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Show Bears in Cottonwood Canyon In the Summer of 1877, young Brigham H. Roberts was riding range in Cottonwood Canyon for the Parrish family. He tells of a frightening experience with a grizzly bear in a collection of stories that were published. Starting off early one morning in search of stray cattle, B. H. (as he was called) noticed very large bear tracks in the dusty road. His horse, scenting the bear, became restless and skittish. The stray cattle were located and B. H. headed them toward the ranch. Again he noted large bear tracks in the road. Like all adventuresome youths, B. H. had to do a little sleuthing. About a mile above the ranch was a corral used by ranchers to pen their horses in for safe keeping. The corral was filled with tree stumps. One of the young horses had ran into a stump and was killed. B. H. rode over to the corral for a look. Sure enough, the bear had been there and ripped the dead animal open. B.H. headed for the ranch and told his story, which immediately stirred up considerable excitement. That night, accompanied by Alma Peterson, he set out to locate Old Bruin. The bear's depredations among the cattle and sheep had began to bother the farmers and ranchers. At 10:00 p.m. the two intrepid hunters set out for the corral, convinced that the grizzly would show up, and would be feasting on the remains of the horse, but the bear didn't show up. The next day B.H. again saw bear tracks in the road. At 11:00 p.m. that night the two again started on their bear hunt. There wasn't a glimmer of light! The sky was covered with clouds and not one star was twinkling overhead. As they approached the corral, the two young men dismounted and crept silently through the brush. A few rods from the corral they paused to listen, "I think he is coming," whispered Al. Just then a dark form moved above the tops of the sage brush. B.H. quickly raised the hammer of his gun. The 'click, click' of the hammer startled old Bruin and he rose to his haunches with a tremendous ' Whoof! Whoof!' Two rifle shots rang out and were answered by such a mingled scream of fear, rage, and pain as the two men had ever heard and hoped to never hear again. The 60 BRIGHAM H. ROBERTS |
