Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-10

An old hunter of the grizzly bear
says that he never gets really brighten
e nowadays. but that formerly he had
many bad moment. Thirty years of
experience have taught him that "the
grizzly, next to an Arizona Apache In
dian, IS the ugliest, crossest and most
unreliable critter that hunter or pros
pector has TO deal with" His talk is
reported by newspaper, and one Of his
Adventures is worth noting in full:
When | came out to California in
1865 there were hundreds of grizzlies
in the redwoods along the Russian and
American rivers. That reminds me OF
funny experience OF mine. was
green and fresh then, even il had been
in the war. One morning was out
alone for a deer in the Lake County
foothills, when saw a whooping big
grizzly way up on the side Of a noun
tain; went right after il without real
izing the risk.
crept cautiously up the mountain,
keeping out of sight OF the bear as
much as possible. | got within one
hundred yards OF him, and taking care.
full aim just at the back OF the shoulder,
let drive. The bear fell at the crack
OF the gun, but was on his feet again
in an instant, and came tearing down
the mountain in Decline for where
stood. My rifle was muzzle-loader,
and had no time to reload.
| was not so anxious to kill the bear
as was to save my own bacon. A tree
stood below me, and without stopping
to measure its size or to consider what
sort Of place Of refuge it was, sprang
to it and went up like coon chased
by pack of hounds. | had reached
the branches, about ten feet from the
ground, and had not yet thought OF
looking down, when heard the bear
scratching at the foot of the tree and
imagined he was coming after me.
Well, he didn't come, and when had
climbed about as high as could get
! straddled a limb to await develop
ments. The grizzly stood on his hind
legs, scratched and growled and snarl-
ed, while my heart was right between
my teeth, must confess.
After an hour, when the bear Gained
down, felt easier. thought the bear
would soon get tired Of keeping watch,
and would get up and 60 away. He
did nothing of the kind, however, and
hour after hour sat there in that tree
watching the bear. imagined saw
him move occasionally; but he lay
still, and finally began to break
branches and threw them down on him,
and yelled at him till was hoarse
There he lay, and he seemed deter
mined to remain there until he starved
me out My situation began to grow
desperate. Night was coming, and al
ready was so stiff from my position
that could scarcely move. Something
must be done, and it had 10 be done
mighty quick
My rife lay on the upper side, and
the bear was below the tree. climbed
down to the lower branches, and break
ing of few Of the smaller limbs,
threw them down on the bear. He
did not move. He was asleep, knew,
and now was my time.
Carefully, and still as death, slid
down the tree until I was within six
feet of the ground, when I sprung on
the upper side, grabbed my gun ana ran
like scared coyote to some rocks
about fifty yards away.
When safely behind the rocks, I
peeped out. The bear had not moved
Then I loaded my gun, and drawing a
careful bead, with a dead rest over a
rock, shot the brute square between
the eyes. Still he did not move. Again
| loaded my rifle, cooked it and walk
ed cautiously toward the bear. When
close enough, picked up a stone and
hit him with it.
He did not seem to mind it; then I
mustered sufficient courage to 20 near
enough to poke him with my gun. He
was as stiff as a poker, and had been
dead for hours. had been in the
tree all day, freed by dead bear. Oh,
| was an awful green tenderfoot then.