Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-03-10
Bear Versus Mule.


Lehigh timber region, took a team of
mules last Saturday, and began to
draw railroad ties from the woods out
to the main road. Along in the after
noon they let the mules stand in the
wood road, while they went ahead to
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 shifted at the heels of the
old mule. The mule, who appeared
to be sleeping when the bear waddled
up, stuck up his ears at once, raised
his right hind foot like flash, and
gave the bear terrific kick in the
neck. The bear tumbled over in the
snow, partially stunned by the blow,
the sharp calks of the mules shoe
having cut and bruised the flesh di-
rectly behind his right ear,
Durham and Garvey laughed
heartily at the mules peculiar con-
duct, 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 what
had hit him. The mule turned his
head and got glimpse of the bear
just as Durham and Garvey came
down to the sleigh. The sight seemed
to enrage the mule, for he instantly
became restless. He reared up,
plunged forward, and tried to yank
himself away from his mate. Every
motion indicated that he wanted to
be let loose on the bear.
"Say we unharness him an let him
fight the bear if he wants to-" re-
marked Garvey.
"All right" said Durham, "we'll
do it"
Durham then jumped to the mules
head and unstrapped the lines. In
another second the hame strap and
the belly-band were unbuckled, and
the mule slipped from under the har-
ness with nothing on except the head
stall and collar. Then the mule
turned straight around and made for
the bear with all his might. He
lunged 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 for
ward feet, but the bear lodged, and
thus escaped the blow. Then the
bear rushed at the mule, uttering
grunt of anger as he did so, and tried
to strike him in the breast. The
mule, however, showed more an
ger and grit than the bear did, and,
as the latter came toward him, he
struck the bear on the shoulder with
one of his sharp calks, and the bear,
groaning with pain from the blow,
backed away. The mule quickly fol-
lowed up the advantage he had gain
ed, and the bear tumbled backward
over log, making the snow fly. The
mule leaped 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 foreleg between his jaws
and bit il badly.
Dunham and Garvey, who had the
utmost confidence in the mules abili.
ty to conquer the bear, kept at a safe
distance and watched the fight close
ly. While the bear was trying to
crush the bone in the mules leg, the
mule bit the bears ear and made the
blood run. A moment later the mule
succeeded in yanking his leg from the
bears jaws, pranced around in the
snow after he had done so, and ap-
peared to be madder than ever. Then
The two infuriated animals came to-
yether again. AS the mule raised his
front feet to strike, the bear sprang
under his body. knocked his hind legs
from under him, and tumbled him
,ver on his side. The mule scrambled
20 his feet in second, rushed up to
,he bear, and gave him such a tre-
nendous thump on the nose that it
made the bear stagger and roar. He
was not yet ready to retire from the
though, and as he mdde an
,ther effort to strike the mule the
blood spurted from his nostrils. He
stuck his nose into the snow and
groaned loudly, and the mule stood
,f few feet and eyed him steadily.
Presently the bear raised his head
md plunged at his antagonist again.
The mule wheeled suddenly as the
bear approached him, and, turning
his tail toward the bear, kicked him
IN the jaw with one of his hind feet
md keeled him over ON his back.
Before he could get on his feet again
he mule had begun to stamp on him
With his sharp calks. The bear
struggled desperately to get away
rom the terrible blows which his long
Jared antagonist dealt him. but his
Efforts were useless. The bear was r
yetting weaker and weaker, and, !
when Durham and Garvey ran to the
pot and clubbed the mule off, was
Unable to rise and was moaning pite-
,usly. Garvey at once hit the bear
IN the top Of the head with the back
If his axe. and put an end to his suf-