The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-08-04
A BEAR FIGHT.
A Thrilling Adventure of Two
Hunters in Montana.
A Brave Woman ReScues Them
from a Savage Grizzly.

River in the vicinity of Gallatin, Mon
tana, and frequent encounters occur be-
tween them and the old settlers, WIN
are determined to rid tho country of the
obnoxious brutes. One Of the most
desperate and savage fights with enc
Of these animals took place recently,
near The main range of the Rockies.
the details of which were given to q
Cincinnati Enquirer correspondent by
an old pioneer, who he'd jest arrived
from that vicinity.
Wild Charlie, a hsif-bre.d, and a
companion by the name of Howard
johnson were on. fishing en- the banks
of the river, and hsa beer quite sue
cessful, having caught large string
of very fine trout. While preparing
to return to their homes, not very fa-
distant, loud noise from the bushes
behind them attraSsed their attention.
Turning around q thrilling spectacle
met their astonished gaze. 1t was shat
of 6 huge grizzly emerging from the
brush to the opon ground and deter
mind on giving the two men battle.
The bear had the advantage of position,
as the two men were On q narrow no
jecting strip Of low land, with the deep
and rapid stream in front and their
guns at some distance away. Seeing
that the bear vas likely to corner them,
they drew their knives and rushed to-
ward him, hoping tc brighten the griz-
zly until they could get possession of
their shooting weapons and defend
themselves. This action only made the
bear pause for moment, when On he
came with a savage charge, accompanied
by terrific growls that indicated amore
wicked determination.
Rising to his feet he gave "'Wild
Charlie a..frightfu. blow, that cent that
individual clean over the bank ard into
the river, and he vas placed entirely at
q disadvantage &c participate any fur
ther in the affray. johnson succeeded
in passing the beac and rushing to the
the spot where tie guns were lying, but
he had barely time to make oneehot at
the enraged brute before it had t1rned
aand was close upon him.
Then began a desperate struggle, the
bear endeavoring &c grasp Johnson in
its paws and tie latter lodging and
knifng his animal antagonist.
AT this critical moment a savage bull
dog belonging to bone of the men ar
rived on the ground and made Straight
for the bear.
Hardly had the dog reached the bear
before the latter, with one terrific swipe
ofits great massive paw, struck the IN
fortunate canine blow that crushed
him into shapeless mass and sent .his
!lfeiess remains fging through opace,
rods distant. The dog. however, had
served 20 divert the bears attention
long enough for johnson to again secure
his gun, and bringing the weapon into
position, he gave tho animal another
shot.
The second shot, though it staggered
TIE animal, yet only enraged him tie
mo1e. andm again rushed at the hunter
with the most horrible fury. The gun
wac knocked from the hunters hands
In Swinklils, and the flesh torn from
MS r2Sht arm so that it hung in shreds.
A moment later the bear caught the
man and threw him to the ground, and |,
was over his PROSTATE form in an il
slant, and aboat inflicting c horrible
wound, when new rescue, appeared
orS;he scene.
Fortunately, Jotnson's home was not
lar Distant and his wife, who lie one of
the oravess of western women, and an
excellent hGntress, had heard the shout,
ana suspected that come harm might
nave beailea her husband. So she took
lie spare guu in the cabin aad followed
'he bulldog toward tn, spot from which
Inc noise proceeded, aad at the very il
slant that she ernerged from the bushes
10 LIE open ground, she saw the bear
uash her husband to the earth. Draw
ing the gun quickly to her shoulder she
TOOK aim and fired, giving the grizzly
= hard shot, but failing to kill
MIN. Leaving the man, the bear turncd
MS attention to the woman, and rushed
at her terccly. Standing her ground '
oravely and reloadinp her Winchester ,