Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-08-18
FIGHT OR DIE.
Desperate Encounter with II Grizzly
Bear.
Wood River News, July 10th. !.

Wood River News, July I6thl.
/ \ prospector by the name of H. A. Johnson
came down from the mountains on yesterday
mornings stage. From the crown of his
head to the soles of his feet he was the worst
patched up and bent prospector we have
looked upon for many a day-in fact, he was
but the wreck of his former self. A Neus
reporter interviewed him and learned that
since he left Bellevue he had visited o great
deal of the country north, and was prospect
ing on the Middle Fork of Salmon river Late
last week he started out mining with his
prospecting tools, his partner going another
way, and fell in with fellow from Bonanza
or Challis who called himself Barber. They
were passing through q little park, when 4
monster grizzly bear was seen a short dis
| tance Off Barber recommended that john
son take a shot with his Remington rifle.
johnson jumped from his horse, and with a
rest over his knee, turned loose. The grizzly
caught it and started for the party, when
Barber straddled JOhnsOns horse as quick as
flash and darted away. Johnson shouted
his protest, but he had no time to fool away,
and kept upon his knee, pumping shots into
the advancing grizzly at a lightning g-striking
rate; in fact, the grizzly got five shots into
his carcass-one between the eyes and one
through his heart-and still he kept coming.
When the bear was about twenty-five feet
off johnson gave up experimenting and
dashed for a tree. He sprang high, but the
bear caught him by the left hip tearing
away clothing and flesh, and bringing john
son down to the grass. AS he fell the bear
caught him by the scalp and tore the whole
business loose from near his forehead to the
back of the crown. With his right hand
Johnson fastened to the beasts nostrils, and
hung there for a moment, but he was getting
weak and soon lost his hold BY this time
the bears eyes were getting CLASSY, bat when
Johnson attempted to move from him he
was aroused to three severe attacks, once
catching Johnson i'll the left shoulder, next
in the left fore arm, breaking both bones, and
again above the elbow of the left arm, caus-
ing serious flesh wound. That was the last
upon JohnsOn's gun. Now, was the pluck of
the hunter tried? His left arm and leg were
lacerated and bleeding; his shoulder was
bare and torna- -Dptn; his left arm and leg
was broken in two places and seriously rip
ped open in another; his right hand was
split by q tooth of the savage beast, aud his
scalp was hanging down on his sh4hlders,
and he was alone He had about two miles
to walk to his camp, and then to find his
partner away. in all probability. He was
getting dizzy, but reused and Went to camp:
splintered his arm, put snow atOut it and
started for Bellevue, accompaniea by his
partner. Johnson is now under tip care of
DR.. Thiele, and owing to his remarkable care
for himself in all the days of trayekbetwecn
here and Middle Fork, the doctor is.edicts a
speedy recovery. From the scene OF the fight
to Bellevue it cannot be less than 10 miles,
and this had to be travelled over by the
wounded man Oh horseback. Middle Fork
affords not at all q healthy climate for Mr.
Barber, and at the rate he was travelling
when last seen no bear will ever catch him.
The bear would weigh about 900 pounds, but
Johnson carries the beasts scalpi in his pocket
to-day