The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-25
A Successful Bear Hunt
e. Mountains of Fort Davis


A drive OF % miles out from Fort Davis,
through the widest of mountain scenery,
brought our party OF three, late in the
evening. hungry and tired, to hospitable
ranch near the foot OF Livermore noun
tain. Each of the kind housewives OF the
two families living there had prepared a
bounteous dinner in anticipation OF our
arrival; So by the way of compromising
the 1attering contention as to whose guests
We should be. we had to dine with one and
sleep with the other household.
Al o'clock next morning. after a most
refreshing slumbers under a pair of heavy
blankets, etc. We were awakened and fair
ly jumping into our clothes partook of
hasty breakfast, saddled up and equipped
with winchester rifles. hestrode our mettle
some steeds ready for the mornings chase.
familiar blast from Captain Dicks
horn brought TO our heels an excited,
bowling, baying pack OF trained hounds
that seemed fully as keen for the sport
as any OF us. Getting beyond the bounds
of the ranch premises the dogs were per-
mitted TO range out at will. The veteran
leader OF the pack, "Old Loundes," deep,
rich, musical voiced sagacious brute, like
Captain Dick, the accomplished leader OF
oar party was the one individual above
all others always 10 be depended upon. Not
his 10 waste time on scent OF deer, or fox
or smaller game; No attended strictly TO
business and held the younger dogs down
to iran OF bear or panther. 10 Nas as
tonlshlng 70 note the confidence aud re-
spect IN which the doings and sayings OF
tnis champion canine We're held by me rest
OF the dUgs, and their owner as Wen.
Others oil the pack might voice even hot
trail, but until the trusted leader was
heard from small notice was accorded u.
Instantly, however. that "Old Loundes
opened il was accepted as surely meaning
businGss-bear or panther Even our very
horses. from The way they champed their
bits and stretched their ears TO catch the
coming sound seemed TO understand the
significance OF the startling signal.
4 few miles ride up the canyon brought
us TO he foot of grand old Liyerm0re, INA;
monarch OF Texas mountains that stands
1892 feet above Galyestons sea level The
scene was grand beyond description Liv-
ermore. clad with mountain oak and pine
and cedar, sternly mAJestcally lifted ts
rugged await form far above its tower
ing neighbors, seeming 20 take high prece'
dence 10 stolen kisses from the daWn-l
clouds that fingered about It's summit. TIL,
cool, bracng mountain air aud the vii,
scenery koenly enhanced our relish for tai
chase The air at Fort Davis was delight
ful at the foot of Liygrmore it was ex
hilara,ingly delicious. After filling ever
crevice OF breathing space one cOul,
scarce resist deeper ed1rt still TO inhal
more of this gaseous nectar. that made on
feel exalted to the seventh heaven o
ecstacy; as though thriliugly intoXcate
by deep draughts OF SOME highly ozonate
champagne elixir
but soon the deep voice OF cold Loundes
rang out the impatiently awaited an
nouncement that hot trail OF big game ha
come under his unerrinE nose, and IN
stantly with one acclaim the whole pac
Joined in with loud, rich chorus that va
echoed and Ie-echoed from mountain sid
TO mountain side and back again until
tenderfoot, like myself, felt fairly lite
out OF his boots. The Cagerness OF II
dogs and the loudness OF their cry vari'
as the character Of ground gayo OF
weaker or stronger scent At times Il
music of the chase WAS almost lost in di
tant cadence. Again, az tho TRAIN gre
hotter it swellcd into rich, reyerboratii
volume ot soul-stirriug sound.
Hastily dismountng 20 see that OF
saddles were well adjusted and secure
gIrthed We sprang TO horse again, an
away We dashed through rocky gulche
over gullies and boudsrs and fallen tin
her. Nnuer low -UluEluk hOuEOn NJ
through thlckets of bushes and brandt
at hreak-neck speed to keep up with c
hounds. When chance offered. my hal
insunctively went to nose aud Sims
see how much of those exposed n
bruised parts were left to me. Tho do
followed "Old Loundes" and we follow
Daredevil Captain Dick" Once. VIII
just ahead OF me he came TO a preclI
tous descent. ! thought, here surely
viii stop and lead down, but no. down
he dashed at one swoop. l had no IN
to consider consequences, but concludl
that what horse had done horse could
] fastened to follow suit, and, with he
near my horses head. my head not
from the root Of his tail, down we div
too. My well-trained mount, bracing
forefeet out in front, deliberately sat DO
on his launches aud neatly slid, at
angle of near forty-hve degrees d
lance OF twenty to thirty feet down
the bottom OF the gulch. where he sat
landed, accompanied by rolling stones q
masses OF loose earth. Picking hms
up he galloped off up the gulch and ella
bered its rocky farther side as nimhly
a mountain goat. Here a neVer-to-
forgotten and thrilling scene came 4
view. on the other side of an interven
valley a monster bear could he seen, ab
400 yards away. numbering across an Ol
space in full view for half a mile
more with the dogs In close chase, Ey
now and then dog would slip up heh
and nip him in the launches and quito
get out of reach Bruin with mo
opened seemingly Wide enough to take
three dogs. would rush at the ofronC
This was the signal for one or moro OF
dogs to come TO the rescue and attack
behind. At last as though lmpelled
look to protection OF tanks and rear
sat himself deliberately down and "
rldioulously quick, ierky moveme
twisted his lubberly head from side
side, watching, as it we're over his she
ders for the assaults OF the dogs. w
one ventured near his front he slapped
him with ponderous forepaw as vicio,
as angry pedagogue trying TO box dodg
schoolboy.
| was keen for dashlng after him
once, and so was another greephorn of
party II he would but acknowledge It,
Captain Dick quickly hushed us TO a W
per. saying IF that bear sees or h
us he will take fright and the dogs W
be able to bring him to bay short OF e
or ten miles. You all Just keep quiet
sollow me: we can soon head him of.
is sure to pass through this guleh and
,tnIr ,.,1 aha at IA In t.,b., o.,