The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-06
MIGHTY BEAR HUNTER
Young WelShman Who Has
Killed Two Hundred.
HIS WIFE a GOOD SHOT
Some of Mordecai Jones' Adventures
With Bruin-Gives Dogs Credit for
Range-An Exciting Encounter
Which Ended i'm Bears Retreat.

mighty hunter and fisherman, VINO has
killed more than 200 bears. and who ex-
poets before he dies 10 Kill as many more,
has his hunting lodge about twelve miles
north of White Salmon, Wash, on the
Trout Lake road, says the Portland
Oregonian. This place he makes his
headquarters when in America, and here
he entertains lavishly those who join him
in the chase Hunting for its own sake is
his master passion, and he makes no
profit out OF the peits or the meat-0f
the various animals he kills. They all 80
to his friends in Great Britain or here. Il
is rather an expensive pastime, and up
10 the present month has cost him just
81 per pound on every bear he mas re
Heyed Of existence.
1t was twenty-one years ago, when only
eighteen years Of age. that Mr.. Jones
came to this country for his first hunt.
That first hunt lasted five years, and he
and his party assiduously hunted big
game of all kinds in Wyoming. Idaho,
Montana. British Columbia, and up into
Alaska. They had fifteen pack horses on
that trip, and touched civilization once
in six months for more provisions. Since
then he has come to North America every
winter for his annual hunt, and nine
years ago he bought his present place.
His house is built of native timbers, and
presents the appearance Of a country
clubhouse
Every year Mr. Jones brings out party
from England and Wales TO hunt with
him. His wife is as enthusiastic a hunter
rs he. and their children are expert shots
AZ the age Of eight. under Mr.. Jones
tutelage, they could hit tin cans and such
objects thrown into the air nine times
out of ten with d .22-c1libre rife.
One has no difficulty in hearing bear
stories about Mr. Jones The whole
countryside rings with his exploits.
Jones has killed another bear" Is "a
regular item Of news wnvu nCighbOr
meets neigh5or, and wonderful stories Of
his endurance are related. He IS we'll
known in Portland at the clubs, and in
deed the latter arranged with him 20
give Roosevelt some sport on his last
trip along the Coast. But the Presidents
itinerary was hXed, and so two mighty
men OF valor missed meeting each other.
Gives Dogs Credit
Expressed desire TO learn something of
the habits OF the bear exrlains why the
present writer managed 10 hear some Of
4Ir. Jones exploits from that gentleman
himself When 1 was shown into the han
I found Mr.. jones standing with his back
10 a large fireplace talking Chinook with
an aged Indian who sat almost lost IL a
large easy chair facing the blaze. over
the floor of the apartment were scattered
in careless profusi0u the pelts Of various
wild animals principally Of the black
bear, while the walls were adorned with
other trophies Of the chase. Here and
there gunracks were set, and rods and
tackle gave evidence that the hunter was
also fisherman.
I explained my mission, and later the
conversation turned TO hunting. I told
him what I had heard about his reputa-
ton as a bear hunter.
He interrupted: why, yes, have shot
lots Of them. Its no credit 10 me. though.
Ny dogs deserve the credit. II II wasn't
for them. would have killed very few
Did Mr. Bear ever come near to get
ting you?"
Yes. q number Of times. Had a close
call with this fellow" And he kicked d
rug at his feet.
/ asked for the story, and he frowned,
but complied.
This skin is off the biggest black bear
I ever shot. Il measured s feet 6 inches.
The bear was in a patch Of thick vine
maple The hounds closed in on him.
Started into brush TO get shot at him.
Parted the bushes and saw the bear about
twelve feet away The hounds were all
around him, and had him at bay. just
as I appeared he caught one of my larg-
est hounds. weighing about ninety pounds,
and threw him straight at me as easily
as you would a kitten. The hound struck
me across the groins and knocked me
down. Snapped the trigger, and the gun
missed fire. Bear charged at my knees.
People say that a bear never charges
that way That is a mistake. Have had
several charge me that way. Well. as ]
said, bear charged. Just had time to
stick rife between his eyes and fire,
That's all There's his skull hanging UP
beside the fireplace. No. the one with a
hole between the eyes.
Adventure with Grizzly.
1T was years ago in Montana. \ COW
in defending her calf was killed by a
grizzly. He struck her on the withers.
Smashed the bone down six or seven
inches, Found the body that evening on
my way to camp. Part of the ham had
been eaten out. I followed bears trail
a little into the woods Marked swamp
pine to enable me to find the place in
the morning. Next morning at daybreak
went back. Found whole COW had been
dragged into bush about thirty or forty
yards. Knew bear must be close to swamp
pine up-wind. Crawled up close to pine in
a washout. Heard the crunching Of bones
There was a fallen tree on other side of
swamp pine Crawled to this. fat on my
belly Looked over and saw the bear
eating the COW. It saw me at the same
instant. He was standing sideways. He
swung his head. once, twice 1 thought
he was going to swing the third time ]
shot for the neck vertebrate, but he
stopped short in his third swing Hit
him in the Jugular 1t bawled and then
came straight for me II kept the tree
between me and him. Couldn't see him
until ne rounded the pine within six feet
Of me. Made a quick shot the moment
I saw his head. He kept coming, and ]
thought I had missed. There was d rose
briar bush between us. He rose UP, and
came around it after me. Stuck end OF
rife on his nose, and blew the whole TOP
of his head off. 7 found on examining
him that l had hit him with my second
TWO WOMEN.