Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-03-08
THE BOOK ON BEARS.
AN OBJECT LESSON WHICH SHOWS
IT WILL NOT DO TO GO BY.
A Sportsman Whose Experience Disproved
the Claim That the Female Bear WIN
Desert Her Young IL That Is Necessary
to Save Herself From Trouble.

at Is wonderful how much ono may
learn from books what wild animals will
do and what they will not do, said New
Yorker who has timo and money enough
TO go where and do rs he pleases ~ am
reminded Of this by having read in bool;
the other day the positive statement that
the numerous tales told of the black
bears pugnnclOusncss and tho fury with
which 1t will attack man are entirely
ianCiful, Even whom wounded and pressed
by tho hunter the black bear will put forth
every endeavor to escape, and the female
OF this variety, instead Of resolutoly and
savagely standing in defense of her cubs,
will desert them at the first sign of danger
II such desertion Is necessary to save her
self from trouble,
~ had read that same declaration be-
fore, and few years ago believed 1t.
was led to change my opinion, though, by
some personal observations | had tho OPP
portunity OF making OF tho black boar's
disposition. / do not seek Information
about bears any more from the learned
naturslsts who mako books, but l know
great deal more about them.
at was only Y years ago that 1 re-
ceivcd my interesting object lesson In
what the black bear will and will not do
/ was way up in Frontennc county, Can
ada, fishing. had half breed guide,
who pronounced his pnmo Fangwas. I
don't know how he spelled 1t. Neither
did he. He was giant In size and
strength, and 1t Is % pleasant recollection
to mo that he was. Otherwise my conf
dence in book knowledge OF wild beasts
would have cost my estate quite sum for
funeral expenses, direct and incidental.
1--WE were calnpod near tho shore or
White lake. One day came In from
little excursion by myself on tho lake aud
had my gun with me. Deer used to hayo
u habit Of coming down TO the lake and
standing IN tho water, stamping and snort
ing. This scared the fish, and we used to
tako our guns with us sometimes to make
the deer go away. ] had Just stepped
ashore from my bout when heard noise
In tho thickot. | looked toward 1t hnd saw
"a bear, followed by two good sized cubs,
hurrying across m 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 tho sway
ing OF the bushes, and banged away
Tho bullet tool; effect, and tho bear tum-
bled and lay there.
- she must Dt uNiut Fhlu VI ~"
would get up and run away as fast as her
legs could carry her, cubs or no CUPS
$50 hurried toward tho spot to take
look at the game my well caiculateu snot
hnd brought down and take measures TO
secure the two young bears. j haun' TAX
on half a dozen steps, however, when the
bushes began to tumble about IN hVely
CONJUNCTION, and my supposed dead bear
A..tF In
ficrc,ness and determination that were en-
iii, irrogulnr and In violation OF the rulo
laid down In the books. Tho Instant she
saw ma she rose ON her Launches, and
want 10 tell You she was sight to givoa
follow dreams. And her appearance WASN'T
improved any by the fact that my puiie'
had carried AWAY hor lower Jaw.
nBnforo could collect myself suilicieht-
10 IN mako nny effort either TO defend my
sc,f ar ia escape the slockingly mutilated
and n,togcther furious bear was upon me
Down VIC went together In heap on mo
,ronnd | yelled rs never man yelled PC
Sore / ruess. II happened, fortunately ior
mo that Fapgwas was ut tho camp, which
,r,s AMY n few rods away. He hhd heatu
my ,nn md had started ielSuroiy uoWh
,hot yay to SOC what / had fired OF. ho
hadn't suspected bear or danger oil my
i,nd and never thought Of taking ms
oun when no heard me yell, no was olosa
hvond oamo rushing through INC ,hluhs,
-, nv aid. II ho had had gun, ne salu
aS,arwnrd. no wouldn't bavo dared 70 Wy
n ca mixed up wero tho bear ana ~ .nu
' ~, an tho ground. IL was Wen LOT
mo that NV bullet had SLICED the pcnr
,,,-or law al. for tho loss OF that prevent
90 LINZ nor from tearing me with her teeth. !
t n@J on the ground, to selsc the bears long
fur in my tcoih and draw my lace uesp h Ia.
n her coat, thus keeping 1t away rom h'i
claws. ~, -. IN cot n