The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-01

CONSERVATION among the farm
era and ranchmen IN the W.
clnity OF the Spanish Peaks,
south Of la Veta. along the border Of
Las Anlmas and Huerfano Counties,
IN Colorado. Denver and Rio Grande
Railroad officials have lately received
many reports OF the depredations Of
these shaggy brown denlzens OF the
mountains Winter has cast IT'S cold
white mantle over the lofty peaks. and
the presence OF the glistening snow
has convinced bruin thai the summer
IS gone.
The keen. penetrating air has sharp
ened the appetites Of the huge animals.
and now that the berries have dlsap-
peared they are seeking flesh and
blood for food. Down from the lonely
defiles and rock-strewn canOns come
the furry creatures with soft-f0oted.
tireless tread Their keen noses scent
the barnyards from afar instinct tells
those which have never seen a calf
that It must be good 10 eat from Its
very smell
over the halfwlld pastures along
the cattle trails and rough roads trot
the bears IN search Of food A single
night usually sufices for the Journey.
as a healthy bear-and an bears are
healthy except when locked up ia men
agerles-can travel many miles be-
tween sundown and daylight. Quiet
~ and full Of purpose ihe strong. sup
pie fellows enter the farmynrds.
Usually they hunt alone. but several
ranchmen have found the tracks OF
four different bears "a the morning
their places have been visited Noise
lessly they pick their way about the
corrals and barns while the owner and
lls household We wrapped Ia slumber
suddenly a pair Of these piercing eyes
espies a pet calf lie troia hurriedly
over 70 Il and sticks his sharp claws
lnto the unsuspecting sleeper As the
startled calf snorts aud scramhles 10
its feet the savagery OF the bear be
comes manifest
For centuries bruin has subsistpd on
what he could dnd. and many a feel.
Ing OF suspicion and fear has been
overcome BY that cruel sensation OF
hunger In moment be strikes down
The trembling calf with swift and pow.
erful blows He selzes Il IN bis great
Jaws and easily carries Il away some
distance. There be makes a meal. or
perhaps. takes his prey Tar back into
fhe mountains before deYourlng Il. II
depends up0E his hunger. the size OF
che slain animal and the strength OF
the bear. when there are several bears
they feast close 10 the spot where
their rietim was killed. and they a.
ways quarrel orer the division OF
ep0lls and somcilmes their fierce
growing awakfnf o member 81 the
household aud lesulis In q dead brnln.
Several bears have recently been
killed near IA Vcia. Sometimes the
watch dog gives warning and the bear
fees away into the nigh Sometimes
he stays nnd is shot But often the
prowier secures "a calf. pig or sheep I
without alarmlns the household Oc-
caslonally bears are seen 10 the day
time.
A few days ago jim Edwards. a
,reil-known hunter. lost a valuable
foxhound A large brown bear killed
the dog before Edwards's eyes. and AZ
be was armed only with a small shot
gun for squirrel shooting be could MOI
prevent the escape OF the animal The
hound insisted on following the bear
and nlpplng a. he aankA Suddenly
the huge bear turned aud. with a ain.
gle angry blow. feiled the hound life
lesz Hurrledly shambllng on Il dis.
appeared Ia 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 81 hounds. retracod bis steps
ID search Of the bear. Finally they
found the irail and followed it ali day.
Camping that night they resumed ihe
chase next day. and nnally tracked
the bear to a hole ID the rocks This
den. high up on the mountain side.
amid the most rugged scenery. bore
fhe signs of many bears There were
numerous tracks OF varying size. and
evidently more than one bear lived
within "A big roaring IRE was kin
a'ed a. The hole and a. FAR inside as
possible. All day long the smoke
poured into the den. and late IN the
afternoon Edwards and bis companion
Noticed che siaoke Issuing from the
rocks some distance away
Hasly Investigation revealed 10 the
disappointed hunters the presence Of
smother hole The den had two en-
trances. and ihe beans bad quietly e..
capped
jim wait.'s Heroic Ride.
have read several graphic accounts