The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-08-27
Hunting Bearsinle xas

/ deer. IL IS CldlNrN " -"|
bear hunters that tleie ar
bears In these bottoms than eIa %
be found In any other district Of cor
responding size in the United States
This fact is so well known 70 bear
hunters eli over the country that they
come here IN large numbers every
year to engage in the exciting sport
william ]. Bryan. John w. Gates,
Charles G. Glldden, OF Boston, and
many others have tried their hands
at killing the big game In this natural
rendezvous OF the black bear.
Bear hunting on the San Bernard
Is carried on differently from the
usual manner Of that sport This is
due to the fact that the territory bor-
dering on the San Bernard Is An al
most impenetrable wilderness Of Wild
cane and brush. In order to make IL
possible 10 get at the bears trails
have had to be cut through the dense
thicket These trails are only about
three feet wide, They serve as pas
sageways for the bears and deer as
wel as for the hunters The trails
have to be cleared Of new growth
every fan, Just before the hunting
season begins.
VIII Martin, who Is the most noted
bear hunter Of this section. attends
TO keeping the trails open and to pre-
pairing the place for the onslaughts
OF the hunters. Mr.. Martin has about
eighty miles Of bear trails cut, and
he spends much OF his spare time in
cutting new trails. He says that be-
fore the end OF the present winter
he will have $50 miles Of trails cut
through the dense cane and bruEh.
It Is simply impossible to do Gny
hunting away from these trails, sx-
cept at occasional open spots. Mr..
Martin owns the best pack Of bear
dogs in Texas, according to the state
ments OF those who have hunted With
them. When they get on the TRAN Of
a bear the hunters are assured OF a
lively time. The dogs seem to know
instinctively where the hunters are
posted, and they bring their quarry
past the places where shots may be
obtained
There are also some good packs Of
deer dogs in this section. and great
NUMBER Of these animals have been
killed in the San Bernard bottoms
during the present open season
The fact that the bear hbnllr
must practically all 81 done IA bs
narrow trails that have cnt
through the underhfpt ia IA
some exciting encour bears
Three or four geae ohn w
Gates, tbs Wall ST. q ~ came
down here With sfiv of Eastern
sportsmen for the 5arocs n 81 kiuIrg
q rev bears Gates refused the
service OF q 81 itn and started to fol-
low one Of IN bar trails alone. He
was armea siia flde and e hunting
knife 81 tad 10. Penetrated Ire
snic1e lnofe than d tfeW hundred
yafo vhen b sudden turn in the
ia az cane face to face with biz.
q a hear Mr.. Gates and the bear
It Within i've or six feet OF each
Aef when they received the hrst
1Irl q each Others presence. Mr..
Oates q. large OF physique. and the
bear lkewise was OF such big proper
tons that II would have been a DIM
.ult thing for him to turn around in
~ narrow trail. II Is rare thing
.or black bear to lead in an attack
upon a man. but IN this instance the
animal evidently Thought that It must
set by Mr.. Gates IN order to escape
t reared upon Its hind legs and came |
4 Mr.. Gates at rate OF speed that
ave the latter nc. chance to turn and /
Jack track on the trail. The bear !
vas too close 70 use his rife to ad-
antage. aud Mr.. Gates drew his
iunting-knifs and met the onslaught
( the bear with cool and deter
nined hand at the same time. ne
houted for help. The bear got IA one
un on the body Of Mt. Gates with its
ig LETT paw, but before It could give
mother blow MI. Gates had given il
death stab in the region Of its heart.
ne animal dropped TO the ground
nd Mr. Gates followed up the nrsl
tab with several more in order to
lake sure that 4 was dead. Just al
e was finishing his bloody work. esv.
raj members Of the hunting party
no had heard his Giles Tor hsip
nshed single nle up the trail ana
ere in at TIE hnish. Mr., Gates was
I'D up Tor a few days as result Of
e Injury which be received from tf
low Of the bear The animal wei4hel Ii