Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-05-22
THE FROLIC OF
CINNAMON JOE.
BY FRANKLIN wrlLrs CAIRNS.

About the head Of Pierre River
among the Tetons there are probably
as many grizzlies anG other big game
as can be found anywhere in America.
In the vicinity of my company's ranch
the Two Bell brand-hunters sell
dom appear, and our boys, like cowmen
everywhere, care little for hunting.
They prefer beef and bacon to wild
meat, and the sight of big game is
an everyday incident in their line
riding.
Sometimes in horse-play these men
will catch and brand calf elk or a
young mule deer, or one will bring
home a tiny pronghorn kid.
One day in spring Greyling, one OF
our trustiest men, came in from Camas
Creek with a cinnamon cub under his
arm. The animal was 100 small to
have travelled outside the home coulee,
and SO had not become wise or fero-
cious.
1t was a male, and was promptly
dubbed Cinnamon joe" Growing fat
upon milk and vegetables, 1t became a
great pet at the ranch.
Greyling took it upon himself to
look after Cinnamon Joe. He built the
bear a roomy and comfortable log ken
mel, and set a climbing block before it.
He early taught his pet to play at buff
feting a barrel; and to watch Joe at
this rough exercise became favorite
amusement with the cow-men and their
visitors.
Above the middle of the bears yard,
suspended from the extended ridge-pole
of his house, hung a stout, forty-gal-
Ion cask. Joe's performance with this
barrel would have done credit to a
boxing exhibition, and the exercise
kept him in excellent condition. AS
Greyling would never allow his pro-
tege to be maltreated or tricked, the
bear grew up as good natured and
harmless as a Newfoundland dog.
On an idle day in summer it was
common enough to see a cow-man at
Two Bells lying in the shade of the
kennel his head pillowed on Joe's
flank, and both bear and man fast
asleep.
When Joe was three years old-in the
prime of young Observation-Disclosures,
one of our stockholders, brought his
two boys to spend a vacation at the
ranch The fame of Cinnamon Joe had
reached Hubbard and Clayton John
ston at their home, and as they came
provided with bags of candy and nuts
they speedily became prime favorites
with the bear.
When Greyling was at hand the boys
were allowed to frolic at will with the
grizzly, whose great good nature and
affectionate disposition made him a
safe playfellow Joe soon became so
fond of his young friends that when
ever they came within sight he would
struggle with his chain to get a. them.
In fact, he broke worn links of his
chain on several occasions.
Thus it was that he was able to fol-
low the boys, one afternoon in August,
and finally to lead them into an adj
venture The cowsmen were off on the
range, and there was no one at home
but the cook when Hubbard and Clay
ton set out for some raspberry patches
among the foothills. Cinnamon Joe
was Juggling at his chain, as usual,
when the boys left the ranch buildings
He must have broken loose soon after,
although he did not overtake them I'M
til they had begun the ascent of the
foothills, half mile away.
When discovered in their rear, Joe
was enjoying his freedom. He was cap
ering from sagebush to boulder, thrust
ing his nose into or under one or the
other, searching for delectable grubs
and insects.
20 plagued" said Hubbard, who saw
the bear first. There's Joe! He's
broken loose and we'll have to go
clear back with him,"
But Joe refused to go back In vain
the boys tugged at the short piece of
had shifted the mountain air, and he
climbed on, dragging the youngsters
after him, Winding their weight 10
more than IL he had had couple Of
marmots attached to a string.
Reaching the top of ridge, where
mountain breeze blew cool and re-
freshing, Joe capered and played like
young dog. Plainly the bear was
''out for a frolic'
In his play, however the bear kept
on up the mountain ridge, sometimes
galloping faster than the boys could
run. But he never ran far without
stopping to thrust his nose into some
bush or recess among the rocks. Az
ter brief inspection, he would look
about with comical air, quite as if
making fun of his pursuers.
mo use," said Clayton, as they stood
at the foot of a ledge near the rasp-
berry thickets. Lets just pick berries
and keep an eye on Joe till he gets
ready to be led"
So the boys followed the ledge up
ward, and the bear, seeing that they no
longer pursued him, followed at leis-
ure. When they came to the loaded
berry bushes, where there was no more
difficulty in keeping track of Joe.
The bear set about helping himself
very handily. He gathered the barries
with a rolling. peculiar motion of the
fore paws, and with little annoyance
from thorns. In fact, he soon filled
himself with sweets, and then stretched
himself in the shade of the ledge and
fell asleep. They hoped Joe would
prove moro tractable after he had fin
ished his nap.
Clayton and Hubbard had nearly
fallen asleep when the bear got up
with a sudden lurch, inclined his nose