The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-29
ARKANSAS BILL.

paper, a man Of stalwart frame and com.
manding stature has moved among the
busy throngs which frequent our streets,
tho observed Of all observers. Dressed in
buckskin jacket and breechcs, tho latter
tucked in his boots, broad brimmed felt
hat upon his head aud no orna ncnts
about his person save the countless
strands OF buckskin which are necessary
adjuncts Of such suit, he would instant.
ly be regarded an unusual parsonage, and
the query could but arise-who is he ?
Upon inquiry We found he was the VERT.
able "ArkaDsas Bill" who, in 1867, had
that terrible fight with bear, in which
his companion Jesse Bell, was almost torn
TO pieces, but lives to-day the wonder and
admiration Of the old hunters Of the West
From Arkansas Bills own lips we have
learned the story, which VIC herewith
present our readers-a story known only
to Jesse and Bill, but of which detached
portions are sure to be heard in any trap.
pers camp while they gather about the
fire storytelling. Arkansas Bill, who is
about twenty.nine years Of age and stands
about six feet and three inches 10 bis
stocking feet, early in the spring Of 1867
fell in with jesse Bell at Green City,
when they provided themselves with q
fresh supply of grub and ammunition, also
prospecting outfit, and then with view
Of prospecting only made for the head
waters of the Snake Green, and Wind
Rivers. This, Bills first trip of the kind
resulted rather disastrously, no lodes be-.
ing discovered which they considered
worth working, or placer mines which
would pay fair wages. Leaving the
country and striking south, about the
irst Of September they reached Horse
Crack, and stopped to rest themselves and
their animals.
The three or four traps which they had
taken in case they should meet with otter
here came into use. The fourth or fifth
day, whilo out changing the trips, some
antelopcs we're discovered about three
miles from camp. The next day they
went to secure one, but finding them gone
they crossed an alkai fiat to bluff abou,
reight miles distant. The bluff ran along
the base of hill, upon which they dis
covered an antelope. but it being too long
n shot from where they first saw him, they
crept along, and calculated by turning 9
sharp point in the bluff to get within closer
range just as Jesse, who was abou,
six feet in advance Of Bill was in the act
of crawling over the sharp rock, he dis
covered on the other side, in hollow
about ten feet of, an old she bear with
two cubs and a yearing. Instantly Jesse
cried out, "A bear jump back this i:
no place to fight" With three bound:
Bill had reached II level spot Of ground
and Jesse, when the bear had come close
enough to be singcd by the powder, fined
and broke her shoulder. AIaiiened with
pain. she sprang with the quickness O.
tightening aud caught Jesse who was il
the act of leapipg back, by the side. Sucl
was her momentum, that together the,
, fell at Bills feet, Jesse underneath ant
the bear on top. Instantly she seized hi
side in her huge jaws, sIukne her uppe
! tusks deep into the muscles OF the bat,
: while she was prevented from doing th
l same with her lower ones and thus from
. biting = huge molthiu out of his side b,
striking against shotponch which hun
. by cord from his shoulders. Jess
f wishing to get her attention away iron
such vital parts, kicked her, and at tn
t same instant Bill putting his rifle close t
! her body back Of the shoulder, fired Th
. pain.stung beast, supposing that the caus
| Of her misery came from the kick seize
. Jcsse's foot by the ankle and began t
G chew it up.
D Jesse then attempted to get his six
f shooter. while Bill was loading. Al
=. ,tracted by Jessc's movements, she whcel
t ed and received another shot from th
=. rife. With wonderful quickness sh
= struck this. her old enemy, a clip on th
e head knocking him down, and fourt
c shot went crashing through her bod
r from the six shooter, discharged by jess
). with his left hand Instantly she grat
d bed and bit through his left arm, but pc
d ceivng Jesse moving his head, which |
n did in order to give Bill chance.to uho,
s her without having it 10 range, she opel
d cd her huge blood.stained jaws and toe
,t nearly his whole heed in her mout
Jcssc's eyes staring down her throa
The situation was desperate one, ar
IS something must be done in the twinklir
!. ofIn eye Bill was equal to it and read
d Placing the muzzle Of his rifle just baC
n Of her ear, he fired. Spriuging back
.e her death .leap,sh tore away part Of Je
" ses upper jaw and piece Of the sea
ID five inches wide by nine inches ioug s.
fell back upon Bills legs, who rolled h
\ of, and then took his knife aud cut of t
j. piece OF Jesse's jaw with the teeth Q
IS tachedl. which hung by thread; TIL
+. med the ragged portion of what reulAin
e OF the scalp. and was endeavoriug to DIRE
in his wounded foot, when the yearling be
4 appeared upon the scene only a feet ava
- Ii was the work Of an instant to seize |
al rifle and send bullet through her hea
= When the wounds had received all 4
10 care possible. Jesse was helped TO his fc
le and attempted to walk. Finding it il
as possible. the broad .shoulicred athle
y stopped, and taking the man upon |
N shoulders started away. Once only
as that long tramp Of eight miles did he St
il to rest wishing to reach camp before da
\. and fearing that the wolves if they g
It, scent of the blood might give troub
III Arriving at camp, good fortune favor
at them in finding there another man vi
he had come IN during :he afternoon. Pate
gs ing up their wounded friend with prepa
~ ed plaster roll OF which hunters &c
ry orally carry-ihcy constructed 'cf
~ riage' in the following manner: Las
ly ing pole on each side Of pony, secur
II. to the paex.saddle-while the other en-
ng dragged upon the ground-.they constru
TO ed basket Of plated deer.skin thou
he between the pole, Just back Of the amin
or and in this placed Jesse. This is the
mt dian method of Transporting their 81
nd and wounded.
,ot They Mt once set ont for Fort Rrilf