Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-27
IN BEARs MOurH.
a COlOradO Mans Desperate
IAand-Io-lIand Fight with n
Mad Beast
Central CITY Rsei,,er.csll.

~ NatNNNA"NNAA
One OF the sevtrest and most dcs-
perate r~encontres between man and
brute that has ever taken place in
this section occurred yesterday morn
ing in Mammoth Park, Mammoth
FGulch. William Parenteau, foreman
ofthe Gunnell mine, had started out
tor a Sabbath days sport and reashed
the park rather early. During the
night a light snow had fallen and the
mountains were covered a light and
delicate coating Of white, which was
Indeed all thatthe hunter could de-
sire, for it left the trail of mar or
boast plainly visible. Mr.. Parenteau
soon struck a bear trail. Before he
had gone fifty yards he heard a slight
noise "a his left and quickly turning
around be discovered a large female
bear snda we'll grown cub. She seemed
to be hesitatiDg for the moment
whether 70 give fight, or not. The
mother and cub were not over twenty
yards from the hunter, and his decision
was made up as quick as a flash, He
would kill the old one and take the
chances of the younger running away
His rifle was at bis shoulder in an in
slant, but as his finger touched the
trigger the bear made "a lunge at him
and the ball went wide Of its mark.
missing the now infuriated animal
entirely. He threw his gun aside and
jerk from his sheath a long hunting
knife. Unfortunately for him the bear
caught the hand in which the knife
was clutched as it was DESCENDING.
Parenteau thought that il was over
with him, but the bear seemed anxious
to get her victim around the neck aud
give him a death hug, 50 che released
the hand and got her paws on both
shoulders, Parenteau doing all that be
could to keep out Of her embrace. In
the meantime he was applying the
knife with all the desperation Of a mar
who knew that he was in the very
clutches OF a terrible death. The
bear gave him +, terrible slap in the
face, decorating the flesh and almost
binding him She was now fairly
bowling with pain. as the knife would
sink up to the hilt with every thrust.
In the struggle Parenteau felt his
left thigh give way or leaving its
socket, snd be knew that the struggle
could not last much longer. The pain
and loss OF blood we're telling on MIN
rapidly, but he determined to sell his
life as dearly as possible. Whenever
an opportunity offered he buried his
trusty knife in the body Of the bear,
who showed some signs Of weakening.
bis left knee cap also received a terri
bleainnFys and ae was almost crazed
with pain. Finally he saw an oppor
tunity to drive his knife home behind
the left shoulder Of his enemy, and
she loosened her hold at once. She
stood over him for a moment, with the
blood gushing from eighteen wounds,
and then, falling over on her side,
expired. 4erer
Twas some moments before Paren-
teau could gather up strength enough
to eve try to move. he presented
even the appearance Of having been
through a slaughter house. His
wounds and the blood from the beast,
which had been squirting out upon
him like water from a fountain.
indeed caused him to present
a ssnguinary appearance, He was
unable to pick up or carry bis gun,
but finding a stick close by he hob.
bled and eraWled along until the saw
mill was reached, some two miles
distant. A messenger was then dis
patched to Central for DR.. Ashbaugh,
aud he soon responded. The wounds
Of the injured man we're dressed and
he was made as comfortable as posi-
bic.
Phil. Parenteau, a brother of the
wounded man. has arrived from Nam
moth Park. He says that his brothers
injuries are much more serious than
at first reported. The bear got bis
head in her mouth and actually
chewed on it for a few moments. The
bridge of the nose was literally
crushed and shattered into small
PARTICLES of bone. A cavity was
created through which the walls Of
the throat can be plainly seen
There is a deem incision between the
head and the termination of the
.pinal column, and the scalp is lace.
rated and ~shockingly torn 10 a number
of nlaoes