New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-03
A NEw-MExICo BEAR HUNT.
CLAY cooPER's sEvENrY-VrFTH oRlz.
Fly AND THE TUssLE SHE GAVE HIM.
TCLARosA-rREED IN A JUMPER. But RE-
LEASED by THE DOGS EFronrN

socorro. n. NJ. Jan. 2.-Clay Cooper. whose homo
Is In the western part Of 6ocorro County. N. ~ =
a great bear hunter. The region In which he lives
Is Wild and rugged, broken by vast mountans and
terrible canyons and very thnly settled On q re-
visit Of friend into that district the sat
under a majestic pine in the dooryard at Mcorath's
ranch. and Mr. Cooper was asked for bear story.
Mr.. Cooper who Is one Of the mos, pleasant ana
genial OF men. readily acquiesced.
I'm the first place ! must tell you" he said.
that to hunt bear successfully one must have
dogs trained to the business. While the bear IL .
heavy, clumsy-looking brute. there 10 no more
cunning and cautious animal living; might
hunt bear for months without dogs and never
catch sight Of one. and even II one did II would
be by the merest accident They feed In the early
morning or late In the evening During the day
they lie concealed In the dense thckets which
may be found high up on the sides OF the noun.
tains. They feed on phon nuts, juvper berries
and hcorns. They usually make their bedding
ground two three miles from the feeding places.
ION the 18th OF last September I packed my
burros-six In a-saddled my bear horse. Spanish
Black, and rode into Wilson Canyon. about I'VE
miles from my home where went into camp at
a spring about three miles from the mouth Of
this canyon which opens out upon the valley Of
the Rio Tularosa.
II had been over there day two before. and
had located the feeding ground Of several bears
near little spring about mile and half above
where was camped My camp ideal spot:
there were plenty OF wood. clear. cold spring
and good grass for my stock. In hunting bear
do not think It best to make very early start.
This gives the bear plenty Of time to get back
his bed and go sleep before he Is routed out by
the dogs.
Il saddled up the next morning about $50 o'clock,
got my dogs-Rock, Sheriff. Ringwood and Boss
together. mounted Spanish Black. who could
travel the toughest country and keep his feet and
with my forty-fve ninety Winchester and six
tsI rlo,
the bears.
STRIKING THE TRAIL.
when reached the pihon wood I sent the
dogs In. and II only few moments before
old Rock struck their trail. 1t probably four
hours old. they having been in early for their
breakfast. and led back to their bedding-ground
high up OIL the mountain.
Rock followed by the other dogs. kept the
trail steadily and I'm a little more than half an
hour started the bears from their beds In the head
OF dark canyon thickly covered with trees and
brush. There three OF them, an old she
bear and two big cubs They circled around to
the left with the dogs yelling in hot pursuit
followed at my best speed-whch not great,
as the country much broken-at from one.
half to a mile behind
I'm crossing the head OF a canyon that ran down
to Apache Creek. another branch OF the Tuarosa,
the dogs ran so close upon them that one OF the
cubs left its mother and took OF down this gulch.
Two Of the dogs followed the cub but Rock and
Sheriff kept after the others. The riding here
was terrible. but Spanish Black took bowldera
fallen trees and rock slides all alike and fairly
outdid himself in trying 10 keep up with them.
Bythe-way, old Spanish Black enjoys the sport al.
most as keenly as do myself
ION coming to deep canyon. found the dogs
had stopped the game on the opposite side. high up
among the brush and powders. They having
terrible fight in the low. scrubby live oak bushes.
and the canyon fairly echoed again to the growing
and barking Of the dogs, The trumpeting of the
bear and the crashing Of the rocks. The dogs had
the old eacked up against huge rock. with
the cub behind her. They about one hundred
and fifty yards away.
First one and then the other would rush in and
nip her from side. This kept her attention dis
tracted, and had reused her terrible pitch Of
rage. as could tell by her furious snortins and
| gruntng. or rather barking; | now got my hrstt
good view Of her. and found that she an old
grizzly of enormous size. Concealing myself behind
rock, and resting my gun over It. fired across
the canyon at her fifteen times without apparently
doing her any serious injury. although killed the
cub at the third shot.
RUNNING UP THE MOUNTAIN.
when the old bear finally discovered that tho
cub was dead she made another rum taking back
up the mountain Knowing that she would have to
pass along the foot OF bare blum. II she kept the
trail on which she had started. ! hurried up the
canyon. thinking might cut her of. On coming to
this open place which was on the opposite side OF
the canyon. instead Of passing 1t she came directly
across toward me. could hear her grunting and
smashing the brush. but could not locate her, ana
she within fifty feet Of me before saw her 4
She was wounded but how badly could not teIi
l took three shots In almost many seconds.one 4
at her throat and two at her mighty chestwwitnouf
started, however the dogs. which had been wool
ing the cub. came up with her and attaekeo net 80
furiously that they got her started OH In anotner
direction. ! had left my horse where ! hau o'S-
mounted below. and now returned for him: 81.
1.-THE dogs her about three miles around me
mountain. and again stopped her: She had; IN the
racket in ciump OF ccdars thick that , could
n1t na s ansy oSc Of moving
ttle gap in the brush fired. ana was enough
to start them. however; so with hard tight going
and general hurrah and believing Ing shey n ran
ping them at every step. Just over the crest the
dogs brought them to stand again rdg so ON
discovered them where the,ehad stopped in little
The old bear was making furious charges at the
dogs who running in on her from all sides
got behind epmp Of Tsk wSe she threw up
her head and looked directly toward me- She S waf
was ss% wet tev with blood in hall dozen places
bloody froth hung in flakes from her Jaws .,a anc
s ns sh IN hsr great psssh face like
She made was something between the bawl OF
enough to make mans blood run cold II she
could have go; s me would Kitten n With
tiger Although have killed many bears: ] want
tell right now that l Always Hkht shy VI
one that has been wounded. When hurt they
are as quick as a cat and vengeful as an Apache.
when she looked toward me- ! took deliberate
aim and fired. hoping to shoot her through tne
shoulders but she must have moved slightly. TOT
ball struck her In the corner OF the jaw passed
through her head. coming out under the lett ear
and killed the cub. which was standing at her side:
The ball passed directly through Its body. Just
back OF the fore shoulders dropping II In It's tracks
The old bear fell Also and lay there believing and
throwing the dirt for four or five minutes.
THE TINE TO CLIMB TREE.
she was not dead. though, and. getting on her
feet again. took after old Sheriff. who ran directly
toward me. / took shot at her while they were
still little distance OF. and broke for the nearest
Juniper tree. In my haste. and through keeping an
eye the bear. l tripped over rock ana came
down in heap. didn't wait to md my hat and
gun, but, leaping TO my feet. hastily swung myself
into the lower branches OF the tree which stood
few feet from where fell None too soon. either i