The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-03
KILLED A BEAR.
Miss Maud Wilcox Tells of her
Experience.

Experience.
The following is from the Denver
News:
Yes, sir, I went after him and 1 got
him"
Still elate with the result of her nervy
exploit, Miss Maud Wilcox of Topeka,
private secretary to L. NJ Wood prin-
cipal architect of Topeka started in this
way to tell how she killed big black
bear five days ago on Elk mountain,
twelve miles from Hot Sulphur Springs,
Middle Park
Splendid, handsome active bit of
buoyant womanhood is Miss Wilcox,
and the same may be said of her sis
ter, Mrs. Hugh Hearick of Topeka, who
accompanied her to the west, and who
is now, with Miss Wilcox, enjoying the
hospitality of Gen. David j. Cook and
family at 1860 Gilpin street.
1t was like this: Miss Wilcox, who
has been a huntreSS, and a successful
one, ever since her father presented her
with a fowling piece on her tenth birth
day. twelve years ago, has had an an
nual yearning to kill q bear So Mr..
Wood lifelong friend and former COM
panion-in-arms of Gen. Cook. wrote that
Miss Maud and her sister and give her
all the facilities at his command, that
Miss Maud might satiate her desire to
kill a bear.
And General Cook did it. He sent the
lively sisters to his old friend and fell
low scout, ute Bill" who lives near
Hot Sulphur Springs, and told him to
do the rest. So the sisters encamped
with Ute Bill for one month and on
last Saturday the opportunity for kill
ing a bear came. Here is the way Miss
Wilcox tells about it:
I'VE started out from the ranch about
7 o'clock in the morning, my guide and
l. both on horseback 1t was a long
ride up TO the top of Elk mountain, an
almost inaccessible spot on which no
white womanS feet ever trod until mine
trod it. '-ff
I'VE got there long after noon and.
after having looked down on Mount
Bross, which rises abruptly above the
springs and which looked to me, from
the vast height on which stood, like a
mere green pimple on g. somewhat rocky
plain, and having eaten a bite of lunch,
we started out on a pretty clear bear
trail.
"About the middle of the afternoon,
espied the bear we We're chasing, huge
black fellow, just making over rloge
right ahead of me. 1t was a. long shot
and an upshot and against the sun, but
took it.
1.-The ball from my rife, which was
1910 struck the beast in one or MS
hind legs and he turned to show ngnt-
AS he turned I let loose at MN again
and this time 1 fetched him good one,
right between the eyes. That Drougnt
him down and when got to him ne mad
stopped kicking"
She stopped and the interested hsten-
er said, go on.
"But that's all there is to it," said
Miss Wilcox modestly. Il had killed a
bear and my ambition was gratihed: All
I needed in addition was proof. SO l
got out my hunting knife and skinned
the animal. so that I might place his
hide in evidence Gen. Cook said right
away. after seeing the hide. that he
could have told mile off that woman
had skinned it However, | got the skin
and it is packed in salt and is now on
the way to Topeka.
..Oh. no, 1 don't know that it was very
much to do" said Miss Maud, after she
had been lauded awhile. I'm used to
hunting, you know, but this was the
first time I had killed a bear and nat
urally 1 was. and am, bit proud of
the feat.
TIL tell you one thing, though, we had
good deal more of a row with the
| badger my sister shot one day, while
we were up in the big hills. She shot
him with her % rifle. The animal was
not killed and it ran, or tried to run,
into it's hole, but 1 caught it by the
/ tail and pulled it out and I had an
awful row with the beast before my
sister could put another ball into it.
But / like the wilds," concluded Miss
Wilcox. land I have filed on 160-acre
homestead within about half mile of
/ the place I shot the bear. and expect
to have lots of good hunting during the
next year and the next, and lots of nexts
ffaV-