The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-02-28
PEARY AS A HUNTER.
The Arctic Explorers Account of the
Capture of Two Little Bears
in the Far North.

While boring through the heavy ice.
In an effort to enter the Hudson strait,
a polar bear and her two cubs were
seen, and the Hope was Immediately
headed in their direction. 1t was
beautiful trio of unusually white ami
mails. 4 few moments after the rifles
began to crack the old bear was floating
lifeless in the water between two pans
of ice, and the cubs swimming Justify
away from the ship, among the pools
and lanes of water which intersected
the foes in every direction.
Quickly the dory was lowered and
with five men started in pursuit, while
others of the party and crew scattered
over the ice to head the cubs off if they
left the water. Soon one of them was
lassoed and turned over to the care of
Bonesteel, who had followed the dory
over the ice, and the chase continued
after the other. Mr.. Bonesteel immedi-
ately found all of his college athletics
called into active play, as, with the line
about the cubs neck in one hand and Il
boat hook in the other, he endeavored
to maintain his balance. He was almost
dragged into the water by the sturdy
little fellows efforts to swim away. The
next moment he was doing his best TO
keep the vicious youngster from climb
ing up on the ice pan with him, where
he would have an opportunity to make
effective use of teeth and claws.
After an hours chase, during which
the dory was REINFORCED by whale
boat and then by the Hope herself, the
second cub was finally headed off. cor
rered, and lassoed. Then the body of
the old bear ard the growing and
swapping Youngsters were hoisted on
board the former deposited amidships
to receive the attention of Mr., Fig
gins, the naturalist, and the latter tied
10 ring bolt aft, until a couple of hogs
heads could be pre- pared for their quar-
ters.
The little brutes were possessed Of
truly marvellous strength. While trans
ferring them to their hogsheads, one
succeeded in freeing himself from the
ropes. trotted aft, and was on the point
of jumping overheard when | saw him
just in time to jerk him back on to the
deck, where Prof. Burton fell upon him
bodily in Greco-Roman embrace; and
reenforcements rapidly arriving, the
youngster was again securely bound
and transferred to his hogshead. 1t
was quickly evident that these would
hold the cubs but short time, so a
strong cage was constructed by the
ships carpenter from heavy planlls. Tc
this they were transferred, and thcii
house was lashed 10 the rail on the port
side of the quarter deck.
They were fed on meat and water
and soon went to sleep like innocent
kittens, with their heads resting upor
their paws. During their first nap or
board ship they were named "Polaris'
and "Cassiopeia," after the two blazing
consultations which, circling about tn,
pole star. light the gloom Of the ''grea
night" OF the Arctic regions. In thi!
cage they lived and throve during til,
rest OF the voyage, occasionally taking
mouihful out OF the boot Of an incau
tious sailor, or swapping up a careless
mitien, and On one occasion securing
bit of finger with the mitten.--Liens
Peary. in st. Nicholas.