A GRIZZLY AND A MUZZLE-LOADER. 



PLUMMER. 



Editor Recreation: From 1866 to 1871, 

 Joe Blodgett and I were partners in the 

 cattle business, in Bitter Root valley, Mon- 

 tana. Our cattle ranged in a basin called 

 Ross's Hole, at that time one of the best 

 game districts in Montana. During the 

 spring and summer months of each year 

 we spent several weeks there, looking after 

 our stock, and in hunting. 



In June, 1867, we left our ranch, on the 

 Bitter Root river, near the present town of 

 Corvallis, intending to pass the summer 

 with the cattle. We had 6 pack animals 

 and our saddle horses. We were armed 

 with Hawkins' rifles, muzzle-loaders, carry- 

 ing half-ounce balls. 



After 2 days' travel we arrived in Ross's 

 Hole. A week was spent in driving the cat- 

 tle to the best ranges; then we moved camp 

 to the Big Hole basin, 20 miles distant. 

 This basin is about 60 miles long by 25 

 wide, and is the source of the Jefferson 

 river, which in turn makes one of the 3 

 forks of the Missouri. It was an ideal spot 

 for the sportsman, abounding in deer, ante- 

 lope, elk, moose, bear, small game and fish. 



After making camp we immediately pre- 

 pared for a hunt; and on the following 

 morning left camp, on horseback, accom- 

 panied by Jack, a large greyhound. We had 

 gone perhaps 2 miles, when we saw, half a 

 mile away, a bear and 2 cubs, digging roots. 

 The animals were an old she grizzly and 2 

 cubs, about a year old. 



They were in open ground, a mile from 

 the nearest timber. Keeping between them 

 and the woods, we approached within 200 

 yards before being seen. Hearing us, the 

 old bear raised on her hind legs, then 

 dropped on all fours, herding her cubs, in 

 order to get behind us to the shelter of the 

 timber. As soon as she started to run, the 

 hound was turned loose, while Joe and I 

 started to head her off. This we easily did, 

 for our horses were good runners. 



When we were within 75 yards, we 

 jumped off our horses and fired; but owing 

 to the great fright of the horses, only one 

 shot took effect, and that too far back to 

 stop her. On the contrary, it seemed to 

 make her more determined to get away. In 

 the meantime the cubs were going for the 

 timber as fast as possible. The old one 

 stopped now and then to fight off the dog 

 and to bite her wound. 



After great difficulty we managed to 

 mount, and again headed her off long 



enough to get a shot: but as before, only 

 wounded her. By this time our horses were 

 so frightened it was almost impossible to 

 reload, but we finally succeeded in doing so 

 and in mounting. I rode as near to the 

 bear as my horse would go, and ventured 

 another shot, on the run, but missed. 



We headed her the third time and suc- 

 ceeded in stopping her by a bullet in the 

 body. She was now badly wounded and 

 immediately started for us. As our guns 

 were muzzle-loaders and empty, we tried to 

 mount, to get out of her way. Blodgett's 

 horse gave a snort and a plunge, and al- 

 most before we realized it he was off toward 

 camp as fast as he could go. Joe imme- 

 diately started after him, not with the same 

 speed perhaps, but with the' same incentive. 



Up to this time I had had all I could do 

 to keep my horse from breaking away, and 

 it now looked as though my only chance to 

 escape was to let the horse go and to take 

 to my heels, as my partner had done. 



Brave Jack, seeming to understand my 

 danger, rushed forward, in front of the bear 

 and tried to frighten her off. This gave me 

 time to mount, but at a great cost to Jack. 

 Once he got too close to the bear, and as he 

 sprang away she struck at him with both 

 fore paws, catching him at the shoulder, 

 and stripping the hide off clear to his hips; 

 yet the brave dog kept biting her heels, 

 which compelled her to turn and fight him 

 off. 



By this time I had gained control of my 

 horse, and was circling around the grizzly, 

 to distract her attention from Blodgett, who 

 was still keeping up his 2.40 gait toward 

 the timber. She finally took after me, but 

 was so weakened by her wounds she did not 

 run far. 



After I had circled around her several 

 times, she contented herself with sitting 

 down and snarling, and fighting the dog 

 off. I again tried shooting her from my 

 horse, but only grazed her breast. I then 

 dismounted and shot her, this time fatally, 

 the ball breaking her neck. Seeing this, 

 Joe turned from his mad career and came 

 back. The cubs had in the meantime made 

 their escape to the mountains, much to our 

 regret, for we wished to capture them. 



This was one of the largest bears I have 

 ever seen, and was a formidable foe for any- 

 one to meet. We took the skin, although 

 it was not in good condition, and returned 

 to camp, satisfied with our first day's hunt. 



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