River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-28
Struggling With a Grizzly.

Struggling With a Grizzly.
1alayeras Chronicle.
Alr. Nathan Rogers, who owns and
lives on ranch in the mountain, about
nine miles above West Point. near the
north fork of the MokeIumEe, had the
most terrific oncunfcr with a grizzly we
ever heard or read Of, The details Of the
ight are substantially as follows: Gray
squirrels are numerous IN that region this
season, ana after dinner on Thursday Dir.
Rogers went out tor an afternoon sport
shooting them. lie was armed with d
light rifle and q large
knife. Grizzlies are no strangers
resr the raaehe, and Roger had frequent-
IL seen their tracks; but as it is yet too
early for the ravenous beasts to BE- driven
out Of the higher mountain ranges by the
snow, he felt no apprehension from that
source Air Rogers was 50 successful In
cunning that BIZ O'Clock his game sack
was well filled, and as he was two miles
from home he determined 70 retrace his
steps. Ia ieaving the timbered river or
when he had been shooting, he had to
cross a patch of comparative open coun-
trv. tie only growth il supported being
al occasional bunch OF chapparal. He
had gone only short distance, ami in
descending into little blind rayine came
upon huge 2rizzly feeding on the car
cass ola sheep.
The bear was not over twenty feet dis
tant. Man and beast discovered each
other as the same instant For q mo
ment Rogers stood irresoute. His first
impulse was to run; but his better iudg-
ment told him that il he did So and
should he be pursued by the grizzly, es.
cape would be impossible. Dreadful as
was the alternative OF facing his terri
BILE enemy, t was his only hope, and
Rogers resolved to stand his ground and
sell his life as dearly as possible.
There was a chance that the grizzly
might not attack him if he retained
bold attitude; but whatever hopes Rog-
ers builded upon that foundation were
speedily dispelled By the bear giving a
low growl. dropping his mutton and adj
vancing toward him. The hunters heart
ieaDeG ID his throat, and then with every
muscle and nerve drew TO its utmost ten
sion, he awaited the onset of the beast
with as much GOODNESS as though his life
were not ut stake in the unequal contest.
As tie grizz slowly advanced to ward
him, and got within distance of about
fifteen steps, Roger threw his rifle to his
shoulder and with a steady aim planted
bullet in the bears breast, just inside the
poiEt Of the right shoulder. The animal
was hit hard, but no sixty to the pound
bullet ever stopped q grizzly. With a
erowl resembling roar, The iLturiated
beast rushed to the attack. TbroTiEg
aside the now useless rife, and drawing
his knife, Rogers bracea himself for the
death struggle. AS the shaggy monster
reared upon lis launches, It's great. black,
convex head towering two feet above Roy
ers. the latter iny)iunIarily threw up his
left arm like a puglbst On guard. The
bear seized the ann IN his mouth, an0,
throwing its great paws over the shout
deTs OF the hunter Rugged him ia an en-
brace that forced has eyes from their
sockets and the blood from bis nOstri,s
Rogers right arm was free, and he
drove the long, keen blade Of his knife
to the hilt in the side Of the grizzly close
to the shoulder. The blade reached a vi
tai goint, infiic ing a fatal wound, but the
immediate effect was only to int nsii,
the grizzly's ftrOciety. Ii huJged ROC
gers the closer, It's long, sharp, chisei-
pointed claws tearing gaping wounds in
the hanter's back while the bon S Of his
left arm we're cru. he'd and ground u pow
der in The bears vice-Eke jaws.
Wild with the agony of his wounds,
Rogers piled his knife with the energy OF
desperation, driving If ain and again
into the vitals of tie bear, literally cary
ing it alive, while the latter, with claws
and teeth, lacerated its human foe most
frjghtfully. Itwas, indeed, a struggle to
the death. Rogers, weak from the loss
OF blood and half delir Gus from pain,
now fought by intuition, having only
vague conse iousness that his life depend
ed ON bis killing the bear. The terrible
wounds oil the grizzly began to tell upon
its vitality. Rogers senses were not so
dulled but that he knew that the grizzly
was gradually relaxing its hold, ana the
ray Of hope the knowledge afforded slim
ula,ed him TO renewed exertion with his
knife Tie bear endevoring to support
itself, despite its wounds, wavered for
an instant, and then, with low moan
that sounded almost human in its express
sion Of pain and dispair, toppled ever,
dragging the man with ii, the latter fall
ing partially beneath. Summoning all
his remaining strength, Rogers plunged
his knife into the grizzly s abdomen, the
hot iif. blood and viscera spouiing full
in his face.
The bear relinquished his hold, and
Rogers, torn, lacerated and bleeding
crawled FAR enough away to esca pc being
rent to pieces bq the terrible death strug
gle of the grizzly. Although victorious,
Rogers condition was critical in the ex-
IRENE He was mile and a half from
home, so weak and faint that he could
hardly stand, and in danger Of bleed /
ing 10 death before be could |
reach help. His left arm hung
AMI lifeless at his side, his !
left scapula and clavicle were broken, the /
blood tickied from Tie terrible wounds
In his back, and his legs were literally /,
by the crooked claws of the /
bears bind feet Conscious that he mus I
soon have help or perish, lie summoned .
all his resolution and staggered along in /
the direction home, more dead than a. i've,
4 trait ot blood marking his foot steps /
He managed to reach a spring in sight Of /
his house, and then his endurance gave
way. He fell ia a dead faint by the
wate1's ed ge. He was soon discovered /
bY his son, and was taken home.
The grizzly was the largest ever killed +
in tie county. 1t measured nine feet IN /
length, lover all, aud weighed 400 /
0 .unds. Tire left side of the bear was
literally torn to pieces, there being DO
less than twenty-five katie wounds, neef-
" every one of which reached vita
poiut. One o its fore paws just covers
an ordinary dinner plate.
Mr. Rogers is lying in m extremely
critical condition In addition TO bis
horrible wounds tie shock Of bis systeLi
was terrible one His left arm, literally
nangled and torn TO shreds, has been
smputated at the shoulder. His left
,lavicle and scspula we're fractured, and
hree lower ribs on the right side broken.
The flesh and muscles on his back are SO
orn and abraided that the vertebr@ are
lctuallv visible in places.