Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-03
FIGHTING A"pARlfINTv
Desperate struggle Between RcdsSin and
a Rear.

Miguel Is the name of a tall, lank Indian,
who Is Just now the lion OF the hour In tae
Pecos-river settlements, JUS across the
mountain, says the Santa Fe On. NJ Re-
uieu. He is well known as steady. indus
trious fellow, pretty well advanced 10 the
acts Of western civilization, :nd last year
did good service in the employ OF
the Pecos River Mining Company rs a
miner. near Hamilton. He II counted 4
dead shot every time ; in fact, Is an expert
with almos. any weapon, and can handle
the bowie. knife with rapidly akin %
Lightning and certainty that Il deadly.
He has had some experience IA bear-hun-
ter. This class OF varmint" has been
quite destructive to stock in the upper
Pccos valley the past winter, and tins
spring the fact has been demonstrated %
the ranchmen that there are more bears in
the adjacent mountains than has been
known before for many years.
The animals have been growing more
bold in their depredaions for some
months, and have made such havoc among
the herds owned by Mr.. McRay, lending
ranchman Of that section, that he was
forced to cast about for some method OF
retaliation. Knowing Miguel 10 be good
hunter he sent for him. and employed him
10 put in his whole time hunting bears in
and about the grazing territory frequented
by his stock. As result, the Indian has
already killed five bears this selson-ceT-
family record that any irOntiersman might
well be proud OF. BIT MiguePs euc0un-
ter with the last two, fine specimens OF
the black variety, came very near putting
short stop to his "reg'lar bizness" as n
bear-huutor. He jumped up this pair
while engaged in 4 PLAYFUL wre5tle in
mountain canon on Friday last. and his
first shot sent the male bear bowling to the
earth; then another shot andi, companion
rolled over pierced right through the heart.
But by this time the male animal had re-
gained his feet, aud was making for the
Indian with blood in his eye and death in
his paws. Miguel waited a second, think
ing TO make sure work OF the second shot
when the bear got nearer, but the weapon
failed him. II was Il repeating rifle, and the
lever refused TO work. The situation was
critical. \ second time he wrcnched the
lever, but TO no effect, and by this time the
desperate brute, rendered so by the bullet
in his side. was fairly upon him. He had
nothing to do but to club his gun and 20
at him, and this he did with vengeance.
but the bear brushed it from his grasp az
IL il had been handful Of straw. and with
bis huge paw clutched the IEdian by the
left arm between the wrist and elbow.
Then Miguel remembered his trusty bowie
knife. II was unsheathed in iitfy, and
he thought to catch his antagonist in tie
short ribs with bis keen point, but the
willy brute seemed TO discern this,
and the next moment had torn the
flesh from the arm that held the knife. BY
this time II was clear case OF hug between
the man and beast. As the Indian lodged
the bears desperate blows he caught the
knife in his left hand and then sprang for.
ward and clasped the animal tight around
the body. This lasted second-certaInly
not longer, for the bear was then in good
way TO grind the man into mlnce-meat,
when, With remarkable cool move, Miguel
reached around the bear with his right
hand, took from his left the knife and in the
next Instant plunged it through the animals
side into his heart.
1t will he some weeks before Miguel will
be able to do any more hunting. He now
wears each OF his arms in soft cotton BAN
dages.
Parties from this section say there arc
great many hears I'm the vicinity o. the
Santa Fe Rod and Gun Clubs quarters in
Woodruff Park. Not alone the black bear
abound thereabouts. but the cinnamon and
siyer.tip varieties are plentiful, afording
rare sport for all who have the nerve to
hunt them.