Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-23
Desperate Fight With a GRIZZLY Wis.
consin Sergeant gets EaOggh of Besr
Ailllng.


KILLING.
A correspondent of the Helena Mon
tana) Gazette, writing from Camp
Green Clay Smith. near the Yellow
stone. gives the following thrilling ac-
count of bear fight:
Orderly Sergeant S. r. Shrope, of
Company E, Capt. Campbell, formerly
of Monroe. Wis, having been in Mon
tano something less than year, tho't
he must needs signalize his mountain
life by dispatching, single-handed. g
huge grizzly. Accordingly, on the 9TH
inst, when ont hunting-being about
90 miles from this camp, on the eastern
branch of the Powder-the opportunity
was embraced to do so. Leisurely pro-
ceeding on his way, his tranquility OF
mind was suddenly disturbed by look
ing up and seeing bear just ahead of
him. Their eyes met simultaneously,
bruins vengefully glazing. Shrope
halted, and, cooking his gun, the bear
came right on, as if, understand
ing the man9uvre, he would show how
CONTEMPORARY he regarded it. But
the sergeant, equally defant-and pru-
dence, perhaps, lost sight of in that
novel ambition which a majority of
those recently from the east have to kill
a grizzly while in the mountains-lev-
eled his rife and fired, just as his saw
age foe reared to his hind legs to close
with him. His bullet struck close TO,
if it did not penetrate, the heart. The
bear fell. Regaining his feet, with a
fierce, terrible growl, he wheeled and
endeavored to escape. Calling to his
companion, who was probably $50 yards
in the rear, to come quickly TO him,
upon his arrival they pursued the ami
NAL together. When within twenty
yards, the sergeant, having reloaded,
again fired, and thinks he shot the bear
we'll up on the shoulder, and about
midway of the body; his companion
Immediately succeeded with his bullet,
planting good ounce of lead 10 one Of
the huge beasts shoulders.
"Bruin now turned upon and pur.
sued his foes They stood their ground,
and when Sergt Shrope had reloaded,
| the bear was within ten feet of him,
coming with undated speed. He lev
eled when he almost imagined he could
| feel the monsters hot breath in his
face. The trigger is pulled-the pre-
cussion proves faulty; with the undis-
charged gun in his hand, powerful
blow of the infuriated grizzly carries
away the greater part OF his scalp. Be
fore reaching the ground the bear has
| Caught IN his mouth his left hand, and
the teeth of his jaws met among it's
cords and sinews. The sergeant sinks
| to the ground beneath the shaggy
giant, whose hold on his hand is still
unrelaxed when his companion reaches
the spot and sends bullet into the
beasts head. Stunned, but still having
murderous vitality, the bear rolls
over on his back, and his
red tongue again protrudes from
his mouth to onca more close on
the sergeant. Quick as thought the
sergeant thrust his right hand down the
animals throat and fierceiy grasped his
tongue. His companion has reloaded
his piece and puts third pullet In the
bears head. Again the bear withdrew
his worries, and catching in his mouth
the sergeant's gun. commenced vigor-
ously chewing off the stock. Now, re-
gaining his feet, the sergeant discharg
ed two bullets from his revolver. These
ended the contest with the death of the
bear. The sergeant returned to camp
in indiscribable agony, and, though
still suffering with great pain, he is in
fair way of speedy recovery; but he
will carry to his last moment the scars
of his desperate adventure. He says
he has killed the bar, and don't want
nothin' more to do with the critters.