Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-11-21
JOHN FINN'S A
Thrilling and True Story of a Rocky
Mountain Bear Hunt.

N1OuuUAhhA DCaA Auh
A few years ago l was on a hunting
trip in the Rocky mountains and had
for a guide and companion an old time
trapper and miner. One evening while
we were enj wing a friendly pipe
around the camp fire / asked him IL
he had ever had a ''close call' with a
bear; he said he had one such expert
ence and gave me the story.
Ia the month Of June, 1884, myself
and two companions Albright and Bar.
ker, were camped on Willow Creek
mountain, a spur OF the main ridge OF
the Rockies situated about thirty miles
east of the ancient city Of Santa Fe, N.
NJ. on the head waters of the Pecos
river. Albright and Baker, like my,
self, were miness, who, having me-
with Indifferent success in the pursuit
of ssdame fortune" had decided upon
a month of loafng 10 the mountains.
Willow creek, from whence the noun
tain took its name, was a small stream
emptying into the main river; q dense
growth of willows lined the edge, with
here and there small openings cut,
where the fisherman could drop his fly
in the deep pools. Thick spruce and
pine timber covered the mountains
while numerous springs OF water bub-
bled forth health and refreshment to
all who came.
About a quarter of a mile from our
camp, n of these springs had formed
a small lake, here the deer used t.
come In the early morn to drink and
sport in the clear water. / have gone
there, and c%oncealing myself near
their bathing place, watched them for
an hour at a time. We did not modest
them, for we were not in need Of their
meat at that time of the year, grouse
and mountain trout were good enough
for a hungry man and Of these we had
a plenty.
Bear signs were plentiful; hardly a
day passed but what some of us saw
the imprint of bruins big foot. No one
was particular about seeing the old
hlmselfi although Albright said
that he had killed almost every kind Of
game, except "bar," and that he
would give ten dollars to kill one.
There were an unusual amount OF
that year; We ven enjoyed the
of strawberry shortcake "a la
camp stile;'' then a good many cattle
had been brought up from the foot
hills, and the bear seemed to have an
especial liking for fat beef. We saw
no less thin three COWS had been
killed by bear, their limbs torn from
them AMI dragged a short distance.
Wherever there was a swoll, there was
bear wallow, and the ground around
it looked like a lot Of pigs had been
We had been camped here two weeks,
when one morning Albright suggested
we move to another place, called
Hamilton Mesa" about six miles dis.
tant. Accordingly, Baker and I got
breakfast, while Albright brought in
The pack animals. He did not have to
20 far to find them. They would
be on hand at meal times, for a
Dit Of bacon rind or an old piece of
dish rag we're "dainty delicaciesn not
o be missed. It was the custom to tie
Up two burros, then the others would
ltay without being tied. While we
we're eating breakfast, they seemed un-
Easy. Baker remarked that sssome-
hing was up" just as we finished
the loose burros started down
he mountain as fast as they could go,
he remaining ones Juggling at their
insecure ~fastenings. soon broke away
md followed the others. / told Baker
md Albright they had better head them
IF, or they would 60 clear to the river.
started after them, leaving my gun
n camp. After / had gone q half
mile or so, | saw bear tracks
hat had undoubtedly been made
hat morning. Not caring to meet
ruin without my gun, J. returned
0 camp TO get it. Arriving there, l
ound that Albright and Baker had
after the burros, Baker taking
~ Winchester and leaving his old
luzzle-loadiDg shotgun for me. TAX
az this old relic, | again took the bur-
os' trail; at the foot OF the mountain
overlook my companions, and we
roceeded on together. Following the
rail up the stream apiece, we came to
there they had turned sharply and !
tarted up the mountain. Baker was
head and above me, on the side OF /
be hill, Albright a little behind; Ba-
er suddenly stopped, and pointing up :
le canyon, shouted something. / Z
ould not understand what he said. I
water in the creek made 50 much
oise. Thinking II might be our bur-
Ds, I started on q run In the direction
Q had pointed. / had only gone
hort distance when I saw Baker max
for q tree, us though his life de-
ended on it-and 1t did-for close on
Is heels were eight bears. He drop
ed his gun and went up that tree
bout as lively 40 q man could, but a. I