Louisiana capitolian., 1879-06-28
A FIGHT WITH A BEAR.
A TRUE STORY.


a hunting story entitled "The Big Bear
OF Wannetola," " printed in st. Nicholas
for May. The incident took place in
the back country of Arkansas, in the
year 1860, and the hunters were Harvey
Richardson and the narrator. They
were after big bear, whose depreda-
tions had made him the chief subject of
conversation; and they started out with
their dogs early one November morning:
just at the break of day we came to
q crossing of the bayou where we felt
sure the bear must pass on his way to
the ken. Harvey placed me, the dogs
and himself in position. A fallen tree
was in my front, and through its inter-
laced roots | could see in every direc-
ton. Hardly had we completed our
ambush when quick movement of one
dogs startled me. But i'll moment,
noticing that his looks were directed
toward the crossing, l, too, looked
thither and heard the sound of heavy
animal sauntcring slowly over the sod
den ground and approaching my lair.
In an instant a pair of yellow eyes
glared at me, and with as wide a look
of surprise as there was in mine. Re-
covering myself, fired at the monster,
which appeared Like a huge, animated
black cloud as he rose up before me.
The brute disappeared with the smoke
of my gun, but in a moment was star
tied by the report and shock Of second
discharge. The other load of my gun
had been accj lentally exploded. Look
inc in the direction that the bear had
taken, l saw he had run along the other
side of the fallen tree and met at the
farther end the two dogs, when he turn
ed about and came toward me at his
most rapid speed and in savage hnmor.
Then there was fearful crash and rush.
The black mass came on, with eyes glis-
tening, and bewildering me with a re-
fection of their glare in the sunlight.
was conscious that my gnn was USE
less, and so instinctively grasped my
pistol, but found it hopelessly entangled
in my belt. For second despair came
upon me, but sudden revnlsion arons'
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.
At this moment one of the huge dogs
leaped at him so fiercely as to divert the
monsters attention from himself and
make him miss his bite. He reared, and
as he again came down on his forc-feet
and was in the act Of going over the
bank, l plunged my knife to the hilt in
his body, in the region of the heart. Ht
| turned and made terrible snap at my
legs, but at the moment fell backward
over a bush, and so we all went into the
bayou together, houndering in the water
and mud.
scrambled to the edge of the slough
and watched with intense anxiety thu
result of the battle. In another moment
and when the bear had nearly reached
the farther side of the pool, desperatel!
fighting with the dogs every inch of th'
way, heard whirring fight of mor'
of the pack as they rushed over me. II
the same instant q flash shot out from
the brown barrel of Harvey's rifle, ant
the bear rolled over, though he still
fecbly fought the pack, and kept o1
| fighting to tho last moment of his exis
tence. To my modification, an exam
nation of his huge carcass showed tha
my shot had not make any visible mar
on the animal, and that my knife ha'
not quite reached his heart Harvey
shot had killed him. The weight Of tn
savage animal was over 500 pounds.