242 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
BB eee iene i 
[Ocr. 28, 1884. 
The Sportsman Canrist. 
LASSOING THE GRIZZLY. 
BY T. 8. VAN DYKE. 
4 ieee old Spanish settlers of California wete never cele- 
brated as hunters, and few of them hunt even now, 
They lack the swinish propensities of the Anglo-Saxon game 
butcher; they like to see game around them, and do not en- 
joy seeing it killed off. They do not, like the stingy Ameri- 
can farmer, want to see the whole quail family obliterated 
because quails occasionally eat a few grapes, and all the deer 
exterminated because they occasionally ravage a patch of 
beans or watermelons. But they like a landscape alive with 
life pee enjoy the roar of wings and the thump of bounding 
hoots. 
But in one respect they were the greatest hunters that the 
world has ever seen. Their like shall be seen no more, The 
old breed is dying out and in its place comes a race of cow- 
boys that play with the pistol instead of the riata, and take 
more pride in lark-heeled boots than in the training of their 
horses. The man whose spare moments are occupied with 
whisky and cards, and whose principal solicitude is about 
the gloss of his white shirt bosom, may lasso and bind a steer 
upon the open plain as well asany one. But such deeds as 
were done by some of the old Spanish Californians could be 
done only by men who played with the riata almost in their 
cradle, and grew up from boyhood on horseback. Califor- 
nia has had some good Amcrican vaqueros; but few haye 
ever dared to ride upon the grizzly bear, and the few that 
have done so and made a successful cast of the noose have 
generally found to their dismay that they had the bear just 
where they didn’t want him and have gladly dropped the 
rata. 
And who could blame them? Compared with the courage 
and skill required to handle such a savage monster as the 
grizzly bear, at the end of a rope only twenty or thirty feet 
away, ali the talk about the bravery of hunting the tiger or the 
skill of cutting down bounding game with a single ball seems 
ridiculous, The Californian had no elephant to fight off the 
brute for him, no attendant to hand him deadly rifles as fast 
as he could empty them, no army of beaters with tin pans 
and drums to scare the bear out of his senses, nor had he 
any weapon in which accuracy had been brought to perfec- 
tion, with carefully adjusted sights to tell him when it was 
rightly held. Nor had he any dogs to nip the game in the 
rear and distract its attention, nor any big trap and log upon 
the beast’s foot to clog its movements, He had only a horse 
trained, perhaps, to charge upon anything he was aimed at, 
froma cactus patch to a locomotive, but more probably 
crazed with terror at the first scent of the bear, and driven 
on only by the sharpest spur, He had only the riata, a rope 
of braided rawhide, stiff and clumsy in spite of oiling, liable 
to twist and kink and subject to a dozen other causes of 
error from which the rifle is free. This can not be made 
fast to the horn of the saddle, but must be attached with a 
quick twist after the noose has caught and must be ready to 
cast off in a twinkling if necessary, The management of the 
noose requires all the care of one hand, that of the coil and 
the end of the rope all the care of the other. Yet the reins 
must be managed with consummate skill and quickness and 
the frightened horse be kept from wheeling and winding the 
rider in the rope with the most formidable and savage of all 
animals at the end of it only twenty feet away. The riata, 
too, must all this time be kept drawn tight or the bear will 
cast off the noose in an instant, get his paws under it and 
cut it with his claws, or pullit out far enough to get it in 
his mouth where his sharp teeth quickly sever it. Ov he may 
make a rush upon the rider, or with his paws draw him in 
upon his own rope. There may arise a dozen contingencies 
in which the horseman has had no previous experience yet 
must act with the quickness of thought, If thrown or 
dragged from his horse, or if the saddle girth should break 
or slip beneath the tremendous strain of the riata, slight 
were the chances of escape. 
A person of good sense might well doubt whether such 
things ever were done, Yet nothing is more certain than 
that they were done frequently; done, too, by moonlight; 
done often on rough ground; and often on horses that few 
Americans could stay on a minute. At the old-time fiestas, 
fights between bulls and grizzlies that had been lassoed in 
the mountains and dragged in, bound upon rawhides, werea 
matter of course, and were continued for years after the 
Americans came. Only twelve years ago, my friend Don 
Thomas Alvarado, of Monserratte, San Diego county, with 
only an Indian boy to help him, lassoed and killed upon the 
spot where Fall Brook now stands, two bears, each of which 
was heavier than the horse he rode. And Don Marcos For- 
ster, of San Juan Capistrano, has, on the slope back of Los 
Flores, lassoed and choked to death, alone, a full grown bear, 
the performance being seen at a distance by a party who rode 
up to help him, but arrrived too Iate. 
But all things considered—the size of the bear, the nature 
of the ground, the confusion resulting from the number of 
horsemen engaged, and the extraordinary cutting and break- 
of riatas by the enormous strength of the bear, the catching 
of the big bear of Santa Rosa, some years ago in San 
Diego county, was probably the greatest performance of this 
kind ever seen in California, This bear was pronounced by 
several who had seen ‘‘Old Sampson” and other great bears, 
far larger than any of them. His hide was on exhibition 
for months at Los Angeles and was the wonder of all old 
bear hunters. His head was more than the strongest man 
in the party could lift clear of the ground, and his weight 
was estimated at 1,800 to 2,000 pounds. 
Tbis bear had been known for many years, and had 
laughed at all attempts to kill him. He had only fattened 
upon lead, sueezed at all traps, and, preferring to kill his 
own meat, could not be poisoned, Various attempts had 
been made to decoy him upon open ground by dragging a 
dead beef down the canyons, etc,, but all in vain. ut one 
evening he caught a yearling heifer just outside the edge of 
the great sea of chapparal that covers miles of the northern 
part of San Diego county and the southern part of Los 
Angeles county. And it was just at the head of one of the 
lovely little valleys that break into the top of the hi h. table- 
land that sweeps up on the west side of Temecula Valley, in 
San Diego, and forms the Rancho of Santa Rosa. A vaquero 
saw him, and as he rode within sight the bear left the heifer 
and went into the brush. The vaquero made all speed to the 
ranch house, Word was sent at once to Temecula, and by 
8 o'clock six men on six of the best horses in the country, 
each man with an extra riata tied behind the saddle, were on 
the ground, Half a dozen more men as spectators rode along 
in the rear, 
Fortunately the moon was nearly full It was one of 
those marvellously clear nights such as the countries of dry 
air alone can show, when the moon seems like a ball of 
quicksilver hanging in the sky only half a mile away, when 
every cliff or scar or jutting crag in the mountain stands out 
and overhangs the mountain’s base, and the deep shadows of 
the canyons seem solid hills of jet trying to overtop the giant 
mass beside them, About two hundred and fifty yards away, 
upon the leeward side of the dead cow, the party halted and 
tied their horses, while some of the men went stigad on foot 
to reconnoiter, Behind a little knoll, a hundred yards or so 
from the bait, they stopped, Over the dead animal half a 
de coyotes were snarling and feeding, but no bear was 
ere. 
Nearly two hours passed away when there was a sudden 
Tullin the noise of the coyotes, and they began to sneak 
away from the bait, The crack of brush was heard, too, in 
the chapparal, and in a minute a huge mass of shaggy black- 
hess emerged. Out it came for some thirty yards from the 
brush, then stopped and gavea long ‘‘woof,” much like 
that of a suspicious hog. Then it struck the ground with 
one fore paw and gave another ‘“‘woof.” Then it sat down 
and sat there some thirty minutes, giving an occasional 
‘svoof,” Then it walked-around to the leeward side of the 
heifer and stopped upon a little knoll so close to the men 
that they could hearits breathing, and in the cool night 
breeze that flowed toward them could plainly smell the 
strong odor of the mighty brute. - 
Hour after hour passed away, yet the bear still kept his 
place. The men, who had come in their shirt sleeves and 
without any supper, began to shiver in the cool air that 
makes the nights of California so luxurious to wearied 
humanity. The horses, too, had smelt the bear at once, and 
had been trembling and snorting with fear, so that the men 
who remained with them could hardly keep them quiet. 
A whispered consultation was now held, in which it was 
finally decided that the chances that the bear would go to 
the bait were better than the chances of handling him effec- 
tively so near the brush as he then was. The bear had no 
suspicion of anything going on so close behind him, but sat 
there sniffing the wind, sending forth an occasional ‘‘woof,” 
until the moon rode past the zenith and dipped toward the 
distant Pacific. At nearly 2 o’clock in the morning the bear 
finally decided to eat and started toward the carcass. The 
coyotes scattered in a moment, and soon the cracking of 
bones was heard. 
Quickly the men went back for the horses. The horses 
knew as well as their masters what was coming, and each 
one trembled iike a leaf as the great horsehair girth was 
“cinched” as tightly as the long running strap could draw 
it. Don Francisco Machado, one of the owners of the 
ranche, was selected to make the first throw. They rode 
quietly up to within about 100 yards and then, like a flight 
of arrows, the six horses shot forward beneath the impulse 
of the spurs. If such a charge he not “into the jaws of 
hell” it is very much like it, Certain it is that more men 
can be found to lead a charge like that of the Light Brigade 
than to lead such a one as Don Francisco led. 
At the clatter of the hoofs the bear rose with a savage 
growl from his supper. Right up to within fifteen feet of 
the brute rode Don Francisco with his brother, Don Juan 
Wachado, and a friend close behind him. Another brother, 
Don José Wachado, and two other horsemen split off. and 
passed upon the other side of the victim. Wheecoo, wheecooo 
went the noose twice around the rider's head as he ap- 
proached the bear; whizz went the noose as it flew from his 
hand, Witha faint 27p it fell over the bear’s head and in a 
twinkling the other end of the rope was wound around the 
horn of the saddle and the noose drawn tight with a sudden 
jerk. The bear instead of being pulled off his feet or trying 
to loosen the riata, made a rush for Don Francisco, but the 
quick horse he rode sprang forward fast enough to keep the 
riata tight, and in a moment another noose, from the hand 
of Don José, dropped over the bear’s head from behind; 
but it also went under one foot, making the noose catch over 
the shoulder. Vainly the horse set himself back upon his 
haunches. No horse could hold sucha hold as that, and 
Don José had to drop his riata. 
Don Francisco now tried to jerk the bear sidewise so as to 
wet him off his feet or get him to raise his feet so that they. 
could be easily noosed by his companions. His horse sprang 
beneath the spur like a snake from coil, but the riata tight- 
ened on a weight no horse could overthrow. Meanwhile, 
noose after noose aimed for the brute’s Jess whizzed through 
the air, But he would not keep a foot clear of the ground 
long enough for a successful throw, and his movements were 
so irregular that it was impossible to base calculations upon 
them so as to cast the loop in time. But in a moment more 
zip came another loop over the bear’s head and fell full 
around his neck, As it tightened he rose upon his feet 
while both loops were pulling in opposite directions. In a 
twinkling his paws were beneath them, in a moment he had 
them both in his mouth, Such strength surprised and 
alarmed his persecutors, The air was filled with Spanish 
ejaculations, and the worst of it was that both fore paws 
were now so protected that neither one could be lassoed. 
Amid the ‘‘Carrajo” and “Carrambas” and “que diablo es 
este,” one of the riatas, frayed and cut half in two by teeth 
and claws, parted beneath the strain, and before another 
cast could be made the second one gave way. The great 
bear was again free and two of the best hands were empty. 
But the hear was free for but au instant. The very incar- 
nation of fury, he made a rush at Don José, whose horse 
wheeled with a whirl that would have landed an ordinary 
rider in the claws of the enemy. Just as he rushed upon 
him, open-mouthed and raging, another noose came with a 
sudden snap around his head, catching in his mouth and 
tightening on the instant behind his teeth and behind his 
ears, As he reared upon his feet another one fell over his 
head upon top of the first one, and by the two he was jerked 
over backward, and then there was a wild confusion of 
horses and men and ropes and bear and Spanish interjections 
and cries of “‘agarra un pié,” “pronto,” ‘de veras es el diablo,” 
etc, Before one of his feet could be secured he had so cut 
the second riata around his neck with his claws that it gave 
way and had turned himself over and was again upon his 
feet, The noose in his mouth still held, and as he raised 
one paw to get that loose 27 landed another loop right 
over the paw. In a twinkling that paw was outstretced, 
pulling the bear so that he raised the hind foot upon 
the other side. Quicker than it can be told that foot was 
caught up by a dexterous fling from Don Francisco and out- 
stretched, The prize was pow gtlite secure; but the work 
was anything but done, Hyery foot must be secured with a 
noose. But two of them were upon the ground, and as only 
opposite feet had been eaught it was not so easy to turn him 
over. Another riata was cast over his head, and by the aid 
of the two he was pulled backward, while by the riatas on 
his feet he was swung around. A horseman stood ready in 
front and another behind, each with rata in short coil and 
with a small noose ready to pick up the two loose fect. The 
front one was snapped the first time he raised it clear enough 
from the ground for the noose to pass under; and as this 
paw was outstretched and the bear fell upon his belly the 
last foot was taken in a twinkling and the monster lay spread 
out upon the ground as flat and helpless as a dead frog, 
It now remained to drag him to a tree and tie his hind 
legs around it. But with such a bear two riatas could not 
be trusted. He was therefore held by the four horses that 
held his paws while one of the other riders undertook the 
pleasing little task of taking the two riatas loose from his 
head. ‘This was soon done and the two were hitched upon 
his hind feet in addition to those already there. Then by 
the four horses behind, he was dragged some hundred yards 
or more to a tree, the other two horses keeping the fore paws 
outstretched enough to keep him from biting the riatas, His 
hind Jegs were drawn one upon each side of the tree and 
tightly jashed with riatas so that the bear could move around 
the tree but not get at his feet. And there he was left till 
morning to be then released and tied fast to the largest and 
wildest bull the hills of the ranche could produce. 
LOG OF THE BUCKTAIL.—\V. 
(82 brief summer is past. It is the middle of October, 
and every hill and wooded mountain spur is robed in 
glorious hues that make all description tame. ‘Ine roar of 
the 10-bore and yelp of the cocker warn the few grouse that 
have reached the open season to feed early and roost 1 igh, 
I said last March, that for one season I would devote my 
energies as a woods loafer to home woods, waters and 
mountains, And I have pretty well done it, Commencing 
on the 5th of April, at Brookland, in Potter county, I have 
explored and cruised the waters and valleys to Muncy, Ly- 
coming county, Pa., sticking to the paddle until the long, 
hot drouth dried up the river to such an extent that it was 
better wheelbarrowing than canoeing. It is thirty-one miles 
from Brookland to Ansonia, all the way by stage road. It is 
seyenty-eight miles from Ansonia to Muney, all the way by 
rail, or on the river by canoe, which is a longer route by a 
few miles. The Tiadatton forks ten miles below Brook- 
land, and there is good early trouting on either fork; also 
in a dozen mountain brooks, easily accessible, And there is 
still better fishing a few miles south of Pike Mills, on the 
waters of Kettle Creek, Pike Mills is ten miles below Brook- 
land, just below the forks. There are enough fine camping 
spots in the region for ten thousand outers, and if there is a 
healthier region I do not know it, Also, it is easily reached 
and cheap withal. 
Having made several trips with the Bucktail, 1 laid ber 
away ina cool cellar and decided to try a still lighter canoe. 
For the river was very low, and there was a deal of wading 
and carrying. Now the Nipper weighs just sixteen pounds 
nine ounces, and hus a light carrying frame. One can carry 
her all day. But she is very frail, scarcely fit for river work, 
However, I took her out for a cruise down to Muncy on the 
19th of August, the hottest day of the season, The mercury 
stood at 101 degrees in the shade. Heayen knows what it 
would have marked on the glittering river with the sun broil- 
ing down in a narrow mountain valley; but I was not fool 
enough to try it until I was below the mouth of the Tiadat- 
ton, the sun was low, and the broad Susquehanna made 
safe, pleasant cruising, 
The sun was behind the mountain on the west when I 
came in sight of Williamsport. As you approach it by the 
river it looks like a city of smokestacks; and on nearer view 
you are impressed with the notion that there has been a 
dress parade of sawmills which has just broken ranks, and 
the mills are lounging around proniscuously, all smoking. 
In the city proper, however, there are many fine buildings, 
and on Fourth street, which is the fashionable quarter, may 
be found private residences which would do credit to Mur- 
ray Hill. I received a cordial welcome from members of the 
Williamsport Gun Club, and on the next morning pulled out 
early for Muney, fifteen miles by road, considerably further 
by river. It was 11 A. M. when I reached Muncy bridge, 
and a dry, hot day made aone-mile carry as long as I-wanted 
it. Lat once found friends at Muncy. The members of the 
Sportsman’s Club took me in hand, got up an afternoon pic- 
nic for my benefit, and—well, my money wasn't good for 
anything. I couldn’t spend a dime. They urged me to 
make a stay of severai days, but I had plans that prevented 
me, and after a stay of only one day I paddled out for Will- 
iamsport again, and for once I chose to cruise on a canal, ft 
is not a high-toned or adventurous mode of canoeing, but 1 
found it rather pleasant, I took a long half day for fifteen 
miles of paddling, and did not meet a single boat. 
Once—and not so very long ago—the canal was lively 
enough, Packets made schedule time and carried loads of 
passengers. Line boats and horse boats were a constant 
quantity, aud the whoop of the festive driver was heard day 
and night. It is quiet enough now. ‘The railroad track has 
made cow-pasture of the towpath; the iron. horse has 
squelched the mule. Whence it happens that there is a 
stretch of some sixty miles from Northumberland to Jersey 
Shore, including all that can be asked in the way of pleasant, 
easy, but rather tame canoeing, The notable point is that 
you can take the river down and come back right along its 
east bank by canal; and the river, from the mouth of the 
Tiadatton to Northumberland, includes as good bass fishing 
as can be found in the Susquehanna. ‘The route lies through 
a rich, highly cultivated country, but this does not hinder 
one from camping on any of the many green, shady islands 
or along the banks, and the people are very friendly, Dur- 
ing the late summer I often called at farmhouses for toma 
toes, apples, pears, etc., and it was seldom that the people 
would take and pay. 
It is true that I prefer camping in a wilder country, say 
between Brookland and Waterville, a wild stretch of fifty 
odd miles; but the canoeing on this stretch is too rough un- 
less the stream is at least afoot above low water mark, 
Bven then it is hard on a iight canoe. And civilization 
has some advantages to the average outer, who seeks 
health rest and recreation rather than a rough, adventurous 
trip, 
Biaid with my old friend, George Reutter, in Williamsport 
a day or two quietly picking up votes on the bass, and more 
especially the way they are being destroyed by nets, dams, 
weirs and all villainous devices of the fish hog, and then 
took the canal for Jersey Shore, Made a leisurely cruise of 
it all day and put in with farmer Smith below Larry’s Creek, 
Spent a day with the bass and in prospecling for fish traps. 
Then stowed the Nipper in a dry cellar, took an evening 
‘rain and got home ie midnight. Bringing the canoe with 
