The Osceola times. [volume] (Osceola, Ark.) 1870-current, 1888-07-14
"THE BEAR SLAYER"
ccount of Terrific Battle. In q
Mountain Gulch.

..d byU His Faithful Dog. He Keeps an
Army of Bears at Bay, and Escapes
After Staying seven siiyer-Tips.
Probably the greatest single-handed
mr. combat yet on record is the one en-
ced in and won by one Michael Wal
pe. miner Of this county, at Water
Inyon, in the Magdalena mountain,
E last fall. Water Canyon is one of
most beautiful Of all the numerous
tw Mexican canyons, and during the
" summer months affords very
tasant resort for tourists; but in the
and winter il is given over to the
session Of the many Nimrods who
constantly in search Of a good days
brit in the way of bagging game.
ring the latter-named period ii fairly
ounds with such small game as rab-
/, quail, grouse, sage hens, wild tur-
h, mountain squirrel. etc, and such
ge game rs bear, antelope and deer,
say nothing OF the wild beasts that
10 infest il, such as mountain lions,
nx, wildcats, coyotes and the like. a
tter place than Water Canyon, in
h, for Il good days hunting would be
rd to find, But one thing it would be
III to consider before undertaking
BIB venture is that one must not only
well prepared in the way Of arms,
bmunition, etc. for such "A hunt, but
build never go alone. The following
venture of Mr.. Wallace will probably
hyince the reader Of the great hazard
VI risks likely to be encountered by
|ch Undertaking:
wallace has lived in Water Canyon
humber Of years, but up TO last fall
bd not gained much distinction as
BAR hunter. though as a marksman
9th a rifle he had the reputation Of
ping dead shot, but he never seemed
D take any interest in bear hunting.
oweyer, one morning last November,
Wallace awakened to find that "A heavy
pow had fallen during the night, and
BON going out doors he noticed numer-
b. bear tracks in the snow. He de-
|ded to spend the day hunting for
Paggy-haired bruin; so after breakfast
|e secured a companion to accompany
|lm, girded on n belt of cartridges.
brew his trusty Winchester over his
Boulder, called his dog and started
fn, closely following the bear tracks
/ h;ch led up the canyon. After they
Dad proceeded about two miles the bear
racks became somewhat scattering, so
Wallace thought that the best plan to
'ursue would be FOR himself and COM
'anion to separate, which they did.
Wallace, after leaving his companion,
ollowed the direction as the tracks in
Heated, taken by the greater number OF
'ears, taking, Of course, his canine
Nth him. He had proceeded only a
mort distance when his eye fell upon
wo large dlver-tip bears, which were
ust disappearing over small hill.
lie FASTENED TO the top Of the hill
'ver which he had seen the bears dis
ppear approaching the point cautious
y bringing. as he did so, his rife into
'osition, expecting TO obtain good
not al the bears without being seen
llmselt When he reached the top of
ne hill the bears were just crossing the
mall gulch at the lower end OF the OPP
'oslte side, and not more than forty
ards away. Drawing his rife TO his
houlder he took good aim at the near
81 bear and fired His aim proved
rue with loud howl of pain the bear
oiled over in the snow, dead. He then
use TO his feet and ran down the hill,
Expecting to kill the other bear with
ne next shot; but imagine his surprise
nu fearful establishment when, upon
oihg so, he perceived that the gulch
vas fairly lined with bears ~ all
iues' lie realized his danger too late
TURN and flee, for already the Pears
we're closing in behind him, in frokt of
iiin and all around him.
All there was now to do was 10 fight
the bitter end--to die slaugEtTing
ears Escapep There was none, He
'au forfeited all chances Of escapa when
le mad rushed blindly-yes, mS.ly-
mo the bears midst. No, there was
o.hlhg now but to do or die. Es did
W. however, calculate to die wits1,ut a.
uuggle, and, il possible, even ', es-
ape The first bear that showe' ag-
reSsiVe signs he sent rolling II the
now with loud yell, with buliAt in
y brain. This was the opening - the
s He ,hen commenccd FIRING
,el' and left pressing his way ia The
meantime as best be could through
ny opening between the bears that
lish' present itself. He hoped that
= companion might be attracted by
a .s sound of the shooting toward Dim
n ~ render him some assistance, but his
" W. was never realized. His conf an
y ~ n, neord no sound of gun at all II
4. u" Ie paid no attention TO it. But
sog-a large canine of the New
!. . proved its fidelity to
,,.. MASTER as well as is courage. BY
s'oeking every bear that peared it,