Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-29
A Yellowstone Bear STORY.


The Fire Hole Hotel is located on the
west side of the lower basin at the foot
of the mountain, near good spring OF
water, and from which can be had lne
view of the valley. Marshall, the pro-
prietor, has thirty years lease from the
government, and will add to his house
as the business of the public demands.
This is the only house in the Park be-
side the one at the entrance.
>. 1t is wild and solitary place to spend
the winter, which Marshall and his wife,
with young lady companion, did for
the first time last winter, and IN this con-
nection he told me bear story. He said
that after visitors ceased coming to the
Park last fall lie went to Virginia City
for his winter supplies, leaving his wife,
children and the young woman in charge
of the place. Near the house, in the
rear, was situated a dug-out or root.
house, where he stored his potatoes. ETC..
to keep them from freezing, and TO ven.
tilate which he used a Joint OF stove
pipe. One morning during his absence
his wife looked out of the window and saw
a bear pulling down the pipe and trying
to dig into the roothouse, in which they
had also stored most of their provisions
The women were at their wits end as to
what course to pursue. They at first
threw tin cans from the windows and
managed to disturb Bruin for few mo-
ments, but he soon returned, as he had
already sniffed the good things of that
ground cellar, and he did not propose to
be scared off with tin cans. Mrs. Mar
shall, brave enough to be left alone, did
not intend to have all of her provisions
taken before her eyes, and proposed to
load the rifle if her companion would
fire it at the bear, which being complied
with, good charge was placed in the gun,
which was laid across the window-sill
and discharged at his bearship, but the
aim not being accurate, it did not
strike him in a vital part, although
his actions showed that he was hit. He
retreated to the hillside, sat upon his
launches, took view of the situation
and then disappeared in the bushes,
where he remained. The women were
not satisfied, and they went after that
bear-a very imprudent thing, to say the
least, but nevertheless they went, for (as
they expressed it) they were afraid he
might come back again in the night, and,
as they were satisfied he was wounded,
they wanted to finish him. Loading the
rifle again, they went cautiously up the
hillside, until they discovered the bear
standing in small clearing, when the
women prepared for action by laying the
gun across a log and taking deib-
crate aim, hitting the animal behind
the foreshoulder, when he came rolling
down the hill. The women did not stop
to see whether the bear was rolling or
running-they imagined the latter-and
both ran for dear life, dropping the gun
as they went for the house, which they
reached before casting a glance in the
rear. When safe insthe house they took
a view of the situation, and could see
bruin doubled up and giving his last
kick. He finally became quiet, and they
ventured out and got possession Of their
gun, which was loaded and a third charge
put into the bear to make sure he was
not playing 'possum. When Marshall
came home he weighed the bear, and
found it brought down the beam to $50
pounds. He tells the story of the action
of the brave women with great deal of
pride, and the young woman who did the
shooting has become quite heroine.