The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-06-18
Almost Eaten Alive-Terrible EncOun-
ter with q Bear.


LAST Saturday Hannibal Roe, who
resides on the Little Prickly Pear, in
the vicinity of Wolf Creek Station,
shouldered his gun and went out in the
mountains for deer hunt. While he
was passing down the course of a small
gulch, and just as he had turned a
point of rocks which prOtruded abrupt
" from the mountain side he received
upon the left side of his head and face
a stunning blow from the paw of an
immense she bear, which it appears
was lying in wait for him upon the
other side of. the rocks. The blow
knocked Mr.. Roe down and caused him
to lose possession of his gun, which was
the only weapon he had with him, and
at the same instant the infuriated
beast, throwing herself upon the pros
trate form of her astonished, disarmed
and wounded victim, the man and bear
were precipitated together about fifteen
feet down the steep bank to the bed OF
the gulch. Having nothing to de-
fcnd himself with, Mr.. Roe quick
ly determined to "play the
dead man." and turning upon
his face feigned Inconsistencies
through one of the most trying ordeals
ever experienced by a human being.
The bear evidently concluded if her
prey was dead he had been killed by
her own strong paws, and began her
feast. Beginning upon his head she
literally tore the mans scalp to shreds,
leaving it in a condition horrible to look
at. He says he could both hear and
feel her teeth grating upon his skull.
She then began upon his left shoulder,
inficting there a CHASTITY and danger
GUS wound, and bit him in several
places upon his left arm, side and back
as far down as the hip. Just as
she had driven her teeth into the hip
and was, doubtless, upon the point of
inficting such wound as would have
caused instant death, one of her cubs
raised cry of distsess. 1t was at this
point that MIR. Roe's play of ''dead
man." which had hitherto seemed so
unavailing, was of great service to him.
The bear evidently thought. her victim
dead, and. leaving him, FASTENED to the
relief of her young, intending, it is sup
posed, to finish her meal at pleasure
Though bruised, mangled and fatigued
his scalp bleeding mass of torn flesh
and matted hair hanging about his
brow, his left cheek and ear torn off
until they hung at his side by but
slender strip, his cheek bone broken,
his skull fractured above the eye, his
shoulder, arm and side badly injured,
he nevertheless summoned sufficient
strength to rise and get away before his
antagonist arrived. The story of his
subsequent achievements is almost be-
yond belief, but is abundantly vOuched
for. He was living alone, and knew
that to return home without summon
ing assistance was to certainly go home
and die in solitude. Although from the
scene of his encounter it was a mile and
a half home. he walked that distance,
and without stopping at his cabin pro-
ceeded half-mile further to the Mis-
souri, River, upon the opposite side OF
which he saw couple of neighbors,
to whom he called for assistance.
As soon as he observed that his
cries were heard he returned to his cab
in, where his neighbors soon after
1Ouuu Hill SlGIlHS upou " oOOoA, hoiuin0
his hand to the side of his head, and in
that way as best he could keeping his
mutilated cheek and ear in place. Such
aid was rendered as could be under the
circumstances, and medical assistance
was telegraphed for, to which DR..
Steele promptly responded. The
wounds were dressed early Sunday and
Mr.. Roe was left as comfortable as his
surroundings would allow. He bore
his sufferings, including the great num-
Der of stitches that were taken in sew
ing his wounds, with wonderful fortl-
tude, allowing no groan or complaint
to escape him. except upon one occa-
sion when the needle pierced the flesh
in close proximity to the eye. He con-
fidently asserted that he would get well,
although the doctor regarded his case
as critical one. Since the above was
written Mr.. Roe has arrived in Helena
and is now at the Sisters Hospital. He
made the journey of forty miles. from
his home to Helena, in a spring wagon.
thus affording additional evidence OF
his remarkable endurance, which his
physician regards as being without
parallel. Last evening he was feeling
quite comfortable and considerable
hopes were entertained for his recov-
ery.-Helena { Monta'sa) Independent.
Old Slaves Just Getting Married.