Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-11-22
PluCKY WOMEN.


of Bears.
At Bat Simpsons place, some three
miles from here and about half-mie
from the river swamp, says a Green
Pond fFla.) letter to the s. Louis
Globe Democrat. the women folks had
an exciting contest with bears few
days ago Mr.. Simpson takes great
pride in his hogs and bias some very
fine ones. The pen il near the house
and the fence which surrounds it is
very strong, being built Of heavy rails
strongly braced, and seven or eight
feet nigh. lie has had visits from
bears before, but thought that such a
fence would bother them not little.
The men folks were off about q half
mile from the house at work, and the
females, Mrs Simpson and her two
grown-up daughters, were washing at
small stream that runs near the
house. Abont 10 o'clock they heard n
great uproar mt the pig pen, where at
that time they had some ten p0rkcrs
fattening.. The hogs were squealing
in wild alarm, while above all could
be heard the deep grunts that too
plainly told who the intruders were.
The plucky women, however, didn't
intend to let their prize pOrkers go
without q struggle. Mrs. Simpson ran
up to the house, and Selling the tin
horn blew loud blast, which she knew
would bring up the men in a hurry
The two girls and their mother then
seized big brands Of pine knots from
under their wash-boiers and ran out
back Of the barn where the pigs were,
not counting their own danger at all.
AS they rushed around the corner Of
the barn the loud whiffs and growls Of
the bears gave them an idea of what
was before them. Climbing up the
fence into the pen were two big, gaunt,
black fellows, while younger one was
sitting down outside rs if on the watch.
The girls were not daunted by the
savage growing and made for tho
and shouting loudly. The bear stood
his ground till they got 50 close that
the flames flashed in his face. when he
turned suddenly and ran of with a
savage growl. He stopped after he
had gone a dozen rods and licked his
wounds, sual'ling sayagely all the time
Running up to the other two bears on
the fence, they thrust their torches
close to the animals launches, result
ing in their flesh being badly burned.
With roars of rage and pain the two
scrambled forward and, not taking
pains to secure a safe foothing, both
fell headlong into the pen. As the
bears landed in their quarters, the hogs
all fled in the widest alarm, going
through a small hole that led under the
barn.
The imprisoned animals Just then
began to get mad. They rushcdarOund
the inclosurc and then dashed up the
inside of the pen, climbing with "a
rapidity that showed they meant bust
ness. While Mrs. Simpson ran to the
house for an aX, the two girls ran up
to the fence, and as the animals got
their heads over the top rail, flashed
their torches in their faces, burning
and scorching them terribly. They
couldn't stand this and fell backward
with savage roars.
The young cub now became brave
all at once and advanced upon the girls
growing aud snarling as ne came.
One of the sisters ran toward him and
at the same time the two trapped bears
made q desperate attempt to regain
their liberty. With one of the guards
absent it seemed as if one of them
would surely escape The girl met
one of them rs his savage face appear
ed over the rail with her effective
torch, and he again dropped back
ward. His plucky opponent then saw
TO her dismay that the other one was
apt to get out, rs he was nearly over
and being ON the opposite side of the
pen she could not get around there in
time. But to her relief her mother at
this moment came running around the
corner with an uplifted AK in hand.
Taking in the situation at a glance she
rushed up in front of the escaping
brain and delivered a blow at his hind
paw, cutting it off. Mrs. Simpson up
lifted her AK, took deliberate aim aud
brought down the sharp blade square
on the BEARS head. With snarl Of
pain he fell back into the pen. The
young cub i'm the meantime retreated
before the blazing pine-knot, though
the roar of its mates had melted its
anger to the highest point. While one
of the woman kept it at bay the other
two guarded the imprisoned animals.
Finally the men arrived and, hastily
securing their WincheStcrs, made short
work OF the bears The women are
all greatly praised for their pluc6y