The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-09-16
PLENTY OF GRIZZLIES.
A PACIFIC COAST HUNTERS TALK {:
About the Ftercess Svfia Animai Tnat
 Exists on the Contine,at. Hi

Elisha Stedman. a famous hunter, whose achievements have made thrill- ing chapters in the annals of the Pacific coast. has just left Ventura, Cal, in charge of a party Of wealthy sports men from Brooklyn and Philadelphia on a long hunting tour for big game along the Sierras, between California and NeVa. Everyone in California who hunts and loves excitingssport with the rife knows something about Uncle Elisha Stedman. Among the boys fl this region his name is a synonym for all that is daring and sagaeious. In past years he has piloted parties in which Gen. Phil Sheridan, ex-Senator Donald Cameron, the late Mayor Carter H. Harrison of Chicago and William K. Vanderbilt were members. Once he led a party of Germans of title (steck- holders in the Northern Pacific rail- road) on a tWo-weekss hunt for griz-. zlies in the Siskiyou range in northern California $3sls
 He is nearly 70 years old, but his out of-door life and his temperate habits and freedom from cares have kept him EyUuIlS dIIl UUESs sIiQI9 1DOh IUf be over 55. For 3S years he has lived principally among the mountains, and has slept for weeks at time Whereso- ever night found him. He Is a native of Litchfield, Ct, and he was there baotized when child by Rev. Lyman Beecher. He was reared as a black smith, but from his early youth he was filled with a desire, by reading Feni- more Cooper's novels, to live hunters and trapper's life. He came across, the plains to Oregon in 1854, mined gold for. year or two. and. falling in with a. party of men, who by hunting for the Astor fur company, made more money. than he, was charmed with the idea of living lie of constant adventure. and of earning good livelihood at the same time. He is we'll read man in standard English literature, and numerous funny stories are cur. rent in California of eastern tourists who have been surprised to find this grizzled, unkernpt hunter in greasy. suit of buekskin, r1occasins of his own make and ancient, battered som- breo should have ideas of his own about
  bates. There is no one in California who knows more accurately about the ways of black bears.
 T suppose shall keep at bear hunt ing all my life" said Uncle Elisha just before starting out with his Brooklyn party. T am just as fond of the pur- suit as when I was a young, chap. I've been as restless as weasel this last fortnight to get away from these towns, with their noise and dust to g. lovely spot in the grand old moun- tains. I hate this living huddled up in towns where every one is bossed by laws, and no one can be independent and free like hunters in the most beautiful regions that God made for ] man. Last fall I located the stamping ground of some big grizzlies, and shall lead my party there and give them a chance to have the widest and most exciting shooting" any of them ever knew. After I have done with the party of eastern amateur hunters I expect to meet my partner. Joe Lamson, in the mountains, and we shall hunt and trap all by ourselves-over 200 miles from any white mans home-until the cold weather drives ls out next fall. Oh, we'll get about a dozen grizzlies in the course Of the summer if we have good luck. beside an occasional black bear, some foxes, mountain lions and such l things. 4.g4...4-- .. .,.~ ,.-., } Are there many grizzlies left in Cali