The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-10
A Yellowstone Bear Story.

How a Three Hundred ard Fifty Pound.
Bruin Was ISIise5 by Two Wcmen.
The Fire Hole Hotel is located on
the west side of the lower basin at the
foot of the mountain near a good
spring ofszwater, and from which can
be had a fine view of the valley. Mar
shall. the proprietor. has thirty-years
lease from the Government, and win
add to his house as the business of the
public demands. This is the only,
house in the park besides the one at the
entrance.
1t is wild and solitary place to
spend the Winter, which Marshall and
his wife with a young lady companion
did for the first time last Winter, and
in this connection he told me a bear
story. He said that after visitors had
ceased coming to the park last Fall he
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 dug-out or root-house
where he stored his potatoes, ETC.. to
keep them from freezing. and to ven-
tilate which he used 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 root-houso, in
which they had also stored most of
their provisions. The women were at
their wits end as to what course to
pursue. They first threw tin cans from
the windows. and managed to disturb
the bruin for few moments; but he
soon returned, as he had already shifted
the good things of that ground cellar.
and did not propose 10 be scared off
with tin cans.
Mrs. Marshall. 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, a good
charge was placed in the gun, which
was laid across the window sill and dis
charged at his bearsLip, 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 a view of the situation, ana then
disappeared into the bushes, where he
remained. The women were not salts
fed, and they went after that bear-a
very imprudent thing. to say the least,
but nevertheless they went, for Gas
they expressed iO 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 eau
tiously up the hillside, until they dis
covered the bear standing in small
clearing, when the women prepared for
action by laying the gun across log
and taking deliberate aim. hitting the
animal behind the fore-shoulder, when
he came rolling down the hin. The
women did not stop to see whether the
bear was rolling or running-they i'm
agined 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 in the 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 Il heroine.
FRANCISCO Bulletin.