Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-03-30
BITTEN THROUGH THE HEART.


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BITTEN THROUGH THE HEART.
The Sad Fase of Two Men who Fought y
Griz.iy.
William Farley. who has just arrived
from the Medic ne Bow Country. tells
the story of q thrilling bear hunt in
which two old frontersmen lost their
lives. Failey and two companions.
James Wilson and Jake Shultz. were
on a prospecting trip on the Little Pass
Greek, which debouches into the Medi-
cine Pow F,rk of the North Platte
south Of Elk Mountain. 1t has been
the common belief for years that rich
plat cr mines existed In this nook of the
Rock es, and the little pa ty started out
last fall in quest Of the hidden gold.
They selected valley spot at the con-
Guence OF Little. and Big Pass Creek
for their principal camping place and
the lotalit,' where thef should meet
In the event they separated in the
mountains. Hero they erected a perma-
nent tent and deposited the bulk OF
their supplies.
Soon after Farley and his partner To-
Gated at the forks. early in October. the
footprints OF q huge grizzly bear were
discovered IN the neighborhood. lie
did not stem TO be at all aggressive.
contenting himself for . few nights
proving around the camp. The pros
pectors grew somewhat alarmed at the
frequency and familiarity OF these noe
turnal visits. and Farley suggested that
they organize hunt. Shu u, who was
a mountainccr of large experience.
counselcd him 10 have no fears prom
ising that old Bru q would shortly find
some new attraction and disappear.
Meanwhile, two ira had teen set for
the bear. and. in both cases. he had
clever extracted the bait without hav-
ing sustained so much as the loss Of
hair from bis shaggy hide.
One night, while the three men were
ing within Their tent planning 10 am
bush the bear and kill him. the subject
Of their conversation put In an appear
ance as unconcernedly as II he was
bullet proof. The prospectors had Just
finished eating supper. The campfire
in front of the tent. and about twenty
yards distant. was burning low; a fall
ing ember from the limb Of tree
III own over II. occasionally caused a
lurd glow. Close BY the fire were the
dishes and the remnants OF the repast
"a tin can full OF sugar and one Of
sirup. half a sack Of flour, some bread
and fried bacon and antelope scraps.
They had loft their rifles leaning against
= quaking asp limb near the fire. and
were reclining on their bl nkets lsziy
smoking and plotting the bears dea h.
T" II he only took some regula trail"
said Shnltz. 1--WE could get away with
him without any trouble. But. from
what have observ. d. would Judge
this fellow is n old Tartar. and
we
J, st then there was sound Of some |
heavy body moving through the bushes |
back Of the fire. The words died away |
on Shuhzs lips and the. three men
looked in the direction whence the noise
came. as II petriiied.
The grizzly walked out into the open
ing. swelling. in the Imagination Of the
defenseless prospectors. TO the dimen-
sions of an elephant He growled at the /
fire moment and then turned his at
tention to the edibles. The sirup cup
was. for q while, fifteen puzzle for /
him: but finally. in his hungry rage. he
turned il over, and the
flowed out through the small
aperture in the Id on TO the ground.
While the bear was engaged in licking
up the sirup the prospectors recovered
their presence Of mind. Farley and
Shultz had a pistol each. but Wilson
had left his with the guns He had q
bowie knife, however. and with this
wea,on he resolved to do battle in the
event Of emergency To attack the
zriz,ly with pistols and q knife was
perilou< TO lie there. hoping 10 re-
main unnoticrd. while momenfarily
earring discovery, was in<u7erable.
Something must be done. and thst
Juickly- The plan Of action was ar
1need with bafed breath Farley and
5hulfz crzvled out beneath the rear Zap I
4 The tent They were 10 make .
Itca,thy detOur 10 where the guns were. L.
urprise the bear. and riddle him with
'ulleta Wilson was TO remain con-
,eaIed in the tent
Tie two men hsd not gone more than 1
! half dozen yards fr0m the tent when I
'nrley broke . limb Of fallen tree in Z
to ping over IL and TIE loud report Z
lRfled TIE bear. TIE grizzly fell back
a his hind quarte1s uttered q furious ,
r0ul and fhen made for the tent On . |.
IN Before Schultx OF Far]cr could !
boot or collect fhcir fri -hfened senses
he bear Rad broken fhrou n the test
hey knew that not t,i,x ]ess fhsn . =
= rncle could save Wilson's life. and :
umedistely took shelter among the low =
rancho Of . cottonwood tree In tse