The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-05-14
TERRIFIC FIGHT WITH A SHE
BEAR. 81
A Border Incident That Has Few
Parallels IN History.
From the Daily Independent.

Last Saturday Mr.. Hannibal Roe, who
Iesld, ON the Little Prickiy Pear, IN the
vicinity vi Wolf creek station, shoulaered
his gun aud Went out in the mountains for
deer huut. While he was passing down
the course Of q small guich, aud just AZ DO
mad turned polnt UT rocks winch pro-
tTuded abruptly from tho mountain side,
be received upon the left side Of his head
and face stunning blow from tho paw vi
an immense she bear, which IL appears was
lying IN walt for him upon the other side
side of the rocks. The blow knocked Mr.
RE down and caused hum 20 lose possess
siou Of his gun, which was the only weapon
he had with him, and at the same instant
the infurated beast tn. owing herself upon
tho prostrate form Of her astonished, d,s-
armed aud wounded victim, the man and
bear were precipitated together about Ii :
teen feet down the steep bank to the d
OF the gulch. Having nothing TO defuuu
himself with, Mr.. Roe quickly determined
10 play tho dead man" and turning upon
his face felgn.d unconsciousness throug b
one OF the NEST trying ordeais ever expert
enced by human being. The bear evi-
IDENTIFY concluded ii 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 II IN condition horrible To
loox at. He says he could both heas and
feel her teeth grating upon his skull. Sue
then began upon his left shoulder, inflict-
ing there ghastly and dangerous wound
and bic him IN several places upon his leit
arm, side and back as far down as the hip
just as sine had driven her teeth into the
hip aud was, doubtless, upon the point Of
injecting such wounds as would have
caused instant death, one of her cuts
raised cry Of distress. IL was At tn 9
point that Mr.. Roe's play of "desd man -
which hitherto had seemed so unavailing,
was Of great service TO him. The bear
evidently thought her victim dead, aud
leaving him, has.ened to tbs relief Of her
young, intending, u is supposed, to flush
her meal ut pleasure. Though bruised,
mangled and fatigued-his scalp bleeding
mass Of torn flesh and matted hair hang
ing about his brow, his left cheek aud ear
torn OF until they hung AZ his side by bat
q slender strip, hrs cheek bone broken, his
skull fractured above the eye, his Shoulder,
arm and side badly injured, he nevertheless
summoned sufficient strength 70 rise and
get away before bis antagonist returned.
The story of his subsequent achievements
- olmONe UoyOusi Uotiot, out 10 hUuuudubl1
vouched for. He was living alone, and
knew thar to return hcme without sum-
moning assistance was to certainly 20 home
and due In solitude
Although from the scene Of his encoun-
ter. II was . mile and half home, ne
walked that distance and without stopping
1t his cabin proceeded . hall mile further
to the Missouri river upon tho opposite side
nj erhs ho - n .tslo <sf n 20
whom be called for ssslstanco. As soon as
be observed that his cries were heard he
returned 70 bis cabin where his nelghbors
soon after found him, sitting on stool,
holding his hand To the side OF his head and
in that way ~ best he could keeping bis
mutilated cheek and ear In place. Such aid
was rendered a. conld be under the circum-
stancea, aud medical assistance was tele-
graphed for. TO which DIR. Steele. Is We
stated in Sundays issue, promptly respond
ed. The sounds were dressed early San
day, and Mr.. Roe Was left a. comfortable
~ his surroundings would allow.
He bore bis suherDgs, including the
CREST number Of stitches that were taken
10 sewing his wounds, with wonderful for
titude, allowing no groan or complaint to
escape him, except upon one occasion when
the needle pierced tho flesh in cloee proxim-
ity to his eye. ho confidently asserted
that be would get vel, although the doctor
regarded his case ~ critical one.
Siuos the aboye WAS written Mr.. Roe has
arrived II Hslsna and y nov as tho Sis
tsrs' hospital He made the journey Of 40
milea, from his home 70 Helena, In sprine
wagon, thus afording additionAl evidencs
OF biz rouaarka6le endurance, which his
Dhyoio1an regards - being almost without