The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-09
:. Bears at Play =.

While we were sitting around the camp
1re near the headquarters OF the Gros
ventre In Western Wyoming. one of the
boys came into camp with an account of
bear that he had seen a mile away. The
night before. from the actions OF our
horses, we believed that bear was
prowling around our camp. The conver-
sation accordingly naturally turned 10
bear stories.
Well, the funniest experience that I
ever had with bears was over in Salt
River Valley" began our guide. II was
over in the valley getting out ties for a
contract that my brother-in-law and 1
had with the Utah Northern Railroad
company. We had cut all the good tim
Der there was in the vicinity OF our camp
and were planning TO move. 1 started
one Sunday morning TO prospect farther
up the river
I'VE had plenty OF meat. so 1 didn't
bother to carry a gun. / went up the
river about ten miles and located a good
lot Of timber. When / was about half
NNs baSh St6AAtu uB ONtE the nlli To-
ward place where thought had seen
some timber that might be suitable to
work on later i'm the season 1 was fol-
lowing up shallow gulch. | had gone
some distance when 1 sat down 10 rest,
and while 1 was there heard a peculiar
noise in the bushes above me.
II listened for a spell and then crept
up the side OF the sulch to Investigate.
When l had reached a point where /
could look over the bank could hardly
keep from laughing. About 100 feet from
me was the stump of a large tree that
had been broken OF Is or p feet from
the ground. A few feet below the place
where IL was broken of part OF a single
limb brsnched out for about ~ feet
The ground all around, the stump was
beaten down as II animals were in the
habit OF gathering there. The noise that
had heard was made by three small
black bears coming toward this tree
They were yearlings. / should Judge But
what amused me was the solemn look on
their faces as they marched along They
acted as if they were dressed up and go-
ne 10 Sunday school. They didn't see me
and kept quiet I'm the bushes.
They stopped a few feet from the
rec, sHhatteu IN circle, looked all
irouAd and then looked at each other
Finally one OF them gave his neighbor a
at'sA af4d a etfff 4.s ftttieh a. II, say; 90
ahead; what are you afraid of?'It was the
smallest one that was urged, and he got
lp and started for the tree. The solemn
ook ON the others faces gave way, and
hey watched their comrade with the
greatest interest.
He Immediately began 10 climb the
tump. and when he had reached the |
imo he started out on IL. just like aboy I
hat was going 10 perform some kind of |
rick. And that was just what the bear
vas going TO do. 1 had drawn a reserved |
eat at a bear circus.
"Bruin walked out along the limb lust \
y " he was afraid of falling, and the I
ther two sat down there and grinned
4 him. lie Crawlod along until he came /
n the end ~ the limb. where IL was |
roken or. and there he lay. with his
cad hanging over. and grinneCs back at
is companions
Finally he got up and carefully turned /
round. stood up on his hind feet and /
tarted TO walk back 10 the trunk of the
rec, when down he came striking
luarely on his nose.
II had wanted IN laugh all along, but I