The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-07
THE BOOK ON BEARS.
AN OBJECT LESSON WHICH SHOWS
1T WILL NOT DO TO GO BY.

A Sportsman Whose Experience Disproved
Desert Her Young IL That Is Necessary
to Save Herself From Trouble.
"It Is wonderful how much one may
learn from books what wild animals will
do and what they will not do, said Now
Yorker who has timo and money enough
to go where and do MS he plcases. 1T am
reminded of this by having read in u book
the other day the positive statement that
the numerous tales told of tho black
bears pugnaciousness and the fury with
which 1t will attack man are entirely
fanciful. Even when wounded and pressed
by the hunter the black bear will put forth
every endeavor to escape, and the female
of this variety, instead of resolutoly and
savngely standing in defense of her cubs
will desert them ut tho first sign of danger
if such desertion Is necessary to save her
self from trouble.
81 had read that same declaration be-
fore, and u few years ago believed IT, I
was led to change my opinion, though, by
some personal observations I had tho OPP
portunity of making of the black bears
disposition. j do not seek information
about bears any moro from the learned
naturalists who make books, but I know
great deal more about them.
sit was only II years ago that re-
oGived my interesting object lesson In
whatthe black bear will and will not do.
r 4 was way up in Frontenao county, Can
ada, fishing. / had half breed guide
who pronounced his nnme Fangwas.
don't know how he spelled 1t. Neither
did no. He was n ginnt in size and
strength, and 1t is pleasant recollection
20 mo that no was. Otherwise. my conf.
denoe in book knowledge of wild beasts
would have cost my estate quite sum for
funeral expenses, direct and incidental.
"We were camped near the shore OF
White lake. One day came in from o
little excursion by myself on the lake, and
( ] had my gun with mo. Deer used to have
q habit of coming down to the lake and
standing in tho water, stamping and snort.
ing. This scared the fish, and we used to
!. take our guns with us sometimes to make
the deer go away. had just stepped
ashore from my boat when heard q noise
in the thicket. looked toward 1t and saw
bear, followed by two good sized cubs
hurrying ACROSS an open spot in the bushes
The old bear had got out Of sight In tho
thicket again before thought of firing
saw where She was, though, by the sway
ing of the bushes, and banged away
The bullet took effect, and the bear tum-
bled and lay there.
"1She must DO dead, said I, 'or she
would gat up and run away az fast as her
legs could carry her, cubs or no cubs
ESQ hurried toward the spot to take a
look mt the game myiwell calculated shot
had brought down and take measures to
secure the two young bears. hadn't tax
en- half a dozen steps, however, when tho
bushes began to tumble about in lively
connection, and my supposed dead bear
came tearing out into the opening with q
fierceness and determination that were on
tirely irregular and in violation of the rule
laid down In the books. Tho instant she
saw me she rose on her haunches, and I
want to tell you she was sight to give a
fellow dreams. And her appearance wasn't
improved any by the fact that my bullet
had carried away her lower 5aw.
before could collect myself sufficient