The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-28
BRUISED BY BRUIN.
FaleHrfuL AND uNFRvlrFvL FIGHT
With a Tremendous Grizzly of the gOekI.s-oue
Nan Killed. aud In Seeking for Revenge Ills
Partner has his yltals Torn Ost-An
Exciting Adventure Told By aSurIlror.

DENVER, COL, February 2T.-William
Farley. who has just arrived from the
Medicine Bow country, tells the story Of a
thrilling bear hunt in which two old 'front.'
iersmen lost their lives. Farley and two
companions James Wilson and Jake
Shultz, were on a prospecting trip on the
Little Pass creek, which debouches into the
Medicine Bow fork Of the North Platte,
South OF Elk mountain. 1t has been the
common belief that for years that rich
placer mines existed in this nook OF the
Rockies, and the little party started out
las. fall in quest OF the hidden gold. They
selected q valley spot at the confluence OF
Little and Big Pass creeks for their prin-
cipal camping place and the locality where
they should meet In the event they sepa-
rated in the mountains. Here they
erected q permanent tent aud deposited
the bulk OF their supplies. About a mile
from the junction Of the two creeks heavier
dams spread over the valley, extending
south for miles into labyrinth Of ponds
and rush falls. These are almost ilnpene-
trable owing TO the thick and distorted
growth OF cottonwood and low oak, heavy
chaparral and the swampy formation. They
are even very difficult to explore in winter
when the ponds are frozen. The solitude
and means Of hiding found here make 1t
the retreat for every description OF noun
tain animal, from the grizzly and lion to
the coyote and rat. Soon after Farley and
bis partners located at the forks, early in
October, the footprints Of huge grizzly
bear were discovered in the neighborhood.
Traps were set for the king Of the noun
tains, but he did not enter them.
.r. BEAR FIGHT.
One night in the latter part Of November
the grizzly took the prospectors by sur
prise. They had left their rifles against a
tree at the camp fire and were in the tent.
The bear came into the opening, and ig-
noring the three men, fell to work eating
up the supplies about the fire. He was a
monster specimen, almost as large as a
COW. Farley and Shultz had pistol each,
but Wilson had left his with the guns. He
had bowie knife, however, and with this
weapon ue ItoulSeu W w uhttlelu tu6eNtut
Of emergency. To attack the grizzly with
pistols and knife was perilous. 10 lay
there, hoping to remain unnoticed while
momentarily fearing discovery, was insult
ferable. Something must be done, and
that quickly. The plan Of action was ar.
ranged with bated breath. Farley and
Shultz crawled out beneath the rear
flap OF the tent. They were to
make a stealtby detour to where the
guns we're, surprise the bear and riddle
him with bullets. Wilson vas to remain
concealed in the tent. The two men had
not got more than half dozen yards from
the tent when Farley broke the limb Of a
fallen tree in stepping over it, and the loud
report startled the bear. The grizzly fell
back on his hind quarters, uttered furious
growl, and then made for the tent on a
run. Before Schultz or Farley could shoot
or collect their frightened senses the bear
had broken through the tent. They knew
that nothing less than miracle could save
Wilson's life, and Immediately took shel.
ter among the low branches Of cottonwood
tree. In the dim light OF the camp fire
they saw the tent heaving with the conflict
for life raging within, aud while praying
that Wilson would come out victorious, a
wild death cry told them that the struggle
WAS at an end, NJ