The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-11
RUSHED BY A GRIZZLY
A Keen Race for Life With "0ld
Ephralm" in Hot Pursuit.
LIONS LESS TO BE FEARED
Fercy Selous' Thrilling Adventure
While Hunting Big Game in the
Rocky Mountains-An Insa-
table Appetite for Lead.

bdCnelier.)
Our camp was near headquarters OF
the Big Horn river. just where owl
creek runs into it-an ideal spot for a
shanty, and in every way adopted to a
hunters requirements. We were out
on misunderstanding for what our
furs would bring us in dollars-not
merely pleasure party. Under such
circumstances a bears hide helps to
tote" up the balance and there was
plenty of such game In the mountains.
odd Ephraim" ranged here where he
pleased-the giant grizzly of the Rock
les, about which such thrilling stories
have been written, some of them prob
ably rather too highly colored. Ii is
the fashion nowadays to accept with
incredulity much that travellers and
sportsmen write, and TO consider it a
hunters privilege to draw the long
bow. / don't pretend to deny that some
do embellish their narratives so as to
make them SAVIOR of the miraculous;
but those who have themselves hunted
can always discern between the truth
and the fiction, even where the truth
looks for ordinary stay-at-home NOR
tails almost beyond belief
THAT the lion is the king of beasts"
seems to us from infancy to be 20. Il.
d.; but the lion can't hold a candle to
the grizzly bear, either as to courage
or tenacity of life. a full-grown grlz-
ely is more than four times as heavy
as the finest lion that ever stepped the
veldt; and where a lion will more often
than not endeayor to escape, who ever
heard of a grizzly acting likewise? -I
mean IL once molested. OF late years
the grizzly, in common with other ami
mails, has "tumbled" to the increased
efficacy of modern firearms; but 1t is a
respect which demands reciprocity
Hunters and bears agree pretty well
a
spcctive ways. The hunter provides
the bear with sundry meals. and in re-
turn he is permitted to enjoy himself
On "Ephraim's" preserves. once mo-
lest him, however, and there is sure to
be trouble.
But / must return to Owl creek,
where Gerard, Fawcett and l We're
hunting and trapping generally. one
morning we were all busly engaged
IN chopping wood. IL was before the
days of the crosscut saw, and every
tree had to be chopped down and
chopped up--the delirious pleasure of
which work can only be duly appre-
elated by those who have tried it.
was embarrassing the bluntness of
my axe and the necessity of laying I'm
supply of firing. when a prolonged
whistle from Gerard made us both
look up; and there, sure enough, stood
huge grizzly in the swamp, some so
reds from our bit of cIearing. Snow
had not yet fallen where we were
camped, although on the foothills there
was plenty and the bear was engaged
In munching up what few cranberries
remained, for even the carnivorous
grizzly enjoys such dainties at times
In fact where the wild plums grow
he will tear down trees TO get at the
fruit. He had not appeared to pay
any attention to the sound of our
hsaVK L. %
looked up and raised himself on his
hind legs. as though better to take i'm
our position.
Say; but he has an elegant hide"
was Fawcett's remark which l cut
short by bidding him to shut up. or
his own hide might become elegantly"
scored. Meanwhile the bear had re-
sumed his normal gait and disappeared
into the timber, at the edge of the
marsh through which the creek made
a bend.
thinking that in all probability he
would not cross the stream, but follow
IL up towards the mountains. we hnst-
lily arranged that l should follow on
his trail, which was easy enough To
hold, even through the leaves; whilst
Gerard was to cut across some distance
TO the west and head him of Fawcett
who was never really sure whether he
would get ''ague' or not even II he |
came across fawn, / advised either
10 stay IN camp or else TO keep some |
httle distance behind me; for in this |
sort OF hunting you certainly carry
your life in your hands and the utmost |
sang froid is necessary. | still used |
the converted Enfield carbine. which
required Gaping. though a breech- |
loader; also had heavy bulldog six
shooter which took a ball not much less |
IN caiDer than that of my military |
\ hn
before young duck came tearing back
on runway which crossed the trail |
was taking. He went by me like n |
streak and with the fright he had evil |
IDENTIFY received before / added TO his
terror he was a well-scared deer. OF
course. took no notice Of him. but
moved carefully on, expecting every
moment TO come up with the bear.
l was wondering how far west Ge-
rard had gone and was looking for the
bark of his old shooting iron every
minute. when, as l was climbing over
big cedar which lay directly i'm my
path. from the upturned roots (which
was Just about to jump. almost pre-
cipitated myself on to the bear. II
was only by holding on 10 one of the
limbs like all / knew how. thatNI lust
managed to swing myself round into
a close shave; but il served me right
Tor being so hasty. step once. look
twice" the Indians say.
Down beneath me i'm the moss was
the big grizzly. and he was not slow
10 resent his Intrusion on my part
Inc stump was perched on was
shockingly bad foothold; bur as the
bear rose on his hind legs and en-
deavored TO scramble up. / gave him a
ball in the chest. for l thought myself
too low 10 fire at his head with GER
tainty. The limb he had got hold of
gave way at the same moment, and he
went TO the ground again INSTANTLY
reloading. / was lucky enough To get q
cap out in time. for he was up and al
me in bigger fury than ever. 1 don't
believe i shall ever forget the express
sion OF that particular bear: he was so
close 20 me / certainly had little leisure
for making observations. but the huge
Jaws, all sputtering with blood and
foam. We're within a few feet of me
Los. dim. L.. 800. D..