The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-09-21
INCIDENTS OF A
GREAT BEAR HUNT

M. M. Hill, Frank Stanton and U.
A. Newman, who will be recognized
as prominent East Side orchard men,
with Mr.. Fike Of Black Hawk coun-
ty, Iowa. whom they took along to-
catch mountain trout, and accompa-
MED by Franks dog, Dick, to track
the bear, started prepared for hunt.
The sun had not yet risen last
Thursday morning when these four
men climbed into a mountain hack
behind Franks powerful bay team,
and with Dick following behind,
started up the mountain. After few
hours drive they reached Louis
Burkhard's ranch at the foot Of the
Lava Beds. Here they left the team
and engaged the services of the old
hunter as guide. The provisions and
blankets were equally divided and
strapped upon their shoulders, and
with brave hearts they started into
the forest.
Up, up they went, through deep Ta-
vines and over high, rocky bluffs,
through the dark forests where the
crack of the huntsman's rife Is eel
dom heard. The shades Of evening
were fast closing when tired and
thirsty they found themselves on
high mountain with the cool water OF
the mountain brook far below them
They must reach this before dark.
Hastily they began the descent. The
packs grew heavier upon their shoul-
ders, but the inventive mind OF M.
M. Hill devised a scheme to descend
with greater ease. Unfastening hit
pack he started it rolling down tht
steep bank. II gathered momentum
as it went and bounded and rolled
into the middle Of the swift stream
Long before the hunters reached tht
bottom il was lost In the darkness
1t contained all the blankets.
The evening meal was soon prepared
and they settled aroun1 the camp fire
to pass the night as best they could
without blankets. And long night It
was. U. A. Newman burrowed hole
in the soft ground beside the fire.
Fike, the tenderfoot from Iowa, tool
the bark off tree and covering him
self completely with it, took his place
beside Newman. M. M. Hill, dispen
sing with all preliminary arrange
ments, lay down beside the fire
Frank Stanton and Louis Burkhar6
took turns at keeping the fire going.
The night passed with but one mis-
hap. M. M. Hill was aroused In the
midst of his dream by his hat catching
fire and 1t was partly burned before
he awoke. In the early morning un
der the direction Of Burkhard, they
separated In search Of game. Fike
could not fish; the foxy trout would
not bite. The great forests we're new
to him and he gaZed continually 1T
the lofty fir and cedar and did not
wander far from their rendezvous.
Hill walked until he no longer knew
In which direction he WAS going.
Even the sun was moving In the wrong
direction. He made his way over
deep ravines and across mountain tor
rents aud as last resort In the mid
die of the afternoon, climbed to the
top Of high mountain and found
himself at the very spot where he
started his blankets rolling the night
before.
Frank Stanton and his dog Dick
Jared not so we'll Dick led him high
up the mountain far from camp. He
began to return, but too late-he was
lost In the forest. He knew of but
one thing to do-hnd mountain
stream and follow 1t to its mouth. He
Immediately started down the noun.
tain gorge. The mountain trout lay
quietly In the brook, but he did not
stop to fish. He started two deer
from their feeding ground, but he was
too frightened to shoot straight. At
just sundown he came In sight of the
cabin of rancher. The most wei.
come sight he ever saw. He sat down
to collect his thoughts. His hands
we're cut and bruised. His trousers
we're badly torn one leg was entirely
gone below the knee. With great In
genuity he took his shoe strings, and
with his pocket knife for needle,
sewed together the remnants of bis
trousers. Thus making himself more
presentable, he proceeded to the cab,
in, where he was Hospitality received
and his wants supplied.
The hunters that night gathered at
the cabin Of the old trapper Offield,
and we're greatly concerned about the
non appearance of Frank Stanton.
The trapper gladly shared with them
his bed, and they slept that night five
in a row, huddled together like sheep
under two small blankets. The next
morning they started for home In
search Of Frank Stanton. They found
him sitting in the door of Burkhard's
cabin, one leg crossed over the other,
his arms folded and calmly smoking
his pipe. 1t took them one whole day
to recuperate under Louis Burkhard's s
hospitable care, and then M. M. Hill,
Frank Stanton and u. A. Newman re-
turned home. whore they will verify
the truth of this hunting trip.