New-York tribune., 1903-04-05
YELLOWSTONE BE1RS.
Hoo They Broke Up a Camp an the
Big Park.

When We were seeking a camping place near
The Grand Canyon Of the Yellowstone, in Yellow
stone Park. came upon what looked to be
The ruins of a well stocked country store, says
Roy Stannard Baker. in The Century Maga- |
zine" The ground covered with broken
boxes. Smashed syrup cans, empty keg or
-vyo -four and oatmeal, mixed with canned to- |
r1atoes were scattered literally about and there
we're The tattered remains of a, ham cover or
TWO. While contemplated this spectacle Of
ruin and wondered how il could possibly have |
come in this out Of the way place young man
appeared and warned US away. 1t seems that
a large party had camped this spot during |
the previous night, and big grizzly bear with
Two cubs had appeared. foraging for something
to eat. Now. these park bears, protected by
stringent rules from slaughter, have grown over
bold even dangerous. This old bear standing
Up on her hind legs at the rear of the covered
camp wagon. had reached in and helped herself, |
rolling out the -four and the ham and the syrup |
and tossing the packages to her cubs The
campers, sleeping in tent near by. heard the
connection and the of the party thrust out
his head and saw the big grizzly just smashing
or,-l . box with a huge blow of her enormous
paw. A cub running off with sack OF
flour The campers shouted and tapped on the
tent TO frigt.ten the bears away, but the grizzly
went on unconcernedly with her work. Sud
=
iously over ham: and the campers, expecting
an instant attack and frighteI ed almost out of
their wits raised the tent flap, crawled out, and
ran of. scantiy clad through the frosty night.
Il happened that Buffalo Jones. game warden
Of the park, camped not far away that
night. Being awakened he came out and sue
ceeded in shooting one of the cubs. a steak from
which Was subsequently found very tender and
good. But the old grizzly and one Of her cubs
escaped and Buffalo decided that they must
BE further disciplined; in fact, he was just then
pursuing q policy Of severity toward the over
friendly bears Campers wagons had been
broken into; the bears were growing so bold
as 10 enter the hotels in search of food
4 campaign was accordingly organized for
The following night, in which my cousin A d. |
Baker. and myself were invited to participate. |
A covered wagon was drawn up the camp |
ilg grounds and placed in the position of the |
raided camp; bit Of ham and grocery boxes |
were set tenptingly in front, and moonlight |
saw two Of US with Buffalo Jones, hidden in |
side the wagon cover, armed with two rifles |
and q shotgun. 1t was Buffalo's opinion that |
the old grizzly would return, seeking her cub |
If she did, were to shoot her dead.
Il seemed TO be an odd place to be lying in |
wait for grizzly bears. We could hear the |
singing from the hotel yerandas and the occa-
road II was like hiding for shot at a COW;
and yet it was exciting, too, for, as Buffalo
took pains 10 point out, there was not an i'm
probable chance Of danger. 1t was pretty
dark for shooting accurately, and if we should
happen TO wound the grizzly without killing
her she might take it upon herself to demol-
ish Us, wagon and all.
So we sat, cramped and shivering, under the
wagon cover, rife in hand The moon rose
gI0riously the grass whitened with frost, and
presently we could hear the coyotes hoWIlng
disnlally in the distance. Our wagon stood in
an open space among forest trees and we To-
Gated every stump and stone, so that by no |
possibility should there be any confusion when |
the bears arriyed-if they did. One stump,
remember, long looked at, would seem sudden
~ 10 move transform itself into a bear, ana
then. as ] reused myself. become a stump |
again. Just as we had begun TO despair OF
being favored with an attack, two large black
bears appeared suddenly in the moonlight we
could not see where they had come FROM nor
did they make the slightest noise, but there
they were, at least as large as elephants we
made an extraordinary amount OF noise
thought, in getting ready TO fire Bunalo
poked his head forward around the canvas
hap: our teeth chartered
That's not the grizzly We want, ne saiu'
but well give 'em a lesson"
I'm car,e his shotgun and he let them nave