ELDORADO 179 



zlies have been known to weigh as much as 2000 

 pounds. They are caught by the lasso and trapping. 

 1 lie only serious result of the fight I have described 

 was the disemboweling ' of one of the most valuable 

 horses, as the rider came too near the sharp horns of 

 the infuriated bull. He was led across the race track 

 and shot. 



In the early days grizzlies, and other species of bear, 

 elk and mountain sheep were very numerous, but they 

 have now almost entirely disappeared. Many des- 

 perate fights occurred between the hunters and 

 wounded grizzlies. I have seen numerous instances 

 where men were crippled for life from the encounters. 



The following adventure of two or three prospectors 

 on their way to the mines was related by one of them : 

 "About half way up the gulch a loud braying, followed 

 by a fierce growl, attracted our attention and in a few 

 minutes a frightened mule, closely pursued by an enor- 

 mous grizzly bear, descended the hillside within forty 

 \ards of where we stood leaning on our rifles. As the 

 bear reached the road, Higgins, with his usual quick- 

 ness and intrepidity, fired, and an unearthly yell' from 

 the now infuriated- animal told the shot was with effect. 

 The mule in the interval had crossed the road and was 

 now scampering away towards the plains, and bruin, 

 finding himself robbed of his prey, turned upon us. 

 I leveled my rifle and gave him the contents with 

 hearty good will, but the wounds he had received only 

 served to exasperate the monster, who now made to- 

 wards us with rapid strides. Deeming prudence the 

 better part of valor we ran with all convenient speed 

 in the direction of the camp, within a hundred yards 

 of which my foot became entangled in the underbrush 



