Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-11-27
A SAVAGE COMBAT.
A FIGHT BETWEEN A CALIFORNIA BULL AND A
GRIZZLY BEAR.


A fine Young bull had descended to the bed
of the creek in search of q water hole. While
pushing his way through the bushes he was
suddenly attacked by a grizzly bear. The
struggle was terrific. / could see the tops Of
the bushes sway violently TO and fro, and hear
the heavy crash of drftwood as the two ami
mails wrthed in the fierce embrace. A cloud
OF dust rose from the spot. 1t was not distant
over a hundred yards from the tree in which
| had taken refuge Scarcely two minutes
elapsed before the bull broke th ough the
bushes. His head was covered with blood,
and great fakes of flesh hung from his fore
shoulders But instead Of showing any signs
of defeat, he seemed literally to gl, W with de-
fant rage. Instinct had prompted him to seek
an open space. A more splendid specimen of
an animal | never saw-lithe and Wry, yet
wonderfully massive about the shoulders, COM
bining the rarest qualities of strength and
symmetry. For mo lent he stood glaring
at the bushes, uostrils distended and his whole
form fixed and rigid. But scarcely had | tire
to glance at him when huge bear, the largest
and most formidable ever saw in a wild state,
broke through the opening.
A trial of brute force that battles descrip-
tion now ensued. Badly as | had been treHt
ed by the cattle, my sympathies were in favor
of the bull, which seemed to me to be much
the noblcr animal of the two. He did not
wait to meet the charge, but, lowering his
head, boldly rushed upon his savage adversary.
The grizzly was active and wary. No sooner
had he got withiu reach of the bulls horns,
than he seized them in bis powerful grasp,
keeping his head to the ground by strength
and the weight of his body, while be bit at
the nose with his teeth, and raked strips Of
flesh from bis shoulders with bis paws. The
animals must have been of nearly equal weight
On the one side there was the advantage Of
superior agility and two weapons--the teeth
and claws but on the other, greater power
of endurance ard more inAexble courage
The position thus assumed was maintained for
some time-the bull struggling desperately
to free his head while the blood STRAINED
from his nostrils- the bear straining every
! muscle to draw him to the ground. No ad
vantage seemed to be gained on either side
The result of the battle evidently depended on
the mereSt accident.
AS if by mutual consent, each gradually
ceased struggling TO regain his breath, and as
much as five minutes must have elapsed while
they were locked in this motoneSs but terri
BILE embrace. Suddenly the bull, by one des-
perate effort, wrenched his head from the grasp
of his adversary, and retreated few steps
The bear stood up TO receive him. | now
watched with breathleSs interest, for it was
evident that each animal had staked his life
upon the conflict. The cattle upon the sur
rounding plain had crowded in, and stood
moaning and believing around the comnaantS,
but, as If withheld 10y terror, one seemed to
interfere. Rendered furious by his wounds,
the bull now gathered up all his energies, and
charged with such mpetuouS force aud feroci-
tv that the bear, despite the most terrific
blows with his paws, rolled over in the dust,
vaiDIy struggling to defend himself The lunges
aud TRUSTS of the former were perfectly fu-
rious. At length by sudden aud well di
rected blow of the head, he got one of his
| horns under the bears belly, and gave it a rip
! that brought out clotttd mass of entraS
! 1t was apparent that the battle must soon
END. Both were grlevouSly wounded, and nei-
ther could hold out much longer The ground
was torn mp and covered with blood for some
distance around, and the painting of the Strug
| Cling animals became each moment heavier
aud quicker. Manned and CORY they fought
with the certainty of death-the bear rolling
over and over, vaDIy trying to avoid the fa-
tai horns Of his adversary-the bull ripping.
thrusting ano tearing with irresistible ferOcity.
| AT last, as if determined to end the con-
| act, the bull drew back, lowering his head,
| and made one tremendous charge but blind.
ed by the blood that trickled down bis fore
| head, he missed his mark aud rolled headlong
on the ground. In an instant the bear whrl-
ed aud was upon him, thoroughly nvigorated
by the prospect of speedy victory he tore the
| flesh in huge masses from the ribs of his pros
| trate foe
The two rolled over and over in the terrible
death struggle nothing was now to be seen
save heaving, cory mass, dimIy perccptble
! through the dust A few minutes would have
terminated the bloody strife so far as my fa
vorte was concerned, when to my astonish
ment saw the bear relax his efforts roll over
from the body of his PROSTATE foe, aud drag
himself a few yards from the spot. His en-
trails burst entirely through the wound in hi
belly. The next moment the bull was up
erect, and fierce as ever. Shaking the bloot
from bis eyes he looked around, and seeing
the reeking mass before him, lowered his heat
for the fna and most desperate struggle tha
ensued, both animals seeming animated by su
pernatural strength.
The grizzly struck out wildly, but with sucl
destructive energy that the bull, upon draw
ing his head. presented horrible and ghasti
spectacle; his tongue a mangled mass Q
shreds, hanging from his mouth, his eyes tor
completely from their sockets, and bis fac
stripped 10 the bone. On the other hand, tn
bear was ripped completely open, snd writhiD
in his last agonies. Here it was that indom
table courage prevailed E; for, blinded an
, manned as he was, the bull, after momentar
, pause to regain his wind, dashed wildly at b
> adversary again, determined to be victorior
even in death A terrific roar escaped fro
the dying grizzly. With last frantic efIo
he sought to make his escape, scrambling owe