The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-07-11
4 Game Grizzly


Our camp was near the head waters
Of the Big Horn river, just where Owl
creek runs into it-an ideal spot for
a shanty, and in every way adapted to
q hunters requirements. We were
out on business trapping for what our
furs would bring us in dollars-not
merely a pleasure party. Under such
circumstances bears hide helps to
"tote'' up the balance, and there was
plenty of such game in the mountains.
"Old Ephraim" ranged where he pleas
ed-the giant grizzly Of the Rockies:
about which such thrilling stories have
been, written, some Of them probably
too highly colored. 1t 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. I
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 hunt
ed can always discern between the
truth and the fiction, even where the
truth looks beyond belief.
Ihat 1.-The lion is the king Of beasts:
seems to us from infancy to be 20.
II. D.; but the lion can't hold a can
Ole to the grizzly bear, either as to
courage or tenacity of life A full
grown grizzly is more than four times
as heavy as the finest lion that ever
stepped the >veldt; and where the lion
will more often than not endeavor to
escape, who ever heard of a grizzly
actlng likewise? I mean if once mo-
Tested. OF late years the grizzly, in
common with other animals, has ''tum-
Dled,' to the increased efficacy of mod
ern hrearms; but it is a respect which
demands reciprocity. Hunters and
pear agree pretty well nowadays, so
long as both go their respective ways.
Ihe hunter provides the bear with sun
dry meals, and in return he is permit
ted to enjoy himself on "Ephraim's''
preserves. Once modest him, however,
and there is sure to be trouble.
But l must return to Owl creek,
where Gerard, Fawcett and I were
hunting and trapping generally. One
morning we were all engaged in chop
ping wood. It was before the days of
the cross-cut saw, and every tree had
TO De chopped down and chopped up
the delirious pleasure of which work
can only be appreciated by those who
nave tried it. l was anathemizing the
piuntness OF my ak and the necessity
OF laying in supply of firing, when a
prolonged whistle from Gerard made
us both look up; and there, sure
enough, stood a huge grizzly in the
swamp, some eighty rods from our bit
Oh clearing. Snow had not yet fallen
where we We're camped, although on
the foothills there was plenty, and the
pear was engaged in munching I'D
what few cranberries remained, for
even the carnlvorous grizzly enjoys !
SUCH dalntles at times. In fact, where
the Wild plums grow he will tear down
trees to get at the fruit. He had not
to pay any attention to the |
sound OF our axes, but when we left !
gu: chopping he looked up and raised
hln;self on his hind legs, as though (
better to take in our position.
"Say, but he has an elegant hide"
was Fawcetts remark, which I cut |
short by bidding him to shut up or his
own hide might become Elegantly"
scored. Meanwhile the bear had re-
sun ed his normal gait and disappear
ed 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 fol-
low it up toward tie mountains, we
hastily arranged that I should follow !
on Els trail, which was easy enough |
to- hold, even through the leaves,
whilst Gerard was to cut across some |
RI L:
FaWcett, who was never really sure