The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-31
LASS0lNG THE GRIZZLY BEAR

<S7cfC'C'C0C'S'SSc'c'SNS7c0
! entered into the hunt with as much zest
as his master. Ell Captain, for so the
don called him, had as keen a scent for the
grizzly as any bear hound and could be
| depended on to give notice If a bear was
anywhere near the trail. Even when a
roped bear was savagely drawing in the
RATA attached to his saddle Ell Captain
knew no fear, and was ready to follow the
slightest suggestion the bride conveyed.
Some of the oldtime grizzlies were
possessed of remarkable speed, and 1t took
good horse to keep out of their reach in
a short distance race. Ortega was over
taken once by a maddened grizzly, which
stopped his horse by Selling it's tail. The
beast was reaching for the man when a
buckayro rode up and struck him over
the head with RATA. The bear turned
to pursue the new enemy and overlook
him in turn OTtega was on hand to pre-
vent a tragedy, and after most exciting
game of cross tag they succeeded in roping
the beast.
The record for long distance race for
life from grizzly is held by the wife of a
Mexican rancher near Santa Ynez. One
Sunday in the early 40's she set out from
the ranch to attend services at the Fran
ciScan mission in Santa Barbara. Riding
behind her on the same horse was her
12-year old daughter.
The way was long and so dusty that
she could lot wear her fine clothes, but
carried them in neat bundles tied to the
saddle. Her best hat covered with flow
ers and basket of food added to the
burden
They had come a considerable distance
and the horse was already tired when
they aroused a monster she bear which
was playing with her yearling cubs at the
side OF the trail The bear started after
them, covering the ground with great
leaps and bounds and growing savagely.
The horse was frightened into it's best
speed, and for a time held its own. Then
the bear began to gain.
The basket of food was sacrificed first,
and the bear stopped long enough to toss
the basket about and sniff at the food.
She soon made up what the horse had
gained, and the daughters cries of alarm
broke out afresh. 1t was not without a
struggle that the mother cut loose her
best hat. but the hoarSe breathing of the
beast just behind moved her to it.
Again the grizzly stopped to toss the
Powered finery about and paw it into
the dust. The horse was laboring heavily
by now, and sooner than before they We're
overtaken. Piece by piece the frightened
woman paid out her best clothes and
prayed the while to the saint of the
mountains to save them.
Every bundle had been sacrificed and
she had all but given up hope when a
bend in the trail brought them in sight Of
the camp of some Mexican cowmen, who
went to the rescue. The bear had cover
ed four miles in the pursuit, but was
fresh enough to take to the brush and
elude the cowmen.
1t was not more than thirty-five years
ago that bulls fought bears in Santa Bar
bara for the amusement of the country
side. Every old Mexican remembers some
particular contest in all its details, and
delights in telling about it. 1.-The best
fight remember said one, whose abode
is in the shelter of Ortega Hill, near the
City of Saints, was in the early 40s in
honor of the visit of a great Mexican gem
eral to Santa Barbara. The Indians
brought in a monster grizzly, the largest 1
have ever seen, and the commandment pro-
vided wild bull. great red fellow with
fine horns and the temper Of a fiend. This