The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-05-02
HIS DOUBLE CATCH.

L /
i caught Limpy, the Big Bear although
Jackson has been queer in his head ever
since and denies all knowledge of it. Limpy,
the Big Bear, was a grizzly Of extraordinary
dimensions, vaIiously reported TO be six
feet tall and from that all the way up TO the
| height of a two-story house, says Sioux
| Falls, Mont, correspondent Of the New York
| Sun. His left forefoot had been detached in
a bear trap when he was cub, but its loss
made him uncommon cunning, and for years
he had been robbing meat houses, killing
dogs, walking away with launches of ven
ison, devouring sucking pigs, and showing
other proclivities of an unpopular kind.
Jackson's trapping methods were i'm
ported, as was jackson, from the pine-cov-
cred 'mountings" of Maine. They con-
sisted of digging perpendicular shafts in the
track of his quarry and covering the shafts
with brush and earth. In due course, the
bear, or if not the bear something else, would
unconsciously attempt to walk over the
brush and be precipitated to the bottom.
Then Jackson would come along and do the
appropriate shooting, skinning, drawing
and quartering. The proceeds of his catch
were divided systematically-te per cent.
for ammunition, ten per cent. for grub"
and other necessities and so per cent for
"red-eye." Hence his sobriquet Of Booze
jackson.
Not far from Smiths Valley there resides
a prospector named Griggs His cabin is
somewhere in the high mountains, nobody
seems to know exactly where Griggs rarely
comes to town, but when he does his little
bag Of dust is very much in evidence. He
buys his salt, pepper, flour, bacon, tobacco,
giant powder and ammunition Immediately
upon arriving in town. Then he goes to the
nearest 'joint'| and samples the whisky.
Griggs is not popular. In fact, even the
Smith Valley merchants, of whom he buys
his supplies, and the proprietors of the sa-
looms, of whom he buys his whisky, have a
dread of Griggs. His profanity, his readi-
ness to draw" and his naturally quarrel
some disposition are in no wise improved by
drink. Everybody, when asked drinks
with Griggs, and tries to look as if he were
doing it cheerfully.
Gsiggs' exit from the town is usually as
Informal as his entry. He shoulders his
pack at any hour, be it day or might, and I'M
tremendously walks off. Now, Booze
Jackson, having long been respondent con-
corning his apparent inability to capture
Limpy, was exhibiting his case of the blues
at Frenchy's on last Tuesday, when in came
Griggs. Booze hesinted respectfully, know
Ghggs, but was ordered to proceed with his
yarn. He did so, cutting out the fowery
parts, and quickly finished. Griggs stepped
forward, eyed Booze contemptuously, and
said:
"Take drink"
Under ordinary circumstances or from
any other person this invitation would have
been very acceptable. Griggs was another
matter. Anyone who began drinking with
Griggs tempted fate, yet no one dared re-
fuse.
When Booze was properly Tined up" at
the bar, Grggs addressed him coldly.
Name your pizen, you inconsequential bug,
name your pizen!"
Certainly, Mr.. Griggs." responded Booze,
deferentialy.
Don't you call me 'mister!'" yelled
Griggs, cor III skin you 1.-The snake, you
low-down alfalfa miner. Name your pizen!"
The drink which Booze poured out al
most proved poison, for it nearly strangled
him. Then the drinking became faster and
faster. Griggs went out now and again and
brought in the neighbors. These drank and
affected hilarity. Booze drank, but was too
/ anxious and frightened to ges drunk. Late
that night Griggs picked up his pack, paid
his bill and walked out.
When Griggs had gone, Frenchy hastily
blew out the lamps and closed the place, and
the company quickly dispersed. Booze hur-
ried to his sleeping quarters back of Parks
store, rolled himself into his blankets and
was soon slumbering. Despite the whisky
he had consumed at Grggs' expense, and
the resentment he felt at the atter's in
suits, he did not forget his traps, and early
on Wednesday morning set out to examine
them.
When Griggs left Fenchy's he was some
what the worse for wear He struck out for
the trail toward his cabin, but must have
missed it, and began houndering aimlessly
about in the woods. Suddenly he felt the
trail give way beneath him, and before he
could utter word he landed with bang
ON the bottom of a shaft 20 feet deep. A
hasty inspection by the light of match
| showed him that the sides of the pit were
smooth, and that there was nothing for him
to do but to sit still and wait for some one to
rescue him. Accordingly, he sat down. lit
| his pipe, and began to smoke and swear.
While thus engaged, he was startled by
sudden crash, and a huge object descended
like thousand of brick to the floor of the
pit. There was some growing and snort
| ing, and the now thoroughly sobered pros
pector quickly realized that his companion
was bear, and an unusually big one al
that. Griggs saw the CLEAN of the bears
eyes, and the beast saw the CLEAN of Griggs'
pipe. By mutual consent they occupied OPP
posite sides of the pit, Grggs keeping up a
constant smoking, and the bear joining in
now and then with disguised snort. In
this weary way Griggs and the bear passed
the remainder Of the night.
About seven o'clock in the morning Booze
came along to look into his pitfall There
was hole in the brush, and in his glee he
hurried to peer down into the shaft, but only
saw the bear. Sure enough, it was Limpy.
Almost dehrious with joy, jackson fairly
yelled:
"By Heaven, I've got you at last"
Griggs, hearing Booze's exclamation,
yelled back in an equally loud tone;
''By Heaven, you have"
Booze sunk to his knees, almost fainting,
imagining the bear had sent him the reply.
In an instant p turned and fled, never ceas-
| ING fNom rim until he reached the town