Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-05-22

Desperate Combat in q Penn
sylvania Forest.
The Mule Uses His Heels Unon Bruin
With Fatal Precision

" tHe -SSN 1ofh sun says. 1ht edFF
end Eph runham, brawny woodchop1ers
of the upper Lcf7gh timber region, took
a team OF mules last Saturday -,fd fegan~l
to draw railroad ties from the woods o;.s
to the main road. Along in the after
noon they let the mules stand in the
wooa road, while they went ahe,.t - cut
down lot of saplings Presently they
saw black bear tramping through the
snow IN the rear of the sleigh When
the bear reached the sleigh he turned TO
the right, walked past it, and smiled at
the heels Of the o.d mule. the mule
who appeared to be sleeping when the
beat 'Fadfled up; stuck up his ears at once,
raised his right hind foot 'Fike afash; and
gave the bear terrible kick IN The neck.
The bear tumbled over in the snow par
TALLY stunned by the blow, the sharp
calks Of the mules shoe having cut and
bruised the flesh directly behind the ear.
Dnnham and Garvcy laughed heartily
at the mules peculiar conduct, for he
had always been very docile animal,
and ran down to the team at once.
Meantime the bear had recovered from
the kick and got on his feet again, and
was looking around to see where he was
and to find out what had hit him. The
mule turned his head and got glimpse
of the bear just as Durham land Garvey
came down to the sleigh. The sight
seemed to enrage the mule, for he instant
ly became restless. He reared up, plung-
ed forward, and tried to yank himself
away from his mate. Every motion indi-
Gated that he wanted t, be let loose on
the bear.
HSay we onharncss him an let him
fight the bear if he wants to-" remarked
Garvcy.
''Al right" said Durham; "wc'll do
it."
Durham then jumped to the mules
head and unsnapped the lines. In an
other second the hame strap and the bel
! lyband were unbucklcd, and the mule
slipped from under the harness with Moth
ing on except the headstall and collar.
Then the mule turned straight around
and made for the bear with all his might.
He Hinged forward with so much force
and speed that he went right over the
bears back before he stopped. The bear
did not attempt to get away, but stood
upon his launches and was ready to fight
as soon as the mule turned upon him.
The mule struck at the bear savagely
with both forward feet, but the bear
lodged and thus escaped the blow. Then
the bear rushed at the mule, uttcring a
grlnt of anger as he did so, and tried to
strike him in the breast. The mtic. how
ever, showed moro anger and grit than
the bear did, and, as the latter came to-
ward him, he struck the bear on the
shoulder with one of his sharp calke and
the bear groaning with pain from the
blow, backed away. The mule quickly
followed up the advantage he had gained,
and the bear tumbcd backward over a
log, making the snow fly. The mule
leapcd over the log and struck the bear
on the back with both fore feet before he
had time to get up, but he paid dearly
for it, for the bear twisted his head
around and got the mules right forclca
between his jaws and bit it badly
Durham and Garvcy, vino had the ut
most confidence in the mules ability t.
conqucrithe bear, kept at p safe distance
and watched the fight closely. Will,
the bear was trying to crush the bone il
the naulcAlcg. the mnle bit the bears "a
and made tfe blood run \ moment
later the mule succeeded in yanking Iii
leg from the bears jaws. pranced aroune
in the snow after he had done 80, and ap
peared 10 be maldcr than ever. Thcl
the two infuriated animals came tocethe
again. As the mule raised his front fee
to strike, the bear Sp-ang under his body
knocked his hind legs from under him
and tunbici him over on his side. Til
mule scrambled 10 his feet in IA second
rushed up 10 the bear, and gave him sue
tremendous thump on the nose that
made tho bear starger and roar. lie wa
not yet ready 70 retire from the conflict
though. and a. he made another effort I
/ strike the mule the blood spnrttd fror
his nostrils. He stuck his nose into til
snow and groaaed loudly, snd the mal
stood of fcg feet and eyed him steadil,
. Presently the bear raised his head an
plunged at his antagonist again Tt
! mule wheeled suddenly as the b.:
approached him, and, turning his IA
? toward the bear, kicked him in the ia
: with one Of his hind fee, and kieled hi
over on his back Before he could e
on his feet again the mule had begun
Y stamp on him with his sharp caiks. II