The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-28
Fatal Contest with a Grizzly.

William Farley, who has Just arrived
from the Medicine Bow country, tells
the story Of a thrilling bear hunt, in
which Two old froruersmen lost their
lives. Farley and TWO companions.
James W llson and Jake Schultz, were
on a prospecting trip on the Little Pass
Creek, which debouches into the Medi-
cine Bow fork Of the North Platte,
south Of En- Mountain. One night
about three weeks ago d grizzly was seen
near the tent and Farley and Schultz
went out 10 take a shot. The two men
had not gone more taan halt d dUzen
yards from the tent when Farley broke
the limb off a fallen tree IL stepping
over 1t, and The loud report startled the
bear. Ehe grizzly fell back on his hind
quarters, uttered a furious growl, and
then made for tly tent on the run. Be-
fore Schultz o. Farley could shoot or col
lect their frightened senses the bear had
broken through The tent. They knew
that nothing less than a miracle could
save Wilson's life, and Immediately took
shelter among the low branches OF a
cottonwood trte. IN the dim light of
the campfire they saw the tent heaving
with the conflict for life raging within,
and while praying that Wilson would
come out victorious a wild death-cry told
them that the struggle was at an end.
The commo,IOp within ceased with the
fading away of the horrible echo, and
the grizzly shambied out into the light.
lie staggered around the fire, surveyed
the pool of sirup on the ground, but
seemed to have no further appetite for
1t, and then departed as abruptly as he
came
1t was some time before Farley and
Schultz could muster up sufficient cour-
age to descend from the tree, believing
that the bear was still in hiding close By.
When they entered the tent the light of
a pine knot disclosed to their Mortified
gaze the form of poor Wilson, literally
had been laid bare by a blow from the
grizzly paw, and the left side OF the
body, including the heart, had been al
most torn away. The yet warm life
blood covered everything around, and in
the pool lay the knife with which Wilson
had vainly tried to defend himsel
Following the beasts trail, Schultz
and Farley discovered the bear in aclump
of bushes. Schultz cautiously crept
through the chapparal. One, two and
inTS6 LuiuGleS SGCLltu 10 SlittCu lulO IT
many hours. Then there broke out on
the morning air a yell that froze the very
blood in his veins. After that came the
echo of the deSpairing cry: Farley Ny
Goblin killed. \ deathiy silence
that was only broken by the splashing Of
> beavers tail in one of the open dams
,n-ued, and Farley knew that he haC
lost his second partner. 1t was with tht
feeling that he was walking into the
Jaws OF certain death that he entered the
c~happaral to seek Schultz. There wa:
10 danger, however, the bear had agar
ticd In a dark spot in the underground
IL which the rays of the sun were un
able to penetrate. Farley, while crawl
lug on all tours, fell over the body o
Seha'iz. When he had recovered from
tie horror Of the discovery, he dragged
the remains out into the light. 1t wa
apparent from the wounds that Schultz
Lad stumbied on to the bear and recelv
Cd Is death wound before he could max
"a eT irt to cefeud himself. His gul
va n his right hand, as If t%railIne 1t
5Ue bear, surprised, had struck him oil
tie ct shoulder, tearing away cloth ant
H. b., aud then bit him through tn
heart, a. he had wilson, tie two wound
beng almost identical.