The Delta independent., 1918-01-04
HoTcHkIss is MASTER
OF CINNAMON BEAR IN FIGHT

Suppose you came to big hole in
the ground-a hole that was about 10
feet in the ground, with just room
enough for you to crawl into and you
knew there was a huge Cinnamon
bear in that hole and that he weighed
500 or more pounds. What do you
think you would do?
am persuaded that not many of
us would drop onto our hands and
knees and with a trusty rifle in one
hand, drag ones self into that hole
until you could see the bears shining
eyes in the darkness and hear his
hair-raising growl Most of us would
hit the trail or lie in wait for him to
come out of his den.
But that's not the kind of stuff
Stanley Hotchkiss, son of Walter
Hotchkiss of this city is made of.
He has the nerve to wade right in
the hole and challenge Mr.. Bruin to
deadly combat. and that is exactly
what he did Tuesday morning up on
the Cimarron near Willow creek.
The Hotchkiss boys and their faith
ers are noted bear hunters and only
short time ago they succeeded in
laying low a cow-killer bear near the
Buckhorn lakes On Monday, the oath
of December. the boys started out
after another bear. In the party were
Uriah Hotchkiss and two sons, Earl
and Roswell, Stanley and Archie, sons
of Walter Hotchkiss, and Jerry Platt
of Montrose, who Uriah Hotchkiss
describes as wild-eyed Irish tender
foot who will make a good bear hun
ter in time if he does not get scared
out with cold feet. They went over
on the Cimarron to the den where
Uriah Hotchkiss some seven years
ago had a real duel with a big bear
which he found in the hole and crawl
ed in the hole after him and shot
him to death with his six shooter
Uriah's horse got sick on the way
over and he had to return home much
to his regret and he was not present
to see the fun.
Tuesday morning the boys started
out looking for bar Finally the two
bear dogs. chained together scented
old bruin in the den. They drew the
five men to the hole by their bark
ing. When the men arrived. the dogs
were sent in to put the bear on his
metal and when a fight was about to
ensue, an attempt was made to get
the dogs out of the hole, but they
could not be persuaded to give up and
did not come out nor let loose of the
bear until he was pulled from the
hole a dead one.
The bear was evidently embarkfng
upon :. long sleep h-)rgh the winter.
Sta:,,e.! crawled int the darkness
glistening eyes peering at him. not
six feet away. He heard a growl.
Dropping flat on his stomach he rails
ed his rifle and planted a heavy bull
let squarely between Mr.. Bruins
eyes. The monster rolled over dead.
With gun ready for fear the animal
might rise for the attack, he waited
He heard the dying gasps. and when
all was still he calmly lighted
match to see if the end had come.
Finding that the bear was sure dead
he slid back out of the den Then
two of the boys with ropes. worked
their way to the dead animal, slip
ped the rope around him, fastening
it firmly.
1t then took the full strength of all
five men to drag Mr.. Bruin out of his
nest. Then they proceeded to butch
er him, carefully removing the hide |
and quartered him, so he could be |
packed on the horses. Tuesday even
ing about five o'clock they arrived |
home after the big drive, this being |
one of the largest animals killed in |
this section for many a day.