Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-09-11

Ior camp. We were tired and hun |
cry, having had nothing since morn
ing, but had fed the dogs on liver
When we got about half way to
camp old Trailer struck a bear track
and away they went, down the hill
towards Fish lake, making the woods
ring. / and Bob stood and listened,
hoping they might turn and tree it
between us and camp, but we we're
disappointed, for they kept getting
farther and farther and finally went
out of hearing. We knew then the
jib was up, so we went on to camp,
arriving there a little after dark.
We didn't wait long to commence
getting supper, and I'll tell you right
now buck meat disappeared mighty
fast when we got it cooked. Bob
said he never was so hungry in his
life, and | believed it.
Well, we were up against it now,
both dogs out with a bear, and an
elk and big buck to bring in. ! and
Bob talked the matter over and
agreed there was only one thing to
do, and that was one of us would
have to take horse and go hunt
the dogs and the other take the
pack animals and go after the elk.
1t was finally agred that Bob should
go after the dogs and ] after the
elk. Now l will acknowledge that
this didn't suit exactly, but Bob ar
gued that | knew so much better
how to skin and cut up the meat
that it was best for me to go; it
would take him forever to do the
job, etc. So I said "All right, I'll
CO." But | had a pretty strong sus-
piciOn that Bob was pretty anxious
to 60 after the dogs, for it was al
most a sure shot that he would get
a bear. So he saddled his horse
and lit out with a caution from me
not to let Trailer get hurt, at any
cost. | took the pack horses and
went up to where the elk was, and
by the time | got him skinned and
cut up in shape to pack it was 3
o'clock, which made me late getting
into camp. When | arrived, how
ever, Bob was there and had got the
bear, and. believe me, | was glad to
see Trailer, for / was always uneasy
when he was away over night with a
bear treed The bear was big
black fellow and was literally rid
died with bullets.
After supper Bob told me all
about it. He went down the Fish
lake trail and followed it for several
miles, then turned to the right and
passed Fish lake, then went on west
around the side of Mt. Pitt and kept
getting higher up until finally he
came to a deep canyon. Here he
listened for long time and, hearing
nothing, concluded to cross the can
yon and get up on top of the ridge
on the other side. He had terri
BILE time getting his horse down and
across the canyon, which was full Of
brush and logs, but at last he made
it, and when he struck the hill or
the other side it was better going
and he soon reached the top of the
ridge. To his great relief and de-
light he heard the dogs barking
steadily down below him and not
over half a mile. He led his horse
down the ridge for several hundred
yards, then tied him and went on to
the tree afoot. Now is when he got
in too big hurry, for if there is
ever a time you want to use caution
it is going to tree Mr. Bear is up,
for he will come down sure as fate
if there were forty dogs at the foot
of the tree. This is especially so
after they have been up tree long
time. Now that is what Bob did,
made too much noise, and down he
came. The fight was on, and a
royal battle it was, as he was up
against two of the best bear dogs
that ever looked up tree. Bob ran
as fast as he could to get there, and
when he got in sight he said they
were making it hot for him. First
Trailer would grab him by the ham,
and as he swung around the strike,
Trailer would let go and get back
out of the way and Ranger would
get him. They did not know Bob
was there until his gun cracked, and
! then Bob said it was wonderful to
see them handle him without either
dog getting hurt. They just literally
made it so hot for him and kept him
going so fast back and forth that
Bob couldn't get in dead shot, but
he kept following up and every half
chance he would shoot. They kept
working down the hill and at last
Bob got a bullet through his heart
and the victory was won. Bob said
it was impossible to describe this
fight, that it had to be seen to be
appreciated. For two dogs to han