Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-09-12
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ARKANSAS BILL.

hdS luOfSQ among JuS ouS1 ehANhSS
which frequent our streets, the OBJ
served of all observers. Dressed in
buckskin Jacket and breeches, the
latter tucked in his boots, broad
brimmed felt hat upon his head. and
no ornaments about his person save
the countless strands of buckskin
which are necessary adjuncts of such
a suit, he would instantly be regard
ed an unusual parsonage, and the
query could but arise-who is he!
Upon inquiry, we found he was the
yeritable "Arkansas Bill' who, In
1867, had that terrible fight With
bear. in which his companion, Jessie
Bell. was almost torn to pieces, but
lives to-day, the wonder and admi
ration of the old hunters of the West.
From Arkansas Bills cwn lips, we
have learned the story which we
herewith present to our readers-a
story known only to Jessie and Bill,
but of which detached portions are
sure to be heard in any trapper's
camp while they gather about the
fire, story telling.
Arkansas Bill, who is about twen-
ty-nine years of age, and stands
about six feet three inches in his
stocking feet, early in the spring of
1867, fell in with Jesse Bell at Green
City, where they provided themselves
with a fresh supply of grub and am
unition, also prospecting outfit, and
then, with a view of prospecting on
ly, made for the head waters of the
Snake, Green, and Wind Rivers.
This, Bills first trip of the kind, re-
suited rather disastrously, no lodes
being discovered which they consid-
cred worth working, or placer mines
which would pay fair wages. Leav-
ing the country and striking south
about the Ist of September, they
reached Horse Greek and stopped to
rest themselves and their animals.
The three OF four traps which they
had taken in case they should meet
with otter, here came into use. The
fourth or fifth day, while out chang
ing the traps, some antelope were
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,
about eight miles distant. The bluff
ran along the base of hill upon
which they discovered an antelope,
but it being too long a shot from
where they first saw him, they crept
along and calculated by turning a
sharp point in the bluff to get with
in closer range. Just as Jesse, who
was about six feet in advance of Bill,
was in the act of crawling over the
sharp rock, he discovered on the
other side, in a hollow about ten feet
off, an old she bear, with two cubs
and a yearling. Instantly Jesse cried
out, ga bear! Jump back! this is no
place to fight" +" With three bounds,
Bill had reached level spot of
ground, and Jesse, when the bear
had come close enough to be singed
by the powder, fred and broke her
shoulder. Maddened with pain, she
sprang with the quickness of light
ming and caught Jesse, who was in
the act of leaping back, by the side.
Such was her momentum, that to-
gether they fell at Bill's feet, Jesse
underneath and the bear on top. In
stantly she seized his side in her
huge jaws, sinking her upper tusks
deep into the muscles of. the back,
while she was prevented from doing
the same with her lower ones, and
thus from biting huge mouthful
out of his side, by striking against
shot-pouch which hung by a cord
from his shoulders. Jesse, wishing
to get her attention away from such
vital parts, kicked her, and at the
same instant Bill, putting his rifle
close to her body back of the sheul-
der, fired. The pain-stung beast,
supposing that the cause of her mis-
cry came from the kick, seized Jes-
SEES foot by the ankle and began to
chew it up.
Jesse then attempted to get his
six-shooter, while Bill was loading.
Attracted by Jesse's movements she
wheeled and received another shot
from the rifle. With wonderful
quickess she struck this her other
enemy, clip on the head, knocking
him down and a fourth shot went
crashing through her body from the
six shooter, discharged by Jesse with
his left hand. Instantly she grab
bed and bit through the left arm,
but perceiving Jesse moving his
head, which he did in order to give
Bill a chance to shoot her without
having it in range, and she opened
her huge blood-stained jaws, and
took nearly his whole head in her
mouth. Jesse's eyes staring down
her throat. The situation was
desperate one, and something must
be done in the twinkling of an eye.
Bill was equal to it, and ready.
Placing the muzZle of his rifle Just
back of her ear, he fred. SPRING
ing back in death-leap she tore away
part of Jesse's upper jaw and a
piece of the scalp five inches wide
by nine inches long. She fell back
upon Bills legs, who rolled her off,
and then he took his knife and cut
off the piece of Jesses' jaw, with the |
teeth attaehed,) which hung by a
thread; trimmed the ragged portion
of what remained of the scalp, and
was endeavoring to dress his wound
ed foot, when the yearling bear sp-
peared upon the scene only a few
feet away. It was the work of an
instant to seize his rifle and send
bullet through her head. When
5he wounds had received all the care
possible, jesse was helped to his feet
and attempted to walk. Finding it
the broad-shouldered
athlete stopped, and taking the man
lnon his shoulders started awav