A BEAR AMONG BEES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1427, 8 February 1888, Page 5

A BEAR AMONG BEES.

The Los Angeles (Cal.) " Express " said : The Hutchinson Brothers have a large apiary up at Victor Tejunga. It is an isolated place, far from real estate booms and the haunts of men. But it is a good place for bees ; and there, as a rule, they toil unmolested except by their owners, the Hutchinson boys. The country is rugged, but romantic. The quiet life of the little rural retreat was turned into the greatest exciiement lately. While the Hutchiosons were asleep, and dreaming of the great sums of money they would make this season, a stranger entered thH camp. He was uot slow in making his presence felt and heard. The sleepers were suddenly awakened by sounds which suggested a small cyclone ranging among the stands of bees. One of the men s>ot up aud looked out of the window. What was his consternation to see the faint outHdws of a huge brown coloured monster upsetting the beehive, and working destruction with property which took iiiontb.3 and years to accumulate. The surprised spectator hastened to his brother's bedside and told what was going on at the apiary. The two rushed out ; one taking his rifle. The bear was evidently hungry, for he nude several lunges at the boxes filled with delicious honey. He would take a few mouthfuls out of one frame, and then go for another stand. The Hutchinson boys concluded that if they did not act on the insUnt the bear would soon leave them without an occupation. The gun was levelled and discharged. The ball found its way through the thick hide of bruin back of the left shoulder. It was evidently almost a centre shot, for the animal fell. He remained on the ground but a second. He arose enraged with pain, and made frantic plunges at the nearest hives. Meanwhile the men advanced a little. The bear caught si»ht of them, and made a rush at them. When he was within 20ft of where they stood his progress was arrested by another leaden messenger. It struck a vital part. Once more the huge bear fell. Thia time he did not get up. A third ball was put into his side, and caused his death. Upon examination he was found to be a grizzly cub about two-thirds grown. Next day he was dressed and wi«hed. The scales tipped at 001 b.