Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-09-09
Correspondence of the Army and EAys Journal
A Bear Fight in Arizona,

On the 10th of June last Capt. James
G. Hunt, First Cavalry, and Capt. w. S.
Fuller, Tweuty y-first Infantry, with FIVE
mounted men, lett Camp Apache, Arizo-
na, for short visit 10 the Zuni villages.
Or Pueblo Indians. On reaching thg top
of one of the swells an immense bear
was aisfQvered about a mile ahead, evil
IDENTIFY coming down the trail to the riv-
er for water. The bear at the same mo-
ment catching sight Of the party turned
off to his right, and was heading tor the
the foot hills some eight or nine miles
distant, as if desirogs OF gaining the
timber. He struck gait apparently of
the clumsiest kind ina giuabfe, but which
when tested by the speed of the horses
proved that at least for some distance a
horse at full speed can hardly keep up
with q beaF-sgch as we find in the
chain of the Rocky Mountains or the
continuation of that range.
By permission of Capt. Hunt, Capt.
Fuller, with Capt. HYDE and private
Armstrong and Haley, started ont their
could reach the mountains or the rocks
or timbers Of the foot hills. With horses
in good condition and and free use of
spurs, after chase OF iopr or Ave miles
they su, ceeded in closing to few rods
distance, or about thirty yards. Capt.
Fuller, by good luck, first succeeded in
sending ball through bruins hind leg.
The effect was to cause the brute to rull
on three legs, with his right hind leg
held off the g ound, crimsoned with a
free flow Of blood. The bear at first
rather increased his speed, but the
wound soon began to tell on him, as he
attempted after gaining Q little DISTANCE
to turn and bite at the wounded foot. A
shot from Corporal Hyde's carbine again
cut him across the ham. The whole
party, keeping up their fire, had drawn
up to within twenty yards of him, when
he whirled short around to the left, and
bOanded toward the horse of Corporal
Hyde. The Corporal turned his horse
and gave him the spur, 3yt in wonder:
full sh Jrt time, considering the clumsy
movements of the bear, he overlook the
horse and caught him by the flank. The
poor horse gave one desperate kick, for
an instant throwing off the bear, but in
second more the horse was pulled
down on his launches, and with one mo-
tion of his paw the bear knocked Hyde
out of bis saddle. The bQrse galloped
on wildly, while the Corporal without
any weapons. was rolling on the ground,
struggling for lis lite in an actual and
literal wrestle with a woqpded bear;
1t was desperate position & unequal
contest on the ground. Captain Full
Ter and Armstrong reined in their horses,
while within three yards of their horses
feet was this enormous bear ferociously
biting and tearing the Limbs of their un-
lucky Corporal. The weapons of the
party had been discharged aud were
empty; and with the CO Hest of G,en it
requires some little time TO load a Spen-
Ger carbine or revolver while in the sad
die. Hyde struggled mantully, striking
with his fist and arm down the mouth
and throat of the bear, while the blood
run in streams from his own wounds.
1be bear Fose twice on his hind legs,
standing much above the Corporal's
head, aud the two literally wrestled as
two men you'd in prize fight. The
wonnded leg of the bear was Hyde's
salvation, or the claws in the blHte's
hind feet would soon have tora out his
entrails, Ip ferocity and wldness moth
ing could snrpass the horrible appear
ance of the brute; With bloody foam
dripping from his jaws, while the poor
man called to the party to help him for
Gods sake or he would die. No one
had load to fire. Armstrong, believ-
ing that there was 2 load in his carbine,
jumped of his horse, and placing the
muzzle Of his piece against the side of
the bear, pulled the trigger and it oulv
The next instant the bear left
n yde and was tumbling Armstrong, bit
ing and tearing him as he had done With
Hyde, who was lying covered with
blood 2 few feet distant. 1t looked in
this position of affairs as il Two of The
party would receive mortal wounds be.
fore the 9thers eoqld assist them. But