Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-03-30


he could fight to better advantage.---
Hitherto l had only noticed the bull as
n feroeious beast, who had from pure
ill-nature put me in serious dunger;
hut now as he stood glowing with rage
I could not hell noticing his admirable
proportions. Long. 1.-the, and wiry, he
stood a perfect medel OF strength and
activity, whilst his massive shoulders
proved what force he could bring to aid
the thrust of his straight, long, sharp
pointed horns. / had not more than
a second or two to take in these points
when his antagonist appeared upon the
scene in the shape of a'huge grizzly bear.
No sooner was the bear fairly in the
open space than the bull lowered his
head and charged straight and true at
him with the seeming force of II steam
engine. The bear rose upon his hind
legs to receive the attack, and catching
the bull by the horns, bore down his
head upon the ground by his great
strength and weight, clinging to the
head with his fore legs, while he work
ed his hind ones, clawing with his cruel
talOns the sides and shoulders OF the
bull The match was an equal one, as
far as weight was concerned, and near
ly balanced in other respects; for whilst
the bear worked tooth and toe nails, -
the sharp horns and greater activity of
the bull served to equaliZe them as to
weapons; and aS both antagonists pos
Scssed equal courage and determination,
it was clear the duel was to be q id mort
and the victory, | could see, between
such well-matched foes. depended upon
accident. Locked together thus in
deadly strife. they rem aimed some min
utcs, the bull each moment striving, rs
il were, to contract himself for his re-
peated thrusts and the bear endcavori
To hold the bulls head to prevent their
force never intcrmitting for an instant
raking with his claws the ribs and
shoulders of the foe. For moment or
two they seemed to pause for breath by
mutual consent. n lull which the bull
artfuliy took advantage of, by a sudden
backward spring to get clear OF the bear.
During the whole of the combat, the
other cattle had stood around in awe
struck wonder, not attempting in any
way to aiu their champion. The bull.
covered with gore from the gashes cut
by the claws, and head gnawed by the
teeth OF the bear, was horrible sight
to see, though the bear appeared but
little injured. As soon as the bull had
gained space sufficient to give impetus
to his charge, he again rushed furiOusiy
ut the grizzly. and this time succeeded in
rlunging one horn into the bears belly,
and, Jerking his head up brought away
upon his horns some Ot the cntraiiS oi
his foe; hut the next moment he was
borne back 10y the grizzly, aud both roll
ct over in another deadly struggle; and
now so furious and rapidly did they fight,
whiriing over and over, but only an uu-
distinguishahle mass could be scen.--
Again the bull fought clear OF his an
tagoniSt, but lie presented n far more
dcplorabie appearance than helure, Tor
one eye had been torn from the socket.
and his cars hung IN shreds, whilst all
the forward part Of his hips was II mass
Of blood and mud, and his tongue,
which protrudcd beyond his swollen
lips, had been bitten through and hung
by onlya piece OF skin.
But the bear had evidently had the
worst of this second encounter, for he
lay almost motiOnlcss, his entruiIs
wound Found and round him like CORY
helts; and whilst in this state the huil
gored him repeatedly, till finally long
shiVer passed through the bear, and he
lay dead. Convinced at last that his
enemy was dead, the bull raised his
head in tr.unpli, and It's wei as his mu-
tiiated tongue permitted, gave II roar o
victory. II was dearly purchased, how
ever. for he tottered as he belloweti
ard thou h h set his legs wide apart
he swayrd from side to side; presently
his hcad dropped lower and lower, till
at last he sunk down grOuning to the
ground. Then came two or three vain
efforts to recover his legs, and, after n
fey convulsive shudders, hc too lay
dead beside his foe. The herd shifted
round the dead bodies for few mo-
ments. and Then, wild with terror start
cd panic'striCken across the prairie.
Findii & the coast all clear | descend
ed from my perch, and with due APP
probation of the dangers OF foot. travel
ing, set of in search of my horse, ex-
pecting grizzly bear to make his. ap.
pearance from every clun,p Of bushes
that | passed. After tramp of several
miles, ! was fortunate enough to find
my horse, whose larat had become en-
tangled around some shrubs near which
he had stopped TO feed and, mounting
him bare-backed, turned his head to-
wards where had left my saddle and
other RlpedineHtd +. nor was | sorry,
sooh after sunrise the following morn.
ing, to see the long avenue of stately
oaks which lined the road as you ap.
proach the mission of san Jose.