The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-03-15
Bill Jones Bear Fight.
Benton Record March 6th.

Benton Record March 9Th.
The old-time residents Of this vicln'
ity are aware that Bill Jones, who
was buried yesterday, was one Of the
most courageous and -skilful hunter "a
In Montana, yet there are many,
perhaps, who have not heard of his
great bear fight IN which he proved
himself more than q match In physi
cal strength for an animal that ts
supposed O be the superior in that
respect to any ordinary man: We
give the story as 1t was related to us
BY q comrade who has known Jones
since he first came to the Territory.
In the summer of 1856 the entire
levee at Benton, to the Old Fort, at
the lower end of town, to the locality
now called the Roosevelt addition,
presented the appearance Of q boat
building yard. MacKinaws End other
crafts were launched daily Tor the
accommodation of the immense num-
Der of travellers who desired to take
advantage of the 'aoating rates"
offered BY the Big Muddy. Owing to
the seal city of lumber at this time,
many boats were constructed on the
Upper Missouri near American Bar
and Canyon Ferry. Parties who
built up there were Obliged to maxi
use of land portage around Portage
C0uIee, and their crafts had to be
hauled by teams a distance, probably
of twenty miles, from the mouth of
Sun river to below the Missouri Falls
and vexatious delays often occurred
for the want of prairie schO0ners to
move boats and passengers to the
desired point. 1t is estimated that
over five thousand persons availed
themselves of the cheap river route
in 1855. The war had terminated.
and many successful miners were on
. stampede to visit the old flks at
home During the month of August.
Bill Jones, Lon Van Vallenberg, and
William Sprague built q skif near
American Bar and started down the
river with the intention of reaching
the States and spending q few days
at Benton while en- route. They, be-
ing old timers, YER fond of excite
ment. Game of all kinds showed up
along the banks Of the stream and
afforded excellent chances for testing |
favorite guns. The journey was ac-
compIisbec without accident or injury |
of any kind until the party reached
the mouth of Sun river. At this
Ioint a camp was formed with hopes
that an opportunity would soon offer
itself for transportation around the
falls. The ME were all fine speci-
mems of mountaiDeers and but few
could be found anywhere to compare
in physical strength with Bill Jones.
While awaiting their chance to get
away, they passed the time In hunt.
ing and trapping, ana like all of those
who follow this sport, their adven-
lures were many and some lines of q
serious nature.
. One day, while hunting, Bill J"nes
in passing along a trail In n of the
timber points came face to face with
a large silver back bear, commonly
called a grizzly. The animal was
about the largest of its kind, out the
hunter did not hesitate to deliver
his fire the moment 1t raised up on
its hind paws. AS every experienced
hunter knows, the first act of a lear
when alarmed by the sound or ap-
pearance of an enemy is to stand up
on its hind legs, and when in this
position no vital spot is presented aud
it Is q most difficult matter to give
the animal q fatal wound. Jones
found to his cost that he had made q
mistake in firing as he did. He was
armed with + muZzle loading rifle
and q Colts six-shOoter. The ball
from the rifle only wounded the bear
and after recovering from the shock
DSsrSr nhn~or1 pVpnn hSc onnenv,
knocked him over, and seized him by
the thigh, tearing the flesh in the
most frightful manner. But the
hunter had meanwhile drawn his
revolver. He considered the chances
that If a shot proved fatal the bear
would fall on him and crush him in
its dying struggles, but while he was
thinking of this the bear settled the
matter Il r him before he had q chance
to fire. The bear grabbed him saw
agely and poor Jones had to drop his
revolver and struggle as best he
could With. the weapons nature had
given him. He continued after awhile
to clutch the bear on both sides Of the
jaw, and by exerting the whole :
strength of his powerful muscles, in |
spite of his weakness from pain and {
loss of blood, he managed to throw :
the animal down. Bruin was quickly I
on his feet again, but seemed to have {
a wholesome fear of his mus 1
cular enemy, and instead of returning !
to the attack trotted off in the direc- 4
ton he had come, The sufferings Of {
Jones were most intense. He laid I
for several hours unable to move, and t
when found by his comrades there {
appeared to he no hope whatever of {
biz recovery. His trip to Benton t
would have killed any ordinary man {.
under the circumstances, but he I
recovered and was strong 3!
Ind hearty when shot down in cold (
blood by Indian murderers. g