Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-11-21
A California Hunters Unexpacteh
Encounter.

On Thursday of last week Mr.. Nathan
Rogers. who lives upon a ranch in the
mountain above West Point. had the most
terrific encounter with grizzly we ever
heard of. Gray squirrels are quite plenty
there this season. and after dinner Mr.
Rogers went out for an afternoons sport
He was armed with a light rifle. and fortu-
nately had a large knife which he OCCASION
ally carries. Grizzlies are no strangers in
the vicinity. and Rogers had frequently
seen their tracks while hunting his stock;
bat as it is yet too early for ravenous
beasts to he driven out of the higher noun
tain ranges by the snow. lie felt no apprp-
hension from that source.
In leaving a timlercd ridge upon which
he had been shooting. Rogers had to cross
Il patch Of comparatively open country.
lie had gone bui Il short distance when. in
descending into Il little blind ravinc. lie
came upon ;'ugc grizzly feeding on the
".-"rcs of "a sheen The bear was not over
twenty feet distani--a space that Rogers
had not tie remotest desire to diminish.
Man anil beast discovered each Others
presence at the same ins.'nt. Rogers is;'
reso!nte man. a splendid IA .rksElan. and
we'll Injured TO the dangers Of E;ckwOods
Life; bat. with Il full knowledge Of the
of the fcrDc!Oiis animal f:,c-
ing him. hope died away in his breast.
Ills first impulse was to run: but his better
judgment told him that if lie did SO. AMI
should Ike pursued by the grizzly. escape
would be impossible. There was Il ciI,:'s.
that the grizzly might not attack him if he
retained bold attitude. but this was dis
pellc,l by the bear giving a low growl,
dropping his mutton. AMI advancing to-
war.l him. When the grizzly had got with
in about fifteen steps o. him. Rogers threw
his rifle to his shoulder. anil. witt. steady
aim. planted Il bullet in tue hears breast
Just insi,ie the. point Of the right shoulder.
The animal was hit hard. but no sixty
to-il,e-pound ullet ever stopped a grizzly.
u It'll, "A growl. So feroriOus that il rese,l-
bed a roar. the inf,lriated animal rushed
forward 10 the attack. Throwing aside
now the useless rife. and drawing his
knife. Rogers braced himself for the death
rs the shaggy monster reared
upon its launches. its great. black. convex
head towering two feet above Rogers. the
latter inyoluntalily threw up his left arm
l.ke:. plgilis; on guard. The bear seized
the arm il, its mouth and. throwing its
great paws over the shoulders of the hun
ter. huggeal him in an embrace SO cruel
that his eyes seemed starting from their
sockets. and the blood ,rus!,etl from his
ncstrils. Rogers right arm was tree. and
h" drove the blade of his knife TO tire hilt
m the side of the grizzly close to the shOul-
ler. The blade reached Il vital point, but
rs immediate effect WAS only to increase
The yriZzly's ferOci,y. 1t hugged Rogers
The closer. its long. sharp, ci,isel-pointcd
claws tearing gaping wOunis in the I'M
.-.ana,e mans back, while the bones OF
his left arin wrre ground to powder in the
vise-iike jaws of his terrible antagonist.
Rogers plieti his Inite with the energy oc
driving it again and again in
he vitaIs OF the Mstr, literally carving it
dive, while the latte'. witt, claws and lee.;i
;lceratetl its liuman Toe III lie uiost fright
,li IN .n:ler. Tie terrible wounds of the |
grizzly were commencing to tell upon its
i;t .iiiy. Rogers senses were not SO dull
ID bu, that he could distinguish THAT the
grizzly WAS gradually relaxing its hold.
md the ray of hope the knowledge afford
ii Stimulated him to renewed cXerions
With his knife. The bear endeavOIed to
.,pport itself, despite its cruel wounds.
xayered Tor an instant. then, with Il low
moan, the huge monster toppled over.
lrayginy the imam With it, the latter falling
,artly underneath. Simn,oning all his re-
naming strength. Rogers plunged his
mite into the grizzly's abdomen. tile hot
Hood and viscera spouting full in bis faoe.
r;,e bear relGyuisissi IDS holt. ami Rogers,
orn. sace,ssled. and bleeling. crawled tar
,,ouxf away 10 escape being rent to pieces
y the terrible death struggle Vi the
,Irzziy.
Although victorious, Rogers condition
vas critical in tile extreme. tie was a mile
al i,aif from home. SO weak and faint
u could scz,rceiy stand. and in danger OF
lee ling 10 death before I've could res.ci,
elp. Conscious that lie must soon have [
rip or perish, he summoned all bis res0-
ltion and staggered along In the direction !
( home, nlOrs dead than alive. Y tsail Of [
lood marking his footsteps. He managed !
, rss.cl. spring In sight Of his houss, |
E his en- iusxnce 1t last gave WY. and ,
. tell Ia dead hint By the waters edge. !
ortun .telj he was soon discoyed by his !
2n, isd Of solne u years, who imuledi- 1