The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-05-10
ROOSEVELT SHOOTS BEAR
Kills a Six Hundred Pound Bruin
the First Day.
TAKES NO FO0LHARDY RISKS

Chief Executive Arrives at New Castle.
Col, Makes Speech and Immediately
Starts For Camp Twenty Miles Away
Protest Against Gagged Animals Be-
ing Hunted.
New Castle, Ch.-President Roose-
velt, with his usual luck. killed his
first bear before he got to his camp
the other day. The Presidential party
started to the hunting grounds, and
when fifteen miles out the dogs struck
a bear trail and the President insisted
upon going after bruin.
Within a half hour the dogs had
overtaken the bear. The President dis
mounted and, after waiting in order
to avoid hitting the dogs, pumped sew
eral shots into the badly tagged bear,
killing him.
1t was a cinnamon bear, weighing
about GOO pounds. Golf skinned the
animal, and the party finally succeed
ed in reaching camp about five o'clock
in the evening. The day was sunshiny
and pleasant.
A parade had been planned at New
Castle, but it did not take place. 1t
had been arranged to form a process
sion, led by q miners brass band, a
Gagged bear and the Presidents party
on horseback. This pageant was to
pass through the village streets and
into the hills, where the, bear was to
be turned loose and given a start Of
thirty minutes.
The State Humane Society broke up
the plans on the ground that the bear
might return to the village and harm
children, as it had been Gagged so long
that it was vicious. After the Humane
Society had interfered the captors of
the bear tried to sell it to the Presi-
dents guides, but they said they would
take their game wild. as domesticated
animals had no attractions for the
President.
At noon the party started from New
Castle at an easy canter over the hills
to the permanent camp, which is situ-
ated at East Divide Greek, on Charles
Penny's ranch. twenty-three miles
southwest Of New Castle. There is
about a foot Of nov in that region,
and bear tracks were seen there.
Before starting the President an
nounced that he was not going to strug-
gle hand to hand with a grizzly bear
or strangle any mountain lions with
bare hands. He said he did not expect
to bag a large amount Of game, and
would feel satisfied if he should get
one bear during the whole hunt. His
rapid firing rifle was exhibited with
great pride as a protection he would
constantly keep between himself and
danger.
The President and his hunting party
reached New Castle at ten minutes to
eight o'clock in the morning and waited
more than two hours for an official
mail that had been sent to Redstone,
where it had been intended that the
seat of Government should be estab-
lished while the President was away
in the mountains hunting bear and
other game. -.
The President shook hands with most
of the 400 citizens of New Castle after
he had, been introduced by Mayor
George H. Norris.
The party was photographed, the
President made a brief address, shook
hands with the train crew and looked
over the specially decorated locomotive
that drew his train from Colorado
Springs.
The run to New Castle was pleasant.
Huge bonfires lighted the way during
the night and inhabitants of the towns
along the railroad stayed up until far
into the morning to cheer the President
as he passed. Getting up early, the
party had breakfast of fresh mountain
trout, while all viewed from the a
windows the magnificent scenery
along the Colorado Midland Railroad.
Near Basalt the first a of the spe-
cial train hit a rock that had slid
down to the edge Of the track. The
only damage done was the knocking
out of a cap Of the rear truck Of the
car Viceroy.
When the train arrived in New Castle
the President, dressed in his shooting
clothes of heavy tan duck. greeted the
people from the rear platform. He
was cheered wildly. After a speech
was made and conyentionalities had
been observed the President gave per-
sonal supervision to his hunting outfit.
He unsheathed his knife and felt its
keen edge, numbered his gun and saw
that it was in fine ..orking order and
looked over The horse that had been
selected for his ride to camp. The
animal is white, weighing about eleven
hundred pounds, and is about fourteen
and one-half hands high. 1t is said to
be one Of the surest-footed mountain
climbers in Colorado, but it is not
noted for speed.
John Golf, Jake Borah and Brick P.
Wells, guides in mountain costumes,
busted themselves in arranging for the
trip. In addition to the Presidents
personal party, which was composed
of himself, DR.. Alexander Lambert, of
New York, and 2. E. Stewart, Of Colo
RADIO Springs. ten men rode to the hunt
ing camp. Five men were already at
the camp with everything ready for
the comfort of the party.