Sharp County record., 1879-05-22
A Fight with a Bear.

We make the following extract from
q hunting story entitled The Big Bear
Of Wannetola," printed in 81. Nicholas
for NAV. The incident took place in
the back country OF Arkansas, IN the
wear 1860, and the hunters were Harvey
Richardson and the narrator. They
were after big bear, whose depreda.
tions had made him the chief topic OF
conversation; and they started oat with
their dogs early one November morn
ing:
!" Just at day-break, we came to a
crossing of the bayou where we felt sure
the bear must pass on the way to his
den. Harvey placed me, the dogs, and
himself. A fallen tree was in my front,
and though its interlaced roots | could
see in every direction. Hardly had we
completed our ambush when quick
movement of one of the dogs startled
me. But, in moment noticing that
his looks we're Erected toward the cross
ing, |, too, looked thither and heard the
sound of heavy animal sauntering
slowly over the sodden ground and ap-
preaching my ,air. In an instant a pair
of yellow eyes [glared at me, and with
as wide look ff surprise as there was
in mine. Reco, BRING myself | fired at the
monster, which appeared like a huge,
animated black cloud as he rose up be-
fore me. The brute disappeared with
the smoke of my gun, but in moment
d. | was startled by the report and shock Of
second discharge. The other load OF my
oun had been accidentally exploded.
Looking in the direction that the bear
had taken, saw he had run along the
other side of the fallen tree and met at
the farther end the two dogs, when ne
turned about and came toward me al
his most rapid speed and in savage hu'
NOR. Then there was a fearful crash
and rush, The black mass came on,
with eyes cleaning, and bewildering me
with the reflection of their glare in the
sunlight.
81 was conscious that my gun was
useless, and so instinctively grasped my
pistol. but found it hopelessly entangled
in nv belt. For a second, despair came
upon me, but sudden revulsion arous-
ed every sense and prompted me to de-
Tense for life, Quickly drawing my
knife, it was presented at a thrust as the
dark mass sprang at me.
HAt this moment, one OF the huge
dogs leaped at him so fercely as to divert
the monsters attention from myself and
make him miss his bite. He reared,
and as he again came down on his fore
feet and was in the act of going over
the bank, plunged my knife to the hlll
into his body, in the region Of his heart.
He turned and made a terrible snap al
nv legs, but at the moment fell back
ward over bush, and so we all went
into the bayou together, tloundellng IN
the water and mud.
81 scrambled to the edg ge of the
slough, an7 watched with intense
anxiety ,to1Sfesilt Of the battle In
another nsomenS, and when tho besr
had nearly ' reached the farther side OF
the pool, desperately fighting with the
dogs every inch of the way, heard a
rushing sound and the whirring flight
of more of the pack as they sprang
over me. In the same instant a flash
shot ont from the brown barlcl OF Har-
vey's rifle, and the bear rolled over
though he still feebly fough5 the pack,
and Kept on fighting to the last moment
of his existence. To my modification,
an examination of the hpge carcass
showed that my shot had not made any
visible mark on the animal, and that
my knife had not quite reached :, &C ne !, MS
heart. Harvey's shot had killed him.
The weight Of the savage animal was
over five hundred pounds. ."-Dr. l. b,
Nagze, in ST. Nicholas for May'