Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-26
Mistsllanuas Rsadins.
NORTH CAROLINA BEAR DOGS.
Sort of Hound IL Takes to Hunt
Bruin,

Charlotte Observer reporter an inter-
esting story Of breed Of bear dogs
that has been in his section Of the
state for decades.
"Black bears abound in the Una
ka mountains, which form a part Of
the Great Smokes, and lie about the
Divide, between the Tellico river on
the one side and the Santeetla and
Big and Little Snowbird creeks on the
other" said Mr.. Bell.
"Mr. ]. H.. billiard and others killed
seven bears last season, some Of which
weighed close to 500 pounds. This
year, however, Bruin seems to have
disappeared from our country; the
chestnut crop was a failure, and 1t is
generally believed that the Graham
county bears have migrated to the
Mississippi river bottoms; old hunters
laim that they do that occasionally
when mast is scarce. But this year
is an exception; we usually have plen-
ty of bears.
1.-The Plott bear dog is a growth;
he has been in the making for many
generations, and Is just about as good
as there is in the business. Mr.. Jack
billiard of Murphy, my home town, Is
a bear hunter and he keeps a pack Of
the famous Plott dogs.
"Old man Plott, the originator Of
this breed, lived in the Balsam noun
tains. In looks and general appear
ance the dog is like a massive cur OF
the most repulsive sort. He will not
run anything but bear and a coon,
whose scent is something alike. The
average one weighs from 80 to ITO
pounds and his body is knotted with
muscle, and his most striking quality
of character is grit, pure grit of the
finest grain. He will fight to the
death, and against great odds. He
never gives up even when overpow-
cred.
IF you meet him in the road ne
will give you what belongs to you II
he is not interfered with in any way,
but will take care of himself II forced
to do so. There are two ways to deal
with him, let him alone or kill him
as quick as possible. II you would
strike him use handspike and back
1t with every bit Of physical force you
can muster. He Is a solemn sort OF
dog, and makes but few friends. II
you trespass upon his rights you must
kill him.
Jude, old Jude, was typical Plott
bear hound. She was kept by John
Denton, whose home was on a creek
In q wild section Of the mountains.
She whelped a litter Of puppies. It
required days Of searching to find her
little ones, which had been deposited
In a hollow log in a dense thicket OF
laurel. Like a lion guarding her
young, old Jude watched her babies
and 1t required strategy to get them
to the house. Denton tried to take
the little fellows while Jude was there
but he soon saw that 1t would be more
dangerous than to try to steal cubs
from a bear. Therefore the next time
Jude came up for food Denton tied
her and then fetched the puppies.
Yes, sir, old Jude had a call from the
wild.
1.-The story Of Jude will suffice to
show up the Plott dog in the best
light. She was a fine individual. One
day when in her prime she led a race
after a 500-pound bear and held him
at bay until a hunter came and shot
him. That is the time she came near
being killed.
1.-The hunt was on Steel Trap ridge,
that leads to Snowbird creek, In Gra-
ham. The dogs struck the trail early
in the morning and ran 1t until we'll
up in the day, when the bear made
stand after a lively run over the
mountain knobs and through the
coves. The pace was fast and hard
for Bruin; he could not stand it. Be-
ing pressed by the hounds, he stopped,
backed up against a tree, and made
lively fight. At the baying OF the
dogs some hunter slipped up within
rifle range and fired a shot into the
bear. Old Jude knew we'll what to
do when the bear turned on her. She
had the courage to attack him, but
her training was such that she made
It warm and unpleasant for the
grouchy old animal without closing In
on him.
while the other dogs charged at
his head she would approach him
from the rear and nip his legs. At
this Mr.. Bear would wheel around
and snap at her, but she would not
be there. She knew how to get out Of
the way. The teasing, biting and
harrassing was kept up and the
skirmishing fight made so fast and
furious that it took the breath out
of the bear. The dogs are taught to
do just that sort Of fighting until the
gunner arrives and does his part
which is to wound the animal so that
he canont get away.
ION this particular day old Judge
was at her best She drove hard In
the chase and kept the younger dogs
hustling to keep up with her. and In
the roundup battle she did clever
work. She so directed the fight that
not a single dog got hurt until after
the shot, the signal to close in' was
fired. The bear was kept busy.
"A hunter heard the change In the
cry of the dogs and knew that his
time had come. He beat his way
among the laurel until he got close
enough to do effective work with his
trusty rifle and pulled down. The aim
was accurate, but the ball did not
strike a vital spot. But the moment
the dogs heard the crack Of the rifle
they closed on Bruin and fought to
kill In the very first round two dogs
were killed outright. AS the bear fell
he grabbed old Jude and bore her
down with him; she fell fighting. The
bear fastened his jaws in the small Of
her back and tore off the flesh to the
hollow, but she kept on fighting until
she was so manned and weak that she
could not raise her head to take hold.
Round and round the dogs and
4, o,,4ttS- onJ IN OF aanh