Post by twofeathers on Jan 28, 2007 11:05:49 GMT -5
Here is one to start this .
It is the story behind the man known as Mountain Charley.
The Famous Bear Fight
Even for a region as rich in legendary lore as the Santa Cruz Mountains, the story of Mountain Charley McKieman's fight with a grizzly bear is outstanding as a tale of heroism and fortitude, one that has needed no embellishment (although many versions exist). As told (1934) by McKiernan's son, James, residing at the old home place near the summit, the legend differs only in minor detail from several other versions current at the time.
Grizzly bears in the 1850's were too plentiful for the ranchers, who hunted them relentlessly to stop depredations on their livestock. They also made a profit selling bear hides and meat. The grizzlies were huge, shaggy creatures weighing from 800 to 1200-pounds (the only species of bear in these mountains), and were always treated with respect. They were best hunted from an uphill stand with a fast horse ready for a quick getaway if necessary. Often it took several bullets to put a grizzly out of action. McKieman had often shot grizzly bears; in fact, he was one of the best known bear hunters in the mountains.
On May 8, 1854, McKiernan and a friend named Taylor started out for a gulch about a mile southwest of the McKiernan place, where Taylor was planning to take up some land. After shooting a couple of deer, the two men spotted a she-grizzly with two cubs. As both men were excellent shots, they decided to go for the bear and headed up the gulch to approach the animal from above.
When they arrived at their chosen spot, the bear and her cubs had disappeared. Following a deer trail in pursuit, they came upon the she-bear around a bend, standing and facing McKieman at a distance of no more than six feet, her forepaws outstretched for a raking hug.
McKieman fired instantly, with the muzzle of his gun up against the bear's chest, while Taylor fired over McKieman's head into the bear's face. McKieman reversed his gun to club the bear with the stock, but the bear beat down the weapon and seized him with her powerful forepaws, crushed the front of his skull in her jaws, then tossed him aside and started for Taylor.
Meanwhile Taylor's small dog had attacked the two cubs. Their squalling distracted the mother and she turned to their rescue, giving Taylor a chance to escape to the ridge top, supposing that McKiernan had been, killed instantly. The bear chased the dog away, then returned to McKieman and dragged him to the end of a clearing under an oak tree and after pawing him over left him. The bear was never seen again.
His rifle reloaded, Taylor returned to the scene to find McKiernan sitting up and conscious, but paralyzed from the waist down. The fight had lasted only seconds, and McKiernan said he had been fully conscious all the time and had recalled every act of his life in the process.
Taylor bound up McKieman's head with his shirt and leaving his loaded rifle for protection went for help. Accounts differ as to whether a doctor came to the ranch to attend McKieman, or whether he was taken either to San Jose or to Santa Cruz for the medi- cal attention.
In any case, the doctor hammered a silver plate out of two Mexican dollars and fitted it into the broken place in McKieman' s skull where the bear had chewed away the bone over his left eye up to the top of the frontal bone. Within three weeks the plate had started to corrode and had to be removed, to be replaced some time later with another plate. McKieman suffered through the entire ordeal without anesthetics until the wound healed. He suffered from severe headaches for two years, however, until a specialist in Redwood City removed the second plate and found a lock of hair under it. By this time anesthesia had become more generally available, sparing McKiernan the pain of the third operation.
Although terribly disfigured (he wore a hat low over his left eye the rest of his life), McKieman en- joyed full health until 1890, when he became ill with an obscure stomach ailment. He died on January 18, 1892, thirty-eight years after the bear fight that made him famous.
It is the story behind the man known as Mountain Charley.
The Famous Bear Fight
Even for a region as rich in legendary lore as the Santa Cruz Mountains, the story of Mountain Charley McKieman's fight with a grizzly bear is outstanding as a tale of heroism and fortitude, one that has needed no embellishment (although many versions exist). As told (1934) by McKiernan's son, James, residing at the old home place near the summit, the legend differs only in minor detail from several other versions current at the time.
Grizzly bears in the 1850's were too plentiful for the ranchers, who hunted them relentlessly to stop depredations on their livestock. They also made a profit selling bear hides and meat. The grizzlies were huge, shaggy creatures weighing from 800 to 1200-pounds (the only species of bear in these mountains), and were always treated with respect. They were best hunted from an uphill stand with a fast horse ready for a quick getaway if necessary. Often it took several bullets to put a grizzly out of action. McKieman had often shot grizzly bears; in fact, he was one of the best known bear hunters in the mountains.
On May 8, 1854, McKiernan and a friend named Taylor started out for a gulch about a mile southwest of the McKiernan place, where Taylor was planning to take up some land. After shooting a couple of deer, the two men spotted a she-grizzly with two cubs. As both men were excellent shots, they decided to go for the bear and headed up the gulch to approach the animal from above.
When they arrived at their chosen spot, the bear and her cubs had disappeared. Following a deer trail in pursuit, they came upon the she-bear around a bend, standing and facing McKieman at a distance of no more than six feet, her forepaws outstretched for a raking hug.
McKieman fired instantly, with the muzzle of his gun up against the bear's chest, while Taylor fired over McKieman's head into the bear's face. McKieman reversed his gun to club the bear with the stock, but the bear beat down the weapon and seized him with her powerful forepaws, crushed the front of his skull in her jaws, then tossed him aside and started for Taylor.
Meanwhile Taylor's small dog had attacked the two cubs. Their squalling distracted the mother and she turned to their rescue, giving Taylor a chance to escape to the ridge top, supposing that McKiernan had been, killed instantly. The bear chased the dog away, then returned to McKieman and dragged him to the end of a clearing under an oak tree and after pawing him over left him. The bear was never seen again.
His rifle reloaded, Taylor returned to the scene to find McKiernan sitting up and conscious, but paralyzed from the waist down. The fight had lasted only seconds, and McKiernan said he had been fully conscious all the time and had recalled every act of his life in the process.
Taylor bound up McKieman's head with his shirt and leaving his loaded rifle for protection went for help. Accounts differ as to whether a doctor came to the ranch to attend McKieman, or whether he was taken either to San Jose or to Santa Cruz for the medi- cal attention.
In any case, the doctor hammered a silver plate out of two Mexican dollars and fitted it into the broken place in McKieman' s skull where the bear had chewed away the bone over his left eye up to the top of the frontal bone. Within three weeks the plate had started to corrode and had to be removed, to be replaced some time later with another plate. McKieman suffered through the entire ordeal without anesthetics until the wound healed. He suffered from severe headaches for two years, however, until a specialist in Redwood City removed the second plate and found a lock of hair under it. By this time anesthesia had become more generally available, sparing McKiernan the pain of the third operation.
Although terribly disfigured (he wore a hat low over his left eye the rest of his life), McKieman en- joyed full health until 1890, when he became ill with an obscure stomach ailment. He died on January 18, 1892, thirty-eight years after the bear fight that made him famous.