Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-11-04
A Terrible Fight With a Grizzly
Bear.

Tribune writes from the Wind River
Valley, Rocky Mountains as follows:
After our camp had been pitched or
Bear Greek, we sailed out to gather
some of the wild cherries, gooseberries
and currants that grow in abundance
about the camp. Mr.. Crutcher. the
guide, Maj. Gordon, Lieut.. Stambaugt
and several others of our party, ac-
Ecompanied by number of soldiers, re-
paired to the creek near by, and began
eating the fruits with which its banks
were lined. Presently, Major Gordon's
attention being attracted by peculiar
noise near him, be called to Mr.,
Crutcher and asked who the man on
his right was. Crutcher gave one
look. a shout OF ''bearl bearl' and
beat hasty retreat. Standing on
his hind feet, and drawing the limbs
through his month with his paws was
a monster Rocky Mountain grizzly
bear. All hands at once retreated to
respectful distance. and we were dis
cussing how we should attack the beast,
when shot rang out upon the air.
followed by crashing of bushes and
cries of "helpl helpl" Rushing for
ward. we witnessed terrific conflict.
1t appears that at the time of our dis
covery of the bear and his retreat, a
private soldier of the cavalry, named
Eugene Lambert, was so near the ami
NAL he could almost Jay his hand upon
him. Deeming flightimpossible Though
it is probable the bear had not yet seen
him), Lambert, who was armed with a
carbine, took deliberate aim and fired.
The bear was standing with his breast
toward the soldier at the time, aud the
shot was well delivered below the fore
leg; but scarcely had the rife cracked
when the monster, uttering a terrific
growl, rushed upon the unfortunate
man. But little of the struggle could
be seen on account of the thickness of
the bushes, nor could any one fire for
the closeness of the cumbattants. The
bear had closed with Lambert; and al
though the poor mans cries were pitt
full, we could render him no assistance.
Over and over they rolled on the
ground, crushing the brambles, and
even shaking young trees in their strug-
gle, until at last the bear was seen to
suddenly release his hold of Lambert
and limp away. All this occurred in
less time than it has taken to tell it
We at once picked up the poor soldier
and found him insensible and covered
with blood Near him lay the bear,
quite dead, and on opening the brute
we found that Lambert's first shot had
pierced the heart. With the aid tf wa
ter from the brook we revived the SOL
dier, and bore him, bleeding to camp.
Having no surgeon, soldier of the
name of White, who had once served
as a hospital steward for some time,
aided by Major Gordon, proceeded to
examine the unfortunate mans wounds.
The scalp was torn from the crown of
his head and hung down over the left
ear, which was cut entirely in two
parts. The cheek was laid open near
the temple, and the flesh on the back,
near the left shoulder, had been torn
so that the air from the lungs escaped
in small puffs. In addition to these
wounds, Lambert, in defending him
self, had thrust his left arm into the
bears mouth, and it was badly crushed.
A bloodier or more pitiable object than
the wounded man could not be imag
ined. After repeated applications of
cold water, the blood was staunched
and the wounds sewed up. No one
thought he could live, but Lambert de-
clared he would speedily get we'll
Dnring the evening, three bears came
down and sat on bluffs near our camp,
but as the soldiers said, we had not lost
any grizzlies, and so did not attack
them. 1t was a sad night in camp,
owing to the unfortunate adventure in
the afternoon. Nevertheless. we man.
aged to cut up good part of the bear
His flesh was palatable, and he would,
when dressed, have weighed not less
than nine hundred pounds.