The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-05-01
A fight With a Bear.
A TRUE STORY.

We make the following extract from
hunting story entitled THE Big Bear of
Wannetola," printed in st. Nicholas for
May. The inciHent took place in the
back country of Arkansas, in the year
1860, and the hunters were Harvey Rich
arcsOn and the Darrator. They were after
a big bear, whose depredatiens had made
him the chief topic of conversation; and
they started out with their dogs early one
November morning
Just at day break, we came to
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 through its inter-
laced roots 1 could see in every di-
lection. Hardly had we completed
our ambush when quick movement
OF one OF the dogs startled me. But.
in q moment, noticing that his looks
were directed toward the crossing, /.
too, looked thitheI and heard the
sound OF a heavy animal sauntering
slowly over the soddsn ground and
approaching my lair. In an instant a
pair OF yellow eyss glared at me, and
with as wide a look OF surprise as
there was In mine. Recovering N.Y.
self / fired at the monster, which
appeared like huge. animated black
cloud as he rose up before me. The
brute disappeared with the smoke OF
my gun, but in a moment / was
startled 10y the report and shock OF
second discharge. The other load Of
my gun had been accidently ex-
ploded. Looking in the direction
that the bear had taken, 1 saw he had
run along the other si,le OF the fallen
tree and met at the farther end the
two dogs, when he turned about and
came toward me at his most rapid
speed and in savage humor. Then
there was q crash and rush. The
black mass came on, with eyes
cleaning, and bewildering mo with
the reflection Of their glare In the
sunlight.
was conscious that my gun was
useless, and so instinctively grasped
my pistol, but found it hopelessly en-
tangled in my belt. For a second,
despair came upon me, but sudden
revultion aroused every sense and
prompted ms to defense for. life,
Quickly drawing my knife, it was
presented at thrust as the dark
mass sprang at me.
At this moment. one OF the huge
dogs leaped him so fiercely as to
divert the monsters attention from
myself and make him miss
his bite. He reared. and as
he again came down on his
forefeet aud was in the act OF going
over the bank. l plunged my knife to
the hilt into his body. in the region
OF his heart. He turned and made a
terrible snap at my legs, but AT the
moment fell backward over a bush,
and so we all went into the bayou to-
gether, houndering In tho water and
mud,
1 scrambled to the edge OF the
slough and watched with intense
anxiety the result OF the battle. In
another moment, and when the bear
had nearly reached the further sile
OF the pool, desperately fghting with
the dogs every inch OF the way, ]
heard rushing sound aud the whir-
ring flight Of more Of the pack ne
they sprang over me. In the same
instant a fash shot out from the
brown barrel OF Harvey's rifle. and
the bear rolled over, though he still
feebly fought the pack, ard kept on
fighting 10 the last moment oi
his existence. To my modification,
an examination OF the huge carcass
showed that my shot had not made
any visible mark on the animal. and
that my knife had not quite reached
his heart. Harvey's shot killed him
The weight OF the savage animal was
over five hundred pounds.-Dr. 1. Z
Nagle; 81, Nicholas for May.
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