The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-14
A Bear Fight in Arizona.

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c. Hunt, First Cavalry, and Capt. W. S.
Fuller, Twenty-frst infantry, with five
mounted men, left Camp Apache, Arizo
ma, for a short visit TO the Zuni villages,
or Pueblo Indians. On reaching the top
of one of the swells an immense bear
was discovered about mile ahead, evi-
IDENTIFY coming down the trail to the
river for water. The bear at the same
moment catching sight of the party,
turned off to his right, and was heading
for the foot hills some eight or nine
miles distant, as if desirous of gaining
the timber. He struck gait apparently
of the clumsiest kind imaginable, but
which, when tested by the speed of the
horses, proved that at least for some dis
tance horse a full speed can hardly
keep up with a bear-such as we find in
the chain of the rocky mountains or the
continuation of that range.
By permission of Captain Hunt, Cap
tain Fuller, with Corporal Hyde and
Privates Armstrong and Haley, started
out their horses to overtake the bear be-
fore he could reach the mountains or the
rocks and timbers OF the foot hills With
horses in good condition, and free use of
|
they succeeded in closing to few rods
distance, or about thirty yards.
Captain Fuller by good luck first sue
ceeded in sending ball through Bruins
hind leg. The effect was to cause the
brute to run on three legs, with his right
hind leg held off the ground, crimsoned
with 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 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 par
ty, keeping up their fire; had drawn up
to within some twenty yards of him,
when he whirled short around to the
left and bounded toward the horse of
Corporal Hyde. The corporal turned
his horse and gave him the spur, but in a
wonderfully short time, considering his
clumsy movements, he overlook the
horse and caught him by the fanks.
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
motion of his paw the bear knocked
Hyde out of the saddle. The horse gal
loped off wildly, while the corporal, with
out any weapons, was rolling on the
ground struggling for his life in an ac-
tual and literal wrestle with wounded
bear.
It was desperate position and un-
equal contest on the ground. Captain
Fuller and Armstrong reined in their
horses, while within three yards of their
horses feet was this enormous bear fe-
rociously biting and tearing the limbs
of the unlucky corporal. The weapons
of the party had been discharged and
were empty; and with the coolest OF
men it requires some little time to load
Spencer carbine or revolver while in
the saddle. Corporal Hyde struggled
manfully, striking with his fists and arm
down the mouth and throat of the bear,
while his own blood ran in streams from
his wounds.
The bear rose twice ON his hind legs
standing much above the corporals
head, and the two literally wrestled a.
two men would in prize fight. The
wounded leg of the bear was Hyde's sal
vation, or the claws in the brute's hind
feet would soon have torn out his en-
trails. In ferocity and wildness nothing
could surpass the horrid appearance 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, believing that there
was a load in his carbine, jumped off his
horse, and placing the muzzle of his
piece against the side of the bear, pulled
the trigger, and it only snapped. The
next instant the bear left Hyde, and
! was tumbling Armstrong, biting and
tearing him as he had done with Hyde
. who was lying covered with blood a few
feet distant. 1t looked in this position
of affairs as if two of the party would re.
ceive mortal wounds before the Others
could assist them. But here Haley got
one load in his pistol and fired it at the
bear The ball must have cut him, fol
he bounded away from Armstrong, and
with his leg held up, again ran for the
mountains. The two men presented g
dreadful sight, with pale faces, streams
of blood running down them, and theil
clothing torn in shreds. After few
more shots, and several attempts of the
brute to get at the horses, he turned al
bay under scrub oak, evidently unable
to go further, and ready to fight. Still
the bears vitality was 30 great that {
dozen more deliberate shots were re-
quired, each passing through some par
of his body, before his head dropped ant
! he expired.-Army and Macy Journal