Year: 1860

their work the men frequently saw one bear,
distinguished above all his fellows for hugeness
and ferocity, and though this particular animal
was seen at short intervals for more than year,
no hardy hunter had yet cared to venture near
enough to administer certain leaden quetus.
In the course of months, the "big Grizzly" be-
came well known by sight to several, and by
reputation to many, and many was the shot
thrown away upon his tough hide, no bullet
being fortunate enough to find vulnerable
point. SO well protected was the life of the
"big Grizzly" by the thick hide and shaggy hair,
that he was entirely unhurt after shooting ac-
quaintance of fifteen months with his co-inhab-
itants, the whites. In due course of time the
fame of the grim and grizzly quadruped reach
ed the coast, and he was talked of in the cities
of the Pacific shore. The man most interested
of all in the four-egged hero, was one J. c.
Adams, of San Francisco, the proprietor of a
large menagere, a man mighty as a hunter,
and famed as tanner of intractable wild beasts
The stories of the unusual size of the Tuolumne
bear and the difficulty the local hunters found
in dealing with him raised the ambitious en-
thusiasm of the animal tanner to so high pitch,
that he determined to organize party to pur-
sue the "big grizzly with the determination,
not to kill him, but to accomplish the infinitely
more difficult undertaking of capturing him
alive.


In February, 1854 Mr.. ]. C. Adams, accom-
panied only by one Indian and boy, set out on
iheir Journey lhelr frst care on reaching the
hunting ground was to announce their business,
and request such other hunters as might fall in
with the urslne gentleman OF whom they were
IN search and not to shoot him, but to mercifully
spare his lie. The whole country was soon ap--
prised Oh the intent OF the hunting party, and
henceiorth the life OF Mr.. Grizzly was as sacred
as IL ne had been white elephant IN his own
dominions'


In a snort time they discovered spot which
seemed TO be, more than any other, favorite
haunt OF their expected captive; narrow ra-
vine IN the eastern edge of Tuolumne County,
OF the foot OF the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on
the head waters OF the Iuolumne River. Here
a trap was made in the following substantial
manner: log house was constructed, fourteen
feet square on the inside, and fourteen feet high
the logs of which it was built, were each from
ten to twelve inches thick, all hewed smooth on
the inside, and strongly dovetailed together at
the corners-huge heavy logs were piled on the
top, that the trap might not be oyerturned-an
opening eight feet square was left for the bear
to enter, which opening was TO be securely
closed by sliding door, arranged with spring
to descend whenever the bait was meddl ID with
the whole of the inside of the trap was lined
with smooth sheet-iron closely nailed down,
that the feet and claws of the animal might be
at fault when he endeavored, as he certrinly
would TO dig and gnaw his way out. The bait
was live deer, and there was one constantly
in the trap night and day from the day of its
construction till the capture was achieved, a
period OF more than seven months. This deer
was one Of the wild species, lassoed for this
purpose, and fed and watered regularly by a
man who was detailed to watch the trap. The
whole duty of standing in trap to be eaten
was by no means done by one animal, frequent
changes being made as will soon appear. The
trap being ready for service, the efforts of the
party were then devoted to the inveiglng of
the shaggy monster. There was but one way
to accomplish this-he was to be fed or baited
IN the vicinity oil the trap until he be-
came accustomed to frequent the spot in search
OF tood, when he might eventually be entced
into the lurking snare. The mode of proceed
ing was IN this wise. The party would occa-
sionaily discover the track of their bear, and
would then lead bullock about in various di-
rections, crossing and recrossing the track, and
thoroughly beating up the ground near where
ms oearshlp was lying. lhe bullock would
then be turned loose near the trap, the hunters
retire, and IN short time the bear, having
caught the scent oil the bait, would come forth
and make short work OF the ill-fated bull.
"HNe
hlm, had that been their object. But although
old Grizzly, in the course OF seven months, de-
voured nearly thirty bullocks, he had still kept
out OF the trap. lie made but single meal
from each animal, always refusing to touch a
carcass he had once left. lie had now become
so accustomed to frequent the spot that the
hopes OF his pursuers, grew daily more bright.
At last one hungry day in September, 1854,
the old Grizzly walked straight into the fatal
pen, paid his particular respects to the unhappy
animal there confined, and in an instant the
spring door closed and he was prisoner for
life.


The good news OF the capture was soon told
and in few days party of about twenty per-
sons assembled, strong iron cage was brought
to the spot, and the task of cagiIg the beast
begun. The top of the trap was taken off, and
from above MIR. Grizzly was lassoed with null
titudinous ropes of raw hides, which were
thrown around his neck and each of his legs,
and he was ''stretched-that is, his limbs were
rendered unserviceable by being violently drag
ged in different directions. Five or six ropes
being attached to each leg, he was held fast un-
til his strength was exhausted, muzzle put on
from the log trap mo the iron cage. This OPP
| e,a,oh ,ooA '"en'! hhe" 'hiee oays W accom-