The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-05-10
Capturing a Polar
Bear Alive.
H&92SSS28236@S

From March to September, 1887. l
made my first Arctic voyage with Cap
tain Gray of the steam-whaler Erik,
four hundred tons, seventy horse
power. At Peterhead, Scotland we
had taken on board, In sections, a
strong iron cage, which at the time
excited considerable comment and
speculation as to it's intended use.
| was greatly delighted to learn
that 1t was meant for polar bear.
Captain Gray hoped that large bear.
II not full-grown one, might be cap
tured and brought back home alive, as
liberal offers had been made for such
an animal, II ulinjured. None larger
than cub. had ever previously been
secured, and there would be plenty
of fun In taking big one.
1t was late in June, and had shot
several polar bears. Captain Gray
and / frequently discussed the best
means of taking one alive. | devised
kind Of lasso made out of fore
goer'-a portion of the harpoon line,
about twenty fathoms long, construct
ed of Manila fiber, attached imme-
diately to the harpoon.
At the end of this line l made a
running loop, and then tied 1t with
thin Irvine to the end of long boat
hook, allowing the line from the loop
to run through my hand. MY inten-
ton was to use the boat-hook pole
tn hn hn
then break the Irvine connecting the
lasso with the boat-hook, lay this
aside, and then hold The bear by the
lasso.
To the conservative minds of the
crew. this apparatus appeared too
"new-fangled" to be of the slightest
use. resolved, however to test the
gear at the first opportunity.
One afternoon bear was reported
to be swimming from a large foe,
about half a mile away, toward the
ship. A boat was quickly lowered
and manned. and took up my posi-
lion, with my bear-catching apparatus,
In the bows. On seeing us in pursuit,
the bear whipped short round and
made for the ice which he had left.
He was too late. however. Gradu-
ally the boat overhauled him. I pop
ped the loop over his head, snapped
the Irvine holding 1t to the boat hook,
and had on my line the heaviest fish"
had ever attempted to land
How he struggled and dashed the
water, churning 1t into foam. now and
then turning over to gnaw at the rope
that held him! But his efforts were
of no avail and his resistance was
short-lived.
Unfortunately for this bear and for
ourselves, l had had the tip of my
left thumb taken off by a seal-knife
a few s-previously. In the struggle
with the bear lost the bandage, and
my thumb began to bleed profusely.
In order that might tie 1t up again
handed the end of the line to the har-
pooner behind me.
After working at the bandage for a
couple of minutes, turned round to
find the bear drawn up to the ring
oOAes WIN hto SOu6uc nduSlue Out
The harpooner had hauled him up
tight to the bows, and had made the
line fast to the thwart.
In response to my hurried order to
"slacken off," the man got the line
free after some fumDling, but it was
too late; the bear was dead. Feeling
very much like executioners, we towed
the carcass to the ship. 1t was male
cub, a little more than half grown.
The next morning a bear was sight
ed, lying on a large 'sconce-piece"
about a mile across. sNow's your
chance. Jackson" said Captain Gray,
as he came down into the cabin. So
my tackle was fitted up again, two
boats were lowered, and volunteer
crews-as we considered it a risky
business-were called for and selected.
I started of in command of one
boat; the first mate had charge of the
second. We pulled round the foe to