The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-06
sTRTGGLING WITH 4 0RIzZLK


Closing In with Him with "a Knife.
pnu N, c,i,csrn caf,na-,
Mr.. Nathan Rogers, who owns and lives on !
a ranch in the mountain. about nine miles above !
West Point ncnr tho north fork OF the Moke- |
lunnc. had the most terrific encounter with q |
grizzly Wa over heard or road d. Tho details ~ !
tho fight ara substantially us follows: Gray !
squirrels Rrc numerous in that region this sra-
son. and after dinner on Thursday Mr.. Rogers /
went out for an afternoons sport shooting them. !
lie wos armed with light rino and IA large
knife. Grizzlies are no strangers near the ranch
and Rogers had frequently seen their tracks
but a. it IL yet too carly Tor the rnvenoua hensts
10 be driven out ~ the higher mountain ranges
by the snow. 10 felt no apprehension from that
ming TINT Nv o'clock his game snck WIS wei
filed, aYd rs he WIS two mics from homo. de-
timbered ridge ON which he had been shooting
he had to cross n patch Of comparative open
country. the, only growth It supporied being
species Of furze and an occasional punch OF
chaparrn He had gone only short distance.
and In descending into little blind ravinn came
upon huge grizzly feeding on the carcass OF u
sheep.
The bear was not over twenty feet distant.
same instant For n moment Rogers stood ir-
resVluie., His first impulse WIS v run but nus
l,ettcr judgment told him that IL he did SO. and
would DO impossible, Dreadful was the
alternative ot fncing his terrible enemy. 1t was
ground and sell his life as dearly MS possible.
There was a chance that the grizzly might not
attack him II he retained bold attitude; but
whatever hopes Rogers buildod upon Lat foun-
dalton were speedily dspclled 10y the bear gty-
ing low growl; dropping his mutton ana adi
in his throat. and then. with every muscle and
nerve drawn 70 ita utmost tension lie awaited
the onset OF the beast with "a much GOODNESS rs
though his lilo wero not ut stake in the unequal
A. the grizzly slowly advanced toward him.
a not u ff
Rogers threw his rife TO his shoulder, and with
a steady aim planted bullet IN The bears
breast, Just inside the point Of the right shoul-
der. The animal was hit hard; but no siXty:to-
the-pound bullet ever stopped grizzly with
agrowl resembiing roar me ininTine e. heast
useless rife. and drawing his knife Rogers
brared himself for tho death struggle. As the
shaggy monster reared upon its launches; us
great. black. convex head towering two feet
nboye Rogers, the latter Involuntary threw up
seized tho arm in us mouth and throwing its
great paws over the shoulders OF the hunter.
Rugged him in AN embrace that forced ms eyes
from their sockets and the blood from his nos
Rogers's right arm was free and he drove the
long. keen blade OF his knife 10 the hilt in the
side Of the grizzly close TO the shoulder. The
blade reached Il vital point. inhicting fatal
wound. but It's immediate effect was only
70 intensity the Erizzly's ferocty. 1t Rugged
Rogers the closer. its long. sharp, chisel. pointed
claws tearing gaping wounds IN the hunters
crushed and ground to powder in the bears
vise-like Jaws.
Wild with the agony OF his wounds, Rogers
piled his knife with the energy Of DESPERATION.
driving 1t again and again into the vitqls Of the
bear. literally carving II alive. while the later.
with claws and teeth. laccrated lis human Toe
most frighttully. II was. indeed. struggle TO
the death, Rogers. weak from the loss OF blood
/ and half delirious from pain. now fought by in
/ tuition. having only vague cons ,lousness Inat
| his life depended on his killing the bear; The
terrible wounds OF the grizzly began to tell upon
/ It's vitality. Eogerss senses were not so dulled
| but that he knew that the grizzly was gradually
relaxing its hold. and the ray OF hope the
| knowledge afforded stimulated him 10 renewed
/ eXertons with his knife. the bear endeavored
| TO support itself despite its wounds. wavered
/ for an instant. and then. with II low moan that
sounded almost human in its expression OF
pain and despair toppled over. dragging the
man with II. the latter falling partially bsneath.
! Summoning all his remaining strength. Rogers
/ plunged his knife into the grizzly's abdomen
the hot life blood and viscera spouting iull in his
face.
The bear relinqushed its hold. and Rogers.
torn. lacerated. and bleeding. crawled far
the terribe death struggle OF the grizzly. Al
icsI N the ssifeme he was 3 mile and a 6al /
hardly stand, and n danger OF bleeding TO
death before he could reach help. His LEFT arm
hung crushed and liteless at his side. his left
scapula and clavicle were broken. the blood
/ trickled from the terrible wounds in his buck,
crooked claws OF the bears hind feet. Con-
| scious that he must soon have help or perish,
he summoned all his resolution and staggered
along IN the direction Of home. more dead than
alive. trail Of blood marking his footsteps.
| He managed ~ reach spring in sight OF his
| house. and then his endurance gave way. He
fell In a dead faint by the waters edge He was
soon discovered by his son. and was taken
! home.
The grizzly was the largest ever killed in the
county. IL measured nine feet in length. " over
all. and weighed 400 pounds. The left side
OF the bear was literally torn to pieces. there
being no less than twenty-five knife wounds,
nearly every one OF which reached avital point.
One OF its fore paws Just covers an ordinary
dinner plate.
Mr.. Rogers is lying in an extremely critical
condition. In addition TO his horrible wounds
the shock 10 his system was a terrible one. His
left arm. literally mangled and torn 10 shreds
has been amputated mt the shoulder. His LETT
clavicle and s,apua were fractured. and the
three lower ribs on the right side broken. The
flesh and muscles on his back are 50 torn ant
abraided that the vertebre are actually visible
in places.