Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois Bill Oliver 9 March 2003 Vol 2 Issue: #10 ISBN: pending Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, We are all familiar with the rhyme ".... in fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue ...". This brings to mind that this continent was not named after Columbus, but Amerigo Vespucci. That was because Amerigo was the explorer who actually reached the continent. He explored up and down nearly the entire coast of South America. He was the first to actually realize that it was not Asia, but the discovery of a new continent and that another ocean would have to be crossed in order to reach Asia. On this date in 1454, Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer, was born. Other prominent folks had birth dates on this day are Leland Stanford, Governor and Senator, founder of Stanford University in 1824; Confederate Brigadier General Felix Huston Robertson in 1839; and <blush> in 1923, André Courréges France, the fashion designer responsible for the "miniskirt". On this date in 1820, Maria Monroe, daughter of the President James Monroe, marries in the White House. I love good bear stories — just the bare facts, will do. The most famous star figure [in the sky] is the Big Dipper. However, it is only part, a piece, of Ursa Major, the Great Bear. My animal fetish is the American Bald Eagle, though I have also an admiration for the bear. For what other animal will leave all fours to walk on its hind ones like a man? My family has had several encounters with the great beasts. Once while camping in a tent trailer above Bird Woman Falls in Yosemite National Park, we had our dog, Smoky Joe, with us. We were instructed to camp in a particular area that is set aside for campers with pets. This, we were told, was due to the idea that dogs and bears didn't mix well. Across the road from us, two young college ladies drove up in a Volkswagen "Bug" and set up their camp. They were friendly and told us that this was their first experience camping. The evening wore on and campers settled in for a long night's sleep. When out in the night, there arose such a clatter, with pots and pans being batted about, I arose from my bunk to see what was the matter. Out along the row of campers not a dog let out a woof. But across the road where the two college students were camped stood a rather large sow tearing packs open amidst their cooking gear. Frightened, the students explained that they had left a peanut butter sandwich out on a rock in case a bear should enter their campsite. They thought this would distract the animal from the rest of their gear. <sigh> The sow was not to be further "distracted" away from the goodies, so I went to phone the duty ranger for some assistance. On the way back to our campsite I discovered that both the bear and the students were gone. When I talked to the Ranger who came, he remarked that the yellow VW he saw speeding down the road must have been the students. Strange how those dogs in camp never raised a fuss. Bears have been a spiritual part of cultures throughout the world from very ancient times. They walk upright and are often considered to be connection between humans and other animals. Myths in every culture have "bear people". Bears are given knowledge and intelligence of medicinal herbs. We name things like bearberry, bear's paws, and bear clover. They experience an annual death and rebirth each year called hibernation. Many Native American cultures hold a high reverence for the animal. The oldest dance known to the Utes of southwestern Colorado is the Bear Dance, traditionally performed to secure the animal's blessing and signals the time of rebirth [spring] and renewal. The Zuni Peoples have stone charms in the shape of bears. And, it is believed that these charms hold a living power which rubs off onto the owner. On June 7th the Lewis and Clark expedition recorded that George Druer "Kild one Bar" — a black Ursus americanus. Bears were killed for meat and grease on the exhibition. What amazes me is the discovery of the great grizzly. It often took several shots to kill one of the massive animals. The Teton Sioux considered a grizzly hunt to be high sport using bow and arrow and spear. However, Meriwether Lewis concluded that he'd "... rather fight two Indians than one bear", even with the superiority of the rifle. The records of the expedition led to classing Ursus horribilis as a new or separate species. In Wood County, Ohio's Center Township, there is a story of three neighbors out hunting for coon, when they noticed a sycamore tree with its bark "badly" scratched. They fell the tree and out came a angry she bear. With one of their dogs wounded and the other with a holding bite on the bear, the bear was giving him a great big hug. Seeing this unfair struggle, one of the men split the bear's head with his axe. The cause of the bears ferociousness was the three cubs still in the tree. Each of the hunters took home a cub, but found it difficult to domesticate these wild little ones. Near the county seat of Golconda, Pope County, Illinois this past week saw the search for the escaped pet brown bear named Shawnee. The 500 pound, 7 foot tall animal spent the past two winters inside his owner's home. The Sheriff reports that there have been sightings but no tracks have been found. The Sheriff has also said that they will do what will be necessary to insure the safety of citizens, but all are hoping for a safe capture. Folks in the area are advised to secure any food and garbage that is outside to avoid attracting the animal. Folks are also advised not to run if they come into contact with the hear. The owner in a radio interview apparently stated that the bear would think it was play time. The best option offered is to back away slowly and drop an item, such as a coat or backpack, to distract the bear. One possibility for the disappearance of the animal is has found a place to bid to nature's calling — that is, hibernation. It is not unusual for a bear to wake once or more times during hibernation, maybe ole Shawnee felt the cold and decided it would be nice to rest a month or two. Well, I'm always for the underdog. I'm rooting that the animal will be found and returned to its owner unharmed. Wado, Bill -=- http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html