The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
ON THE GRIZZLY'S TRAIL.
n WHITE MAN AND AN INDIAN VINO
CAUGHT UP WITH A BEAR

Thon Their Quickness in Climbing Tree
Prevented tho Bear from Catching VI
with Them-siege of the Hunters by tn,
Game-Finnl Oversight of the Grizzly
KIPP. Mon. May 2O.-For a wonder the wine
did not blow. something very unusual In tn,
Rockies. The Indians say that there lie erea
animal they name Ai-so-pomstan iwind
maker), that lives on the summit OF the noun.
tains. and by the Tapping OF his immense ear,
cauees the windstorms which nine days out o
ten throughout the year sweep down through
the passes and over the foothills OF the Rrea
divide and make life miserable for the
dwellers OF the prairie beyond. Just now We
read OF summer costumes In New York. OF ex.
eursions to Coney Island. and here we are with
a wind blowing at the rate OF forty miles al
| hour: the sky 10 overcast with lead-colored
clouds and there are two inches Of snow on the
| ground.
| But on this day. exactly year ago this
| month. for once tho wind-maker forgot to
flap his ears. and st. Marys Lake had not even
ripple on its surface The towering snow
clad and glacial heights which rise almost per-
pendicularly from its shores were reflected by
| the placid waters and gave one double view
| OF mountain scenery unsurpassed In this or
any other country. The waters OF the lake are
! as clear as crystal. and the rocky and pehbly
| bottom can be seen at depth OF more than
sixty feet. Early in the morning Bear-head.
| Blackfoot Indian. and l had mbarked
In skin we had built, and started out
to catch some trout. OF which there were
three varieties in the lake. There was
the lake trout. the mountain trout and. above
ALL the trout popularity and unfortunately
named tho Dolly Warden. Why so grand a
gamefsh should have such name surpassed
our understanding. We OF the West call It the
hiil md q ot,,lv a A.
Once hooked 1t struggles harder and takes
longer to tire out than any other member Of
the salmon family. After taking the deceptive
fly 1t leaps time and again from the water
descends to the lowest depths. only to rise
again. and makes a stubborn fight worthy OF
it's name until finally brought to the gaff or
landing net. This was the flsh we were after.
and rowing along the shore to where noun
tain stream poured the milky water OF the ga-
ciers into the lake. began to whip the eddy
Ing foam -6ecked swirl caused by the inrush-
ing waters. A goody fish OF six pounds weight
took the fly at once. and after q valiant strug.
gle was finally brought into the boat Then a
much larger one took the fly. and at the same
instant Bear-head pointed to a small pine
fringed park or prairie saying eIcitedy:
"O-mok ni-tapo-kai 70" There Is q real
bear)
The Blackfeet have a great respect for tho
grizzly and so have named him the real bear
the actual bona-flde bear as distinguished from
the other variety. the black. for whom they
have no fear or veneration.
Looking up at Bear-head's exciam alton saw
an immense grizzly in the upper end OF the
park husily digging UP the sod and dirt where
a ground squirrel or perhaps a marmot had
made its home.
"Ap-o-tos kitomi-kan" net go tho hshl. said
Bear head
quickly saw that was the only thing to do
for We were not very far from the animal and
in our ex posed position he might see us at any
minute. So the line was cut at the reel and fifty
or more feet OF the best enamelled silk a new
leader and fly disappeared with the trout and
we rowed to shore. We had only one rife with
US. an old-fa shioned rm-1r piece belonging
to Bear-head. which did not always shoot true.
But we wanted that bear. and thought that
at reasonably close range might shoot near
enough to the animals heart to kill him. Leav-
ing the boat we skulked along the shore until
We reached the pines. and. sheltered by the
dropping and dark green foliage Of the SIN aler
trees which bordered the park. began to ap-
proach the game
The bear continued to dig. throwing out as
much as a shoveful OF dirt at each stroke of
his long. wide paws. We soon arrived within
sixty or seventy yards Of him, and. taking
long. careful aim. pulled the trigger of the
old weapon. simultaneously with the report
Of the gun the bear jumped backward with
roar of pain. rolled over and over clawing at n
place in his side between the ribs and tho
without effect and before more could be got in
the beast ran off into the timber on the onpo-
whore he had been digging and found a hole
large enough to conceal man; earth. stones |
few minutes which Would would have BEEN en-
task OF several hours for a laboring man. |
moist earth. we went on to where the bear had |
vanished In the pines. and with one accord
10 on Bear head urged III follow when
yo T, see old sticky mouth Just brain him,
myself as trailer; The bear was wounded:
wait Beside the trail to ponnce upon any pur
sners. which is familiar trick Of the grizzly,
bt G "a tire t. the
this wounded one. There will rest and smoke
p f% Sss feel the need Of cigarette" said
, 1t might have been twenty minutes since We
had done 80. but we now sat down and rolled
Alter nRains few whfis the indian k.s said eHen
The whites are great medicine. They have
hearts OF iron and are afraid Of nothing They
travel in them faster than the wind. They have
made the lightning captive. and use II to talk
with each other across the world. Handling
all these fearful things as they do. q course
It's true" ! replied. that the white men
do as you say. They travel on the fire wagons
and talk with each other by the dreadful light
nings aid, But yet. as you know. their WAYS
are the ways OF peace; they do not care to
quarrel with man or beast. Now you are diff
terent; you people. are warriors know your
history Your chiefs are the men who have
been in the front Of battle: they are the ac-
knowledged leaders because they have bravely
m or and connuara6 than faE
many scalps, Therefore think that YOU. who
gun. and. following up the trail Of this bear
We have wounded keep on, until you find It.
and then give it the death shot it deserves |
have heard your fathers count their coups;
they told OF Killing men: surely you will go on
and kill this bear so you can tell about the
brave deed when, you return home. You ought
not to be afraid"
Il am not a coward" exclaimed the Indian.
rising and strutting up and down before me-
' Afraid Why should ! fear even the real
bear whom ! have ,warred with the, Sioux. the
Crow, and the Asslniboin. Now. this day will
father will invade the haunt OF this terrible
i L. 10 "A a |