the enclosure, apparently as
no .eh he had torn mp the trap in his attempts
o get rid OF 1t. Holhrook. sumner. and Love
approached him confidently. Intending to treat
lin as they had treated their two former cap
AZ they did 40 the bear rose up with a
and then made for them, leaving the trap
The hunters then saw that the c%innamon's
light fore paw was only a bleeding stump. and
hat the bear Itself was free OF the trap. Being
Irmed with nothing better than reyolvers. they
,r"ke into IA run down hill, not stopping until
hey reached camp. There they procured a
Winchester apiece and returned 10 hunt for the
Wounded bear. They found him sitting among
h brush. half way up the hin, vigorously lick-
ig his wounded paw aud winning At intervals.
\ W incheStrr bullet behind his right ear ended
he cinnamon's life.
When they went mp to where the trap lay tho
'nnters found the missing portion Of The dead
ears paw b"tween Its tightly shut steel springs.
from The marks upon both iortions ~ il, Engi-
eer Holbrouk felt satis fled that In his desire 10
let tree of the trap the bear ate the imprisoned
NIB In twain. There. were fully three inches
7 rat under this cinnamOn's coat. ard Mr..
.ove got two and IA half gallons Of OIL for bears
rease ointment from il.
a fter watching the tran for three days longer
he owners Oi II we're rewarded with their fourth
Haa N ll.-l G--