The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-11
By CHAUNCEY L. PRESTON.
Copyright, 1908, by E. B. Warner.

THE most remarkable instance that
ever came to my notice of ursine vi
tally and of the danger OF attack
ing a grizzly, except under the most
favorable circumstances, said the man
from Wyoming, occurred recently in
the Wind River country of my state,
amid the foothills that lie at the base
of the main range of the Rockies.
"A bunch of eighteen head of beef
steers that had been kept in pasture
had broken the wire fence and strayed
off into the hills, and a party of six
including myself. went out to round
them up and bring them back.
The cattle had been gone a couple
of days before their absence was
noted, and word from a neighboring
ranchman informed us that we had
a trip of at least fifteen miles before
us. A suggestion was made to take
our rifles along, in case we should
run across a bunch of deer or ante
lope, and the foreman of the ranch
and one or two cowpunchers had their
siX-shooters with them
We had gone about twelve miles
and were on the track of the truants,
when the trail turned toward the foot
hills, and we had every reason to be-
lieve that we would find the cattle on
the other side of a tumbling mountain
stream that went, locally, by the name
of Teapot Creek.
While we were fording the creek
the bronchos began to snort and rear
and give evidences of their unwilling
ness to go farther. This was rather
unexpected, as the water was not deep,
and we looked about for some rea-
son for their action. AS we clattered
across, we could hear. above the noise
of the rushing water the snap and
clash of teeth and the peculiar hog
like growl of a grizzly.
The Bears Meal Interrupted.
Standing on his hind legs, and
stripping the servis berry bushes of
their succulent fruit, was a big sill
yer tip. He did not seem to be dis
posed to dispute passage, although
his objection to the interruption of
his feast was quite apparent. In
spite of his belgerent growls he did
not discontinue his meal, but went on
raking the branches through his open
jaws and masticating berries, leaves
and twigs as though all were equally
toothsome.
Upon reaching the other side of
the creek we rode up the bank and
over a level stretch of ground that lay
at the base of the foothills. Some one
had suggested taking shot at bruin
but the foreman discouraged the idea
calling attention to the fact that bear
hides We're not good in August and
that it would be necessary to find the
steers before dark. Just then the trail
of the cattle was lost for a moment,
and we stopped to look around.
although we We're fully two hun
bred yards from the bear, it was evil
dent that his anger over our appear
ancc had not entirely cooled down
The same swinish growls were borne
to our ears. and the grizzly, still stand
ing on his hind legs and devouring the
servis berries, could be seen where his
head lowered above the bank of the
stream.
lone of the cowbows, ALI Kennedy.
took exception to the Silver tips
mood. With the remark, I amt goin'
to have no silver tip growlin' an
snarlin' at mel he took his rifle from
its saddle sling and proceeded to look
at the magazine. The foreman saw
what was up and tried to dissuade
Kennedy from his intention, urging
the necessity of finding the cattle i'm
media tely. His pleading, amounting
almost to a command, fell on deaf
ears, for Kennedy, although a splendid
cowboy, was accustomed to doing as
he pleased on most occasions.
Wen go on after the cattle d.
rectly. he said. 1T won't take more'n
a minute to settle that bear
Kennedy Attacks ON Foot.
Seeing that other members of the
party were also examining their fire.
arms, Kennedy spoke up threateningly.
saying that he wanted help from no
one and that IL a shot was fired by an
other man in the crowd there would b.
trouble. Knowing Kennedy as well
as we did, his wishes were complied
with
Kennedy rode down until he was
about 100 yards from the bear. There
he dismounted and turned the head of
his horse away from the game. As
brave cowpuncher he scorned to at
tack the grizzly except on foot for.
in his code of ethics, he and men of
his stripe disdained to do anything
that would SAVIOR of the tactics Of the
tenderfoot 1t takes a brave man to
attack a bear on foot, and Kennedy
was not Of the sort to shirk the task.
He stood by the side of his horse
and drew his bead on the grizzly The