The Adventures of James Capen Adams Mountaineer and Grizzly Bear Hunter of California

"His account of the capture of wild beasts, especially of grizzly bears and their taming, of his experiences with Indians and hunters...make up an intensely thrilling narrative...describes his life for years with an enormous grizzly which he raised from a cub." -Boston Globe, Feb. 4, 1911

"Grizzly Adams, an odd but noble character and a tremendous hunter...for thrilling astonishing adventures...it can stand beside almost any hunting story ever published." -Buffalo Times, May 21, 1911

"The Adventures of Jams Capen Adams...the story of one of the earliest and greatest of American hunters." -Houston Post, Feb. 26, 1911

"In this alluring narrative the reader roams with Adams through the plains of California into the Sierras, through the Yosemite and Kings River country, over the Humboldt range of Nevada and into the heart of the Rockies...performing deeds of daring and skill with his rifle, knife, and traps...perilously near the edge of death." -San Francisco Bulletin, April 15, 1911

How did Grizzly Adams' tamed bear manage to save him from certain death at the jaws of a gigantic wild grizzly bear he was hunting?

In the 1850s, mountain man "Grizzly Adams" told his adventurous life story to Theodore H. Hittell (1830-1917) who published it in 1860 under the title of "The Adventures of James Capen Adams Mountaineer and Grizzly Bear Hunter of California." Because the Civil War prevented distribution of the first edition, Hittel later republished the book with an additional introduction and post-script in 1911. It is this 1911 book of 310 pages that has been republished here for the convenience of the interested reader.

In the early 1850's and '60's one of the picturesque figures of San Francisco was James Capen Adams, well known over the whole continent as hunter and tamer of grizzly bears, who had taught two great grizzlies to carry his packs for him when he went on his mountaineering trips. After witnessing the tame grizzly bears himself it did not take Mr. Hittell long to become very well acquainted with the owner, a hunter who had spent years in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Adams had passed through such curious and fascinating experiences that Mr. Hittell determined to write a book about such an unusual bear hunter. In consequence, for a year and a half, by tacit arrangement, the author visited the animal show each afternoon after the newspaper went to press, and listened to the hunter's tale. These conversations he embodied in one of the best bear books ever written.

About the author:

Theodore Henry Hittell (1830-1917) was a historian, state senator, and writer. He is known for his histories of California as well as his association with John "Grizzly" Adams.