The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-08-12

deer. 1t is claimed by experienced
bear hunters that there are more
bears in these bottoms than are to
be found in any other district of cor
responding size In the United States.
This fact is so we'll known to bear
hunters all over the country that they
come here in large numbers every
year to engage in the exciting sport.
William ]. Bryan, John w. Gates,
Charles c. Glidden, of Boston, and
many others have tried their hands
at killing the big game inthis 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 1t
possible to 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
well as for the hunters. The trails
have to be cleared of new growth
every fall, just before the hunting
season begins.
Will 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 brush.
1t is simply impossible to do any
hunting away from these trails, ex-
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 trail of
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
numbers of these animals have been
killed in the San Bernard bottoms
during the present open season.
The fact that the bear hunting
must practically all be done in the
narrow trails that have been cut
through the underbrush has led to
some exciting encounters with BEARS
Three or four years ago, John W..
Gates, the Wall Street magnate, came
down here with a party of Eastern
sportsmen for the purpose of killing
few bears. Mr.. Gates refused the
service of a guide and started to fol-
low one of the bear trails alone. He
was armed with rife and hunting
knife. He had not penetrated the
thicket more than few hundred
yards when at sudden turn in the
trail he came face to face with big,
black bear. Mr.. Gates and the bear
were within five or six feet of each
other when they received the first
hint Of each others presence. Mr..
Gates is large of physique, and the
bear likewise was of such big propor-
tions that 1t would have been diff
cult thing for him to turn around in
the narrow trail. 1t is a rare thing
for black bear to lead In an attack
upon man, but in this instance the
animal evidently thought that 1t must
get by Mr.. Gates in order to escape.
1t reared upon its hind legs and came
at Mr.. Gates at rate of speed that
gave the latter no chance to turn and
back track on the trail. The bear
was too close to use his rife to ad-
vantage, and Mr.. Gates drew his
hunting-knife and met the onslaught
of the bear with a cool and deter
mined hand. At the same time, he
shouted for help. The bear got in one
cuff on the body Of Mr.. Gates with its
big left paw, but before 1t could give
another blow Mr.. Gates had given 1t
death stab in the region of its heart.
The animal dropped to the ground
and Mr.. Gates followed up the first
stab with several more In order to
make sure that 1T was dead. Just as
he was finishing his bloody work, sew
eral members Of the hunting party.
who had heard his cries for help,
rushed single file up the trail and
were In at the finish. Mr.. Gates was
laid up for few days as a result of
the injury which he received from the
blow Of the bear. The animal weighed
400 pounds.
William J. Bryan killed two bears
on his last hunting trip in the San
Bernard bottoms, two or three years
ago. Mr.. Martin had everything in
readiness for Mr.. Bryan's visit. He
had the pack of bear dogs out for
several days before the entry of Mr..
Bryan to the hunting grounds and
the bears had been driven over to a
particular locality of the bottoms
where they awaited Bryan's coming.
Mr.. Bryan was accompanied by a
guide and the two men saw many