September 1949

YOSEMITE

Nature Notes

VOL. XXVIII SEPTEMBER, 1949 NO. 9

Jean (John) Baptiste Lembert. —Fiske Photo. Cover Photo : Grove of Lodgepole Pine, upper Merced Canyon, Yosemite National Park. By Ansel Adams from "Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada," text by John Muir, 64 photographs by Ansel Adams. Reproduction by kind permission of Houghton Mifflin Company.

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF

THE Yosemite NATURALIST division AND

THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, INC.

C. P. Russell, Superintendent D. E. McHenry, Park Naturalist H. C. Parker, Assoc. Park Naturalist R. N. McIntyre, Asst. Park Naturalist

VOL. XXVIII SEPTEMBER, 1949 NO. 9 JEAN (JOHN) BAPTISTE LEMBERT — PERSONAL MEMORIES

By William E. Colby With two Sierra Club members, E. Lodge. The new arrival was LemC. Bonner and Leon Solomons, I had bert, who had built the cabin and started out the last of May, 1894, on who had filed a homestead on the a most ambitious college vacation quarter section, including the Soda in the Sierra. We originally planned Springs. At first he did not seem ento visit Lake Tahoe and thence travel tirely pleased with our camping on down the Sierra as near the crest as his property without permission, but possible, winding up at Mt. Whitney. as we got to know him better, he This proved to be too great an unbecame quite friendly. His small dertaking for one summer and, cabin was of very rough log conthough we were in the mountains for struction with a crude fireplace and nearly three months, we did not get chimney of granite rocks. On the south of Mt. Lyell. We had a base east side he had recently added an camp for nearly a month in the Tuoextension or shed in which he stored lumne Meadows on the Soda dry grass for his donkey and in Springs property, now owned by the which he stabled the beast in rough Sierra Club, and climbed all of the weather. This addition was poorly nearby peaks, visited Mono Lake constructed and already had a deand knapsacked down the then cided cant due to the heavy winter seldom penetrated "Grand Canyon snows. of the Tuolumne." Lembert was a picturesque charIt was while we were at this base acter about six feet tall with a Rocamp, affording such a wonderful man nose and rather pronounced opportunity for exploration of the features. He had a fairly long greymain nearby points of interest, that white beard and was striking in apwe met Jean Baptiste Lembert. A few pearance. During the month that we days after we had established camp had our base camp on the river beon the river just below the Soda low his cabin, I saw him frequently, Springs we saw a tall individual and oftentimes, in the evening after coming across the meadows accomdinner, would sit in the doorway of panied by a fine large donkey, his cabin talking with him until packed with supplies. They forded long after dark. He evidently enthe river some little distance below joyed companionship, and as I came the Soda Springs and came on up to know him better, he talked quite to the log cabin which at that time freely about himself and his life. I have no recollection of anything he was located a few feet in front of may have said about his early life, and a little toward the Soda Springs but I do recall some of his accounts from the present Parsons Memorial of his Yosemite experiences.

He evidently knew the Yosemite eral intelligence, though he evidentIndians quite well, both in the Valley had had no advanced schooling. ley itself and those who lived down He had written long poems about below the Valley along the Merced his surroundings but, as I recall River where he spent the winter in these from the remoteness of over his own cabin there. I wish I could half a century, they had little artisrecall all he told me about their tic merit, consisting mainly of a customs and traditions. He apparentrecital of the names of the surroundly was in disfavor because he and ing peaks with comments on the others had dug up some of their storms and grandeur and impressive graves in order to get the wampum power of the blinding flashes of and other buried relics. He told me lightning and deafening thunder it was a striking sight when Yopeals which followed. He had semite and Mono Indians met and thought up fanciful legends and camped out on the rocky moraines peopled each outstanding feature in the middle of the Tuolumne with imaginary characters. Meadow as they had sometimes in Lembert's Dome represented his the late summer in previous years. own life and development. Looked They selected these camp sites in had imagination enough, the feaorder to be out where the breezes at from the site of his cabin, if one blew strongest, thus to minimize tures of a young man could be seen winged pests. Their colored blankin the face of the dome. As one went ets and clothes and teepees made a easterly, part way to the south side, gala appearance. Here they traded the visage of a middle aged man apskins and acorns for pine nuts and peared, and looking at the dome obsidian. On the large moraine just from directly across the river to the east of the Soda Springs they used south, the dome had the appearance to fashion their arrow heads as eviof an elderly man with a long flowdenced in the earlier days by the ing beard sweeping out toward the quantities of volcanic glass flakes, Soda Springs from the base. with an occasional fine point that In his fancy he was king and ruler had been overlooked. Practically all of all the Tuolumne Meadows of these have since been removed by collectors. region. He told me of a young woman in Yosemite whom in real Lembert was very fond of the Soda life he had vainly courted but whom Springs and realized their imporin his dream world he had wedded tance. Several years earlier he had and who had shared his throne in erected a small cabin enclosure over the meadows. However, she fell into three of the larger ones. This rude disfavor and he turned her into a structure, now roofless, is still in existence. It has been erroneously stated that he lived and slept in this cabin. This would have been a practical impossibility because of the existence of the three springs in such a confined area. The fact that the other cabin above mentioned was built first would preclude any such idea. I was impressed by Lembert's generality. He said many thought him mentally unbalanced, but he realized very clearly what was reality and what was fiction. Without doubt, this dream world of his, peopled with visionary beings, was the result of living his life of a hermit with his thoughts introverted most of the time. He was especially hurt because some of the members of a government scientific expedition which had camped for a time on his homestead had decided that he was "balmy," to use a common English expression.

However, the botanists and entomologists of this party had brought a great source of interest into Lembert's life. Little collecting had previously taken place in the Sierra where there were many plants and insects new to science. In the time available these visiting scientists could not do more than make a start, so they instructed Lembert in the art of collecting and left with him addresses where specimens he collected might be sent. Collecting became a source of great interest to him and of limited revenue as well. He was paid by museums in various parts of the world for specimens that he might send them. He told me that some of the new discoveries that he sent on had been given his name, both plants and insects. He realized that he was greatly handicapped by lack of basic knowledge, but I found him eager to learn and later sent him a scientific book on insects. Lembert was greatly worried over obtaining title to his homestead, but if my memory serves me right, while I was there he received from the Land Office in Washington, forwarded from Yosemite, a letter advising him that a patent would shortly be issued to him. He told me that he had had great difficulty in his final proof because the creation of the Yosemite National Park in 1890 had resulted in keeping out the sheep which had been devastating the area, "hoofed locusts" as John Muir described them, and the sheepherders who had been witnesses to his original proof were not available to make the affidavits necessary to complete his showing. At one time he had become so doubtful of his ability to satisfy the government's homestead requirements that he filed a mining claim on the property and actually sank a small shaft a few feet into the solid granite on the river side of the large rock which still stands in front of the Parsons Memorial Lodge. This has since been filled in.

Lembert missed the companionship of the sheepmen who had furnished him with mutton and made his eremitic life less lonely. He had established firm friendships with some of them, so that after the park was first created, he used to warn those who continued to trespass with their flocks, of the movements of the army patrols which were sent out from Wawona to intercept and arrest them. As a result he enabled some of them to elude arrest. It was not long, however, before the vigilance of Uncle Sam made it too costly for the sheepherders to take the risk of being found in the park.

This brings me to another interesting phase of the sheep question. Lembert bemoaned the fact that there were no seedlings or young trees to be found anywhere in the vicinity of the Soda Springs. The sheep scourge and possible also the custom of the Indians and sheepherders to set fire to the dry grass as they left the region in the fall had effectively obliterated all young forest growth. Lembert would rejoice today to see how well the forest is recovering and reproducing—too well, in fact, in certain areas where the young "tamarack" (Pinus contorta) growth is so dense and spreading so fast that it threatens to invade and wipe out some of the fine meadow lands of the park.

Another interesting phase resulting from the sheepherders' life in the Sierra was noted by us in 1894. The Clark Crows (Nucifraga columbiana) were very tame, particularly at our Lake Tenaya and Tuolumne Meadows camps, and would hop around on the ground just out of reach, picking up whatever food we would toss them. The sheepherders with their abundant supply of mutton had made camp pets of these shy birds. Only a short time after the sheep were kept out of the park, the crow reverted to its former wild unapproachable state, and is seldom seen near even by the camper.

Lembert, in order to strengthen his status as a homesteader, drove a considerable band of goats up to his place in the Meadows. Unluckily one fall he kept them up there too late, and they all perished in the snow. Poor Lembert was murdered in his cabin in the Merced Canyon below El Portal one winter not long after. He had accumulated quite a little money from his sale of plant and insect specimens and some said it was for motives of robbery that he was killed, and others were sure it was because of the grudge the Indians held against him because he had participated in disturbing the graves of their ancestors.

Some time after his death some members of the Sierra Club who were camping at the Soda Springs discovered in a hiding place in a hollow stump some of Lembert's old papers which they turned over to the Club. Unfortunately these were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake fire of 1906. Among them I remember a little diary which recorded the details of his love affair with a young woman who was employed in George Fiske's photographic studio in Yosemite Valley. Her first name was Nellie, and in this diary he tells of going frequently down into the Valley from Snow's Hotel in front of Nevada Falls where he was caretaker for the winter and calling on her. The recording of these visits was in many instances followed by repeating the capital letter "N" of her first name in fine ornamented penmanship. This corroborated what he had told me about her when I talked with him in the Meadows. This incident had a rather amusing sequel, for Lembert had told me that she had been severely punished for refusing to marry him in that the man she did marry was a worthless, good-for-nothing drunkard. In 1898, when I had charge of the Sierra Club headquarters in Yosemite Valley in the Spinning cottage across the roadway from the Sentinel Hotel, I became quite well acquainted with the Atkinsons who lived in the rear portion of the cottage. Mr. Atkinson had charge of trail and road building and general construction in the Valley which was then a State park. He was a very fine type of person. One evening I told him of my talks with Lembert four years earlier and narrated the story of Lembert's love affair. Imagine my embarrassment when I concluded and he said, "I am not the worthless drunk, for I married the girl to whom Lembert paid court.

Lembert was one of the romantic characters of the Sierra and in mental attainments and aspirations far above the average hermit type. McCauley, formerly hotel proprietor at Glacier Point, purchased the Soda Springs homestead from the McCauley heirs and later erected the stone lodge in memory of one of its outstanding directors, Edward Taylor Parsons. At that time there was little left of the old Lembert cabin and no trace of it exists today.

He evidently knew the Yosemite eral intelligence, though he evident- Indians quite well, both in the Valley had had no advanced schooling. and those who lived down below the He had written long poems about Valley along the Merced River where his surroundings but, as I recall he spent the winter in his own these from the remoteness of over cabin there. I wish I could recall all half a century, they had little artistic merit, consisting mainly of a he told me about their customs and recital of the names of the surrounding traditions. He apparently was in peaks with comments on the storms disfavor because he and others had and grandeur and impressive power dug up some of their graves in of the blinding flashes of lightning order to get the wampum and other and deafening thunder peals which buried relics. He told me it was a followed. He had thought up fanciful striking sight when Yosemite and legends and peopled each outstanding Mono Indians met and camped out feature with imaginary characters. on the rocky moraines in the middle Lembert's Dome represented his own of the Tuolumne Meadow as they life and development. Looked at from had sometimes in the late summer in the site of his cabin, if one had imagination previous years. They selected these enough, the features of a young man camp sites in order to be out where could be seen in the face of the the breezes at blew strongest, thus dome. As one went easterly, part to minimize winged pests. Their way to the south side, the visage of colored blankets and clothes and a middle aged man appeared, and teepees made a gala appearance. looking at the dome from directly Here they traded skins and acorns across the river to the south, the for pine nuts and obsidian. On the dome had the appearance of an large moraine just east of the Soda elderly man with a long flowing beard Springs they used to fashion their sweeping out toward the Soda Springs arrow heads as evidenced in the from the base. earlier days by the quantities of volcanic glass flakes, with an occa- In his fancy he was king and ruler sional fine point that had been over- of all the Tuolumne Meadows looked. Practically all of these region. He told me of a young woman have since been removed by in Yosemite whom in real life he collectors. had vainly courted but whom in his dream world he had wedded and Lembert was very fond of the Soda who had shared his throne in the Springs and realized their impor- meadows. However, she fell into tance. Several years earlier he had disfavor and he turned her into a erected a small cabin enclosure over tree (Pinus albacaulis) which could be istence. It has been erroneously seen from his cabin growing on the stated that he lived and slept in this dome and which had the shape of cabin. This would have been a praca hen. This he said was because he tical impossibility because of the exhad been a henpecked husband. istence of the three springs in such a confined area. The fact that the The upper part of Cathedral Peak other cabin above mentioned was toward evening had the appearance of a woman kneeling in prayer. This built first would preclude any such represented a fancied woman friend idea. of his queen-wife who had had the I was impressed by Lembert 's generality. temerity to intercede in her behalf

and as a penalty and been turned him eager to learn and later sent into stone. him a scientific book on insects. A rather humorous and erratic Lembert was greatly worried over mental quirk was evidenced by a obtaining title to his homestead, but pile of waterworn stones near his if my memory serves me right, while cabin, all shaped like a hen's egg, I was there he received from the only larger, which he had picked up Land Office in Washington, forduring his wanderings and which in warded from Yosemite, a letter adhis fancy had been laid by his wife vising him that a patent would turned hen. shortly be issued to him. He told me Much of interest has faded from that he had had great difficulty in my memory, but Lembert was very his final proof because the creation frank about his fantasies. He said of the Yosemite National Park in many thought him mentally unbal1890 had resulted in keeping out the anced, but he realized very clearly sheep which had been devastating what was reality and what was ficthe area, ""hoofed locusts " as John tion. Without doubt, this dream Muir described them, and the sheepworld of his, peopled with visionary herders who had been witnesses to beings, was the result of living his his original proof were not available life of a hermit with his thoughts into make the affidavits necessary to introverted most of the time. He was complete his showing. At one time especially hurt because some of the he had become so doubtful of his members of a government scientific ability to satisfy the government's expedition which had camped for homestead requirements that he a time on his homestead had defiled a mining claim on the property cided that he was "balmy," to use and actually sank a small shaft a a common English expression. few feet into the solid granite on the river side of the large rock which However, the botanists and entomstill stands in front of the Parsons ologists of this party had brought a Memorial Lodge. This has since great source of interest into Lembeen filled in. bert's life. Little collecting had previously taken place in the Sierra Lembert missed the companionwhere there were many plants and ship of the sheepmen who had fur insects new to science. In the time nished him with mutton and made available these visiting scientists his eremitic life less lonely. He had could not do more than make a start, established firm friendships with so they instructed Lembert in the some of them, so that after the park art of collecting and left with him was first created, he used to warn addresses where specimens he col those who continued to trespass with lected might be sent. Collecting be their flocks, of the movements of the came a source of great interest to army patrols which were sent out him and of limited revenue as well. from Wawona to intercept and ar He was paid by museums in various rest them. As a result he enabled parts of the world for specimens that some of them to elude arrest. It was he might send them. He told me that not long, however, before the vigi some of the new discoveries that he lance of Uncle Sam made it too cost sent on had been given his name, ly for the sheepherders to take the both plants and insects. He realized risk of being found in the park. that he was greatly handicapped by This brings me to another interestlack of basic knowledge, but I found ing phase of the sheep question.

Lembert bemoaned the fact that held against him because he had there were no seedlings or young participated in disturbing the graves trees to be found anywhere in the of their ancestors. vicinity of the Soda Springs. The Some time after his death some sheep scourge and possible also the members of the Sierra Club who custom of the Indians and sheepwere camping at the Soda Springs herders to set fire to the dry grass as discovered in a hiding place in a they left the region in the fall had hollow stump some of Lembert's old effectively obliterated all young forpapers which they turned over to the est growth. Lembert would rejoice Club. Unfortunately these were detoday to see how well the forest is stroyed in the San Francisco earthrecovering and reproducing—too quake fire of 1906. Among them I well, in fact, in certain areas where remember a little diary which rethe young "tamarack" (Pinus conrecorded the details of his love affair torta) growth is so dense and with a young woman who was emspreading so fast that it threatens to ployed in George Fiske's photoinvade and wipe out some of the graphic studio in Yosemite Valley. fine meadow lands of the park. Her first name was Nellie, and in Another interesting phase resultthis diary he tells of going frequenting from the sheepherders ' life in the ly down into the Valley from Snow ' s Sierra was noted by us in 1894. The Hotel in front of Nevada Falls where Clark Crows (Nucifraga columbiana) he was caretaker for the winter and were very tame, particularly at our calling on her. The recording of Lake Tenaya and Tuolumne Meadthese visits was in many instances ows camps, and would hop around followed by repeating the capital on the ground just out of reach, pickletter "N" of her first name in fine ing up whatever food we would toss ornamented penmanship. This corthem. The sheepherders with their roborated what he had told me abundant supply of mutton had about her when I talked with him in made camp pets of these shy birds. the Meadows. This incident had a Only a short time after the sheep rather amusing sequel, for Lembert were kept out of the park, the crow had told me that she had been severreverted to its former wild unaply punished for refusing to marry proachable state, and is seldom him in that the man she did marry seen near even by the camper. was a worthless, good-for-nothing Lembert, in order to strengthen his drunkard. In 1898, when I had status as a homesteader, drove a charge of the Sierra Club headconsiderable band of goats up to his quarters in Yosemite Valley in the place in the Meadows. Unluckily one Spinning cottage across the roadway fall he kept them up there too late, from the Sentinel Hotel, I became and they all perished in the snow. quite well acquainted with the At- Poor Lembert was murdered in his kinsons who lived in the rear por

cabin in the Merced Canyon below tion of the cottage. Mr. Atkinson had El Portal one winter not long after. charge of trail and road building He had accumulated quite a little and general construction in the Val money from his sale of plant and in ley which was then a State park. sect specimens and some said it was He was a very fine type of person. for motives of robbery that he was One evening I told him of my talks killed, and others were sure it was with Lembert four years earlier and because of the grudge the Indians narrated the story of Lembert's love

affair. Imagine my embarrassment the Lembert estate and built the log when I concluded and he said, "I cabin which is a little west of Param the worthless drunk, for I marsons Memorial Lodge. With money ried the girl to whom Lembert paid contributed by members and friends, court. the Sierra Club purchased the propLembert was one of the romantic erty from the McCauley heirs and characters of the Sierra and in menlater erected the stone lodge in memtal attainments and aspirations far ory of one of its outstanding direcabove the average hermit type. tors, Edward Taylor Parsons. At that McCauley, formerly hotel protime there was little left of the old prietor at Glacier Point, purchased Lembert cabin and no trace of it the Soda Springs homestead from exists today.

BOOK REVIEW

tells of his experiences on the MerSAM WARD IN THE GOLD RUSH, ced River at Belt's Ferry (near Merby Samuel Ward, edited by Carvel ced Falls) in 1851-52. Collins. Stanford University Press, Ward makes no mention of YoStanford, California, 1949. 189 pp. semite but gives fresh glimpses of $3.50. End-paper map, illustrations. Major James Savage, who figures in This book reprints a sequence of Carl Russell's 100 Years in ' Yosemite, fourteen numbers from the New and of gold mining, hunting, and York Spirit of the Times for 1861. In stage travel during pioneer days in these a wealthy and literary New the foothills of Mariposa County. He Yorker, brother of Julia Ward Howe, gives a vivid account of the great A busy summer in Yosemite.

flood of rain water in the Merced in salmon "hawk's bills" and narrates November, 1851. There are detailed in detail how he saw a native spear accounts of Indian customs on the a twelve-pound fish. rancheria at Belt's Ferry and of crises I have seen a salmon this large in the relationships of Indians and in the Yuba River near Marysville, traders. Ward calls the tribe the and pioneer literature records salPotoyensee, and two leaders appear mon runs in the Sacramento River —Bau-tis-ta and Trypoxi. before the era of hydraulic mining. Ward briefly records his reaction But there is no evidence in "Fishes to a "queer bird"—a roadrunner— of Yosemite National Park" (Yosemite that he calls a "paisano or 'chaparral NATURE NOTES, January, 1944) or "The cock '. " Of special importance to Naturalists is an account (pp. 136- 40) of the springtime run up the Merced River of salmon, "the only food, save acorns, vouchsafed by nature" to the Indians. Ward labels these salmon "hawk's bills" and narrates in detail how he saw a native spear a twelve-pound fish.

I have seen a salmon this large in the Yuba River near Marysville, and pioneer literature records salmon runs in the Sacramento River before the era of hydraulic mining. But there is no evidence in "Fishes of Yosemite National Park" (Yosemite Nature Notes, January, 1944) or "The Native Fish Fauna of Yosemite National Park and Its Preservation" (Yosemite Nature Notes, December, 1948) that so large a species ever swam inside the present Park boundaries.—Richard G. Lillard, Ranger Naturalist.

BELDING GROUND SQUIRRELS AND CHIPMUNKS AT LUNCH

By Ranger Naturalist Allen W. Waldo visitors to Tuolumne Meadows quick turn immediately makes the have always been interested in the pursued the pursuer. This goes on Belding ground squirrels (Citellus b. time after time, with first one chasbeldingi), or "picket pins " as they are ing the other and then the reverse, commonly called. These squirrels until one gives up. are interesting because of the way in which they sit up on their hind legs watching people while often giving a sharp whistling warning call. Close observation reveals numerous small, black hairless areas showing through the fur. One often wonders whether they are due to lice or to fighting. After observing three of these animals trying to get some seeds from a rock located near the boundary of the territory of each, I feel that it is possible that these marks really are scars due to fighting.

A fight between these animals is usually more or less like a bear fight, a big bluff game. One will chase the other as fast as he can run. The front one will eventually give a sudden zig, causing the chasing squirrel to overrun his mark. A quick turn immediately makes the pursued the pursuer. This goes on time after time, with first one chasing the other and then the reverse, until one gives up.

Occasionally, however, they really seem to become angry at one legs watching people while often another. Then the true winner is degiving a sharp whistling warning termined. The two grab and bite at call. each other for all they are worth. Close observation reveals numWhile hanging on to one another erous small, black hairless areas by their teeth, they roll over and showing through the fur. One often over in the dust, throwing clouds of wonders whether they are due to dirt in the air. Finally one really lice or to fighting. After observing seems to bite through the fur, and three of these animals trying to get the other quits and runs off as fast some seeds from a rock located near as possible. Each shows numerous the boundary of the territory of each, very wet and rather well-chewed I feel that it is possible that these places on his anatomy. marks really are scars due to fightWhile the squirrels are fighting, a ing. chipmunk usually comes up and A fight between these animals is settles himself by the seeds. His eatusually more or less like a bear ing is quite different from that of the fight, a big bluff game. One will squirrel, at least as far as sunflower chase the other as fast as he can seeds are concerned. The chipmunk run. The front one will eventually sits up straight and, while holding give a sudden zig, causing the chasand turning the seed in his paws, ing squirrel to overrun his mark. A bites off the edge all around, thus

"unlacing" the two covers. The meat is much smaller, but allows him to is then eaten. The squirrel seems sit and eat peacefully. Sometimes merely to chew it up, husks and all. two or three chipmunks will be eatIt is interesting to note that usually ing at once, alone or with a squirrel. when the squirrel returns from his At other times chipmunks will chase each other from the food. Seldom do fight he does not in turn drive the the squirrels and chipmunks chase chipmunk away, although the latter each other.

THE DEATH OF TWO GRIZZLY BEARS

By Edward C. Crabtree, Ranger Naturalist 1947 The stories, which I am about to sought the aid of a friend, Sam relate are heretofore unpublished acCruthers of Gilroy, California, who counts of grizzly bears in action. had had experience with grizzlies. These stories are provided by auThe Indian sheepherders would authentic studies from stories told to have nothing to do with grizzlies, Mr. A. P. O. Crabtree by his father, knowing what one could do if morMr. William Newton Crabtree, an tally wounded. early settler in Tulare County, CaliMr. Cruthers and the Crabtree fornia. brothers with the aid of the Indians The fall of 1858 found the sheep built a scaffold in the center of the gathered in their corrals after the corral. The men discussed the reacarrival from their summer pasture tions of the bear and Mr. Cruthers high in the Sierras. In the corrals, and the Indians agreed that it would most every evening a large grizzly charge in a horrible rage toward bear would come and carry away a the sound in spite of mortal wounds. sheep, leaving eight or ten mangled to death. The Crabtree brothers Two men, Sam Cruthers and John Crabtree, climbed upon the com-

pleted scaffold and waited from sunslim youth of twenty-two the belt down until the bear appeared. It tightened to the last two belt holes. had been in the habit for several This would indicate that this Caliweeks of coming to the corral and fornia grizzly was very large intaking over the sheep business. The deed. men had only a few minutes to wait Other men in the vicinity came to before the animal appeared, caught view the carcass and marvelled at a sheep, and with the sheep in its the monstrous size of the sheep-killmouth reared upon his hind legs. In ing grizzly bear. Their estimation this posture it determined to locate was that it weighed about 1,500 the scent of man so strong in its pounds. nostrils and to find out the meaning of the strange contrivance on its, the About a month later Newton and bear's, premises. John Crabtree rigged up a set gun While it remained in the upright for another of these marauders, using position, not four feet away from the ing an old dead cow as bait, to see edge of the scaffold, John fired. The the reaction of the animal when hit. blast struck the monster in the neck, The two young men after making severing the jugular vein as a butcher sure that the trap was right, climbed would stick a hog. The double-barrel a leaning tree about seventy five shotgun was loaded with sixteen feet from the set gun. They waited pellets of lead from the bullets of a until nearly dawn. Finally impa 44 calibre rifle and with two chunks tience drove them home, about one of lead molded to fit the barrels of half mile away. the gun. No sooner had they arrived at the As the charge went home, the cabin when they heard the report of great grizzly dropped the sheep, bel-lowed like a cow, the noise being the gun. Of course, they were ex-cited; but waited until daylight to similar, and scrambled out of the cor-see the results of their planning. ral to travel about six hundred feet Arriving at the trap, they found before expiring. At the supper table that the bear had climbed the same some one remarked that some one leaning tree, after being shot, to the had shot a cow, but as Newton and exact spot where the two Crabtree the others rushed out of the cabin brothers had waited, and had fallen they beheld John and Sam hurrying out dead. in the direction in which the bear This bear was found to be smaller had gone. The men were jubilant than the great grizzly recently killed over John's shot. by John; but was estimated to weigh Newton said, "John, what a monover a thousand pounds. ster! What do you think he weighs?" This writer has searched the family "Make a guess, Sam," John sug-ily archives and relics for authentic gested. accounts of these stories and has Sam replied, " From the size of concluded that, although there might him, I'd say that he weighed close have been some exaggeration in the to fifteen hundred pounds." retelling into the third generation "I'm going to measure that forearm the killing of the grizzly bear. with my belt," John said. Grizzly Adams in his "Adventures John took off his belt and slipped of James C. Adams," substantiated it around the forearm of the great the sizes and weights of the California grizzly. Although John was a tall California grizzly bears, which we

larger than the Yellowstone or Britpublished in California Fish and Game ish Columbian grizzly. for July 1939, Mr. Hall states that the last grizzly bear in California was In the article, "The Grizzly Bear of killed August 1922 at Horse Corral California, " By E. Raymond Hall, Meadows, Tulare County.

YOUNG FLICKER HAS A MISHAP

By Harry C. Parker, Associate Park Naturalist Sometime ago the rangers picked free hand. At first he did not get the up an injured young male redidea so, using a match, I pushed the shafted flicker (Colaptes cafer collaris) and brought him to the Ranger Office. meat well into his throat whereupon The disabled bird was fed. By the time this feeding process ers ' Office. The disabled bird was By the time the feeding process found along the north road on the was finished it was nearly dark. I Valley Floor between the Pohono put the bird in a hollow in the side and El Capitan Bridges late one of an oak tree in my yard. He afternoon on one of the regular seemed quite content to remain in Ranger Valley patrols. this shelter and I left him for the When I examined the flicker at night. the Rangers' Office, I found no exEarly the next morning the bird external evidence of injury and noted was gone. Since there were no signs that his eyes seemed bright and of violence around the spot, I like clear. However, he seemed unwillto think that full recovery was ing to fly so I took him home with achieved. It seems possible that he me. He lay quietly in my hand while I gave him a drink by squeezing water from a pledget of cotton into his beak, which I propped open with thumb and forefinger. He was then fed a number of artificial "worms" made by rolling raw hamburger on a flat surface with the palm of my hand. At first he did not get the idea so, using a match, I pushed the meat well into his throat whereupon he swallowed eagerly.

By the time the feeding process was finished it was nearly dark. I put the bird in a hollow in the side of an oak tree in my yard. He seemed quite content to remain in this shelter and I left him for the night.

Early the next morning the bird was gone. Since there were no signs of violence around the spot, I like to think that full recovery was achieved. It seems possible that he may have been the victim of a motorist and was still dazed when picked up by the rangers. At any rate it is to be hoped that he is now as well as ever, brightening the Yosemite scene with the flash of his salmon-colored wing and tail linings as he forages about in the trees and on the ground for insects. Seasonal Rangers Ihlenfeldt and Bock.

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson