Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-15
BUFFALO OR BEAR.
A Remarkable Hunt In Wyoming and
Its More Remarkable Ending.

Its More Remarkable Ending
From the Chicago Nesos.
DENVER, July 6.-''Speaking Of bufa-
To-" said Mr.. B. Gilpin, Jr., well-known
Colorado cattle man, to the reporter Of the
.Nesos, "the last herd / ever saw was a
small one, consisting of less than twenty
head, which my brother Frank and en-
countered near Powder river, Wy. T., in
the fall of 1888. We were out prospecting
for a good cattle range, and came upon
the bisons near a wooded bluff, close to
the river. Leaving our blackboard and
four horses tied to tree, we started after
the noble game, quickly selecting a fine
looking bull, which we cut out OF the
herd and chased on foot as well as we
could. Owing to the rough character of
the ground, my brother and soon became
separated, Frank going on one side of a
hill and on the other, losing sight of
each other for a few minutes. When l
emerged on the other side l witnessed
strange transformation. The pursued
had become the pursuer. My brother was
running like a quarter horse, while the
bull, with lowered horns, was rapidly
closing up the gap between them. The
most haste possible to render what assis-
lance could to my fleeing brother. Be-
fore l could approach near enough to get
a shot at the shaggy pursuer Frank sud-
denly disappeared in the mouth of a large
cave, with the buffalo following a good
second. Their disappearance lasted but
for a few moments. just as l got oppo-
site the cave the frightened beast
emerged, and with loud below plunged
fot. bo hot
most wonderful. Frank was seated on the
back of the buffalo, with both hands en-
meshed in his shaggy hair, holding on as
for dear life, with blanched face ana eyes
starting from their sockets. The mad
plunges of the beast, accompanied by its
terrific roars, were perfectly frightful.
Passing down the bank, it plunged into
the stream, partly waded and partly
swan across, then, rushing up the bank
on the opposite side, through a clump of
scrub oaks and willows, succeeded in dis
lodging Frank and landing him, bruised
and bleeding, in the underbrush. Making
my way to him as soon as possible, re-
lieved him of his awkward predicament
and assisted him to rise.
GAS soon as he recovered himself suffi-
GENTLY to speak he asked me for some
brandy. Having flask with me, gave
him some, and he revived considerably.
as be renewed his attentions to the
flask.
"'What was it?' asked.
"'Well, you see, after | got separated
from you at the hill l tOOk short cut
through a ravine, thinking to head off the
buffalo and get good shot. / succeeded
in heading him off, but instead of getting
shot at him he turned upon me sudden
ly, and, fearing mis- horns. ran along the
cd Of ha ha MI hn M Of
the cave, dashed in, with the bull close be-
hind me. / had proceeded but few
yards, however, before l saw before me
what seemed to be two balls of fire, and
was greeted with a horrible sound, which
was cross between grOwl and a roar.
1 became suddenly aware that l was fac
ing huge cinnamon BEAR which, to my
excited imagination, was thousand
times more terrible than the pursuing
buffalo. Turning to 60 back, | found my
recent enemy blocking my way of egress,
and in the agony of the moment | chose
the desperate alternative of mounting
upon his back, my only thought being to
escape from the bear. No sooner had l
alighted on the beast than he turned
swiftly and rushed out of the cave fright
ened, if anything. more than / was my
self. You know the rest, i don't want
another such experience, | can tell YOU
camped for the night, returning the next
morning to the cave, where we concealed
ourselves and waited some houls, until
finally the bear came out Of his hiding
place. Seeing us, he made desperate
lunge toward the spot where we stood. l
fired at him from my Winchester, wound
ing him in the breast. The shot seemed
to anger him more, and it was not until l
had nearly emptied the magazine of my
rifle that he finally fell. Several shots
from my brothers. rifle soon finished him.
We drove the wagon as close to the car
cass as possible, loaded it on the vehicle
with some difficulty, and took it to the
nearest town. The bear weighed 575
pounds, and was one of the largest that
has been killed in that portion of the
country"
MIR. Gilpin, who related the story, is
well-known citizen OF Colorado, whose
veracity hitherto has been unquestiOned.