Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-10-09
aHsks1 lyNaxcD lt2Ir .i41rNaY


N hired the only canoe In the
place. small and leaky ~
~ wash dugout. and engaged
4 n two fresh men--one Davey.
who had the reputation OF
knowing the river and was not afraid
of bears. and sunny.faced boy named
Dease Lake Tommy: who proved him
self an excellent oarsman. Albert
the man Of moose--rather surprised
me by wishing to come down too. not
~ . hunter. since be knew nothing OF
the Stikine and Its bears. but -
siscrsman Of the boat. In which capac'
ny he proved himself an adept Just
ss We were starting. Mr.. butler. who
had been hunting in the iskoot noun
sains. turned up with three splendid
Sleeps heads. he wished INT
for 20 miles down stream 10 the cab
,n OF certain Capt. Conover. an old
prospector and trspper who lives on
this lonely stream and knows all
about bears. Mr. Butler had had =
good chance at n fne grizzly on the
mountains. but alas he had missed ".
and Was anxious To retrieve his mis-
fortune. He stayed with Conover three
days and then came down stream
having seen and missed two grizzlies
shortly after leaving Conoser's hui
and having passed all the worst OF the
rapids. We came In sight Of great
overflow which IL known as Nc
Isod's slough Just before reaching
the slough ! noticed black spot
about 600 yards down stream. which
proved 10 be bear swimming the
river. All was excitement In a min
uie. The bear. inedium-sired one
reached the bank As we carecncd into
brphen water at the bottom of the rap
ia. The distance Vas not more than
50 yards. yet l found "a almost I'M
possible to get even a snapshot. ow
Ing 10 the rolling Of the boat Seeing
that Ne should In q moment shoot past
the bear. I let three somewhat he:rs
less shots In quick succession. each 81
which struck the sand about thrcs
Inches below the mark. and had the
modification Of observing the beaI
walk slowly into the heavy bush viii
complete indifference.
Next morning. In most horrible
weather. we whikzed down stream q
A.. spot which. II only the sun ~oui'
shine upon u. might be described q
among the most beautiful In the world
Under vast mountains about 10 mile
b.low Telegraph creek small strean
cuts into the shaggy forest. One sia
a overshadowed by PERCEPTIONS rock
and the other by a dense forest 9
vreat trees. This II called klcccf
mans canyon. and the stream ina
u,erees Il Is a spawning-ground OF IN
humphack salmon. and consequently
fsyor,te resort of bears. We lande
about 400 yards above II. when Dave
aud I at once proceeded to stalk W
place.
There were no bears there ih'
morning. but an abundance OF trs'
signs Twenty black bears and
i.sst one large grizzly must ha'
been catching salmon for sever
DAYS. 90 We withdrew as noiseless
rs .osssble and went mp stream ~
down wind for quarter OF mi
and made camp Tor the day:
Three o'clock In the afternoon
the usual hour for bears to start ie'
Ing 80 Albert. Davey and ! again
heated our stalk to the brook mou
a. this hour. The last few yards
went on alone. aud nj first VAS mu
a,sappointed at seeing nothing but
black dipper diving In the sha''o
within n few yards. The forest a
ei,9 cast deep gloom ON the ~
liver. n was showing as usual. q
The light was so poor that had
,cok a long time nj two black mat
about so yards away In the middle
the stream TO determine their natu
presentiy. as | watched one OF TN
orange things, Il seemed 10 mo
wss dreaming or had u res
wovedg Yes. Il moved again. AM
sax n large black paw suddenly ca
Out of the water and grab q, Sol
thing which Il seemed to miss. Al
.,xinr intentiy saw that the OF
MACK mark was the head OF Ia
mack bear with cooked ears
hear vas fishing. and had made III
unsuccessful shots nj salmon rs
sxnm past him. On the second o.
ton think.he touched the hsh In
crab. for I distinctly saw him o
III mouth and show his white Il
IN anticipation Of seizins the expes
nrsxe. would not have disturbed
,or the world. As I wanted TO see
whole business Of bear.nshi9s' "