The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-12-14
TALES OF PLUCK
and ADVENTURE.
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Bears Calling For Hunters.

- INNAMoN bears are causing
CONSERVATION among the farm
ers and ranchmen in the vi
cinity OF the Spanish Peaks,
south OF La Veta. along the border OF
Las Animas and Huerfano Counties.
in Colorado. Denver and Rio Grande
Railroad officials have lately received
many reports OF the depredations OF
these shaggy brown denizens OF the
mountains. Winter has cast its cold
white mantle over the lofty peaks. and
the presence OF the glistening snow
has convinced bruin that the summer
is gone.
The keen, penetrating air has sharp
ened the appetites OF the huge animals,
and now that the berries have disap-
peared they are seeking flesh and
blood for food. Down from the lonely
defles and rock-strewn canons come
the furry creatures with soft-footed.
tireless tread. Their keen noses scent
the barnyards from afar. instinct tells
those which have never seen calf
that IL must be good TO eat from its
very smell
over the half-wild pastures along
the cattle trails and rough roads trot
the bears in search OF food. \ single
night usually suttices for the journey,
as a healthy bear-and all bears are
healthy except when locked up in men
ageries-can travel many miles be
tween sundown and daylight Quiet
ly and full OF purpose the strong, sup
PIE fellows enter the farmyards.
Usually they hunt alone, but several
ranchmen have found the tracks Of
four different bears in the morning
their places have been visited. Noise
lessly they pick their way about the
corrals and barns while the owner and
his household lie wrapped in slumber.
Suddenly a pair OF these piercing eyes
esples a pet calf. He trots hurriedly
over 10 1t and sticks his sharp claws
into the unsuspecting sleeper. AS the
startled calf snorts ana scrambles to
Its feet the savagery of the bear be-
comes manifest
For centuries bruin has subsisted on
what he could find, and many feel
ing Of suspicion and fear has been
overcome by that cruel sensation OF
hunger. In a moment he strikes down
the trembling calf with swift and pow
erful blows. He seizes it in his great
jaws and easily carries it away some
distance. There he makes meal. or
perhaps. takes his prey far back into
the mountains before devouring IL. II
depends upoL his hunger, the size of
the slain animal and the strength Of
the bear When there are several bears
they feast close TO the spot where
their victim was killed, and they ol-
ways quarrel over the division Of
spoils and sometimes their fierce
growing awakens n member of the
household and results in a dead bruin.
Several bears have recently been
killed near La Veta. Sometimes the
watch dog gives warning and the bear
fees away into the nigh Sometimes
lie stays and is shot. But often the
prowler secures tn calf, pig or sheep
without alarming the household Oc-
casiOnally bears are seen in the day
time.
\ few days ago Jim Edwards, n
well-known hunter, lost a valuable
foXhound. y large brown bear killed
the dog before Edwards's eyes, and as
he was armed only with small shot
gun for squirrel shooting he could not
prevent the escape Of the animal. The
hound insisted on following the bear
and nipping at it's flanks. Suddenly
the huge bear turned and, with sin
Gle angry blow, felled the hound life
less. Hurriedly shambling off il dis
appeared in the timber. An older and
wiser hound knew better than TO at
tack the bear.
Returning home Edwards secured n
rife and, with a companion and a
couple Of hounds. retraced his steps
in search Of the bear. Finally they
found the trail and followed L all day.
Camping that night they resumed the
chase next day. and finally tracked
the bear 10 "A hole in the rocks. This
den. high up on the mountain side,
amid the most rugged scenery, bore
the signs Of many bears. There were
numerous tracks Of varying size, and
evidently more than one bear lived
within. A big roaring fire was kin
died at the hole and as far inside as
possible. All day long the smoke
poured into the den, and late in the
afternoon Edwards and his companion
noticed the smoke issuing from the
rocks some distance away.
Hasty investigation revealed TO the
disappointed hunters the presence Of
another hole. The den had two en-
frances, and the bears had quietly es-
caped.
Jim watt-'s Heroic Ride.
have read several graphic accounts
of the siege OF Tien.Tsin. but one