Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-04-12
a Good Bear Story.

Parkeroburg Cor. Chicago Tribuns.
Rev. DR.. Webb, a minister Of the
Baptist faith, who is well known In
the interior counties. had a rough
time of it not very long ago while trav.
cling through the woods. The section
OF county to which his duties call him
70 sparsely settled, and is full OF game
and bears, wildcats and panthers.
The preacher had repeatedly been ad-
vised TO carry a revolver or gun, but
never went armed with anything more
formidable than pocket.knite until
after his resent encounter,
On a recent trip over the mountains
the preacher was quietly walking
along the top of ridge which was
thickly covered with heavy timber.
when he was rudely interrupted by a
pig-like grant directly in front of him.
Raising his eyes, expecting TO see q
stay hog, he found himself face to
face with large bear, whose snapp-
ing little eyes betrayed an intention
to discuss the right OF the way with
the reverend gentleman. Mr.. Webb
threw up his hands and shouted at
BruIn and advanced in threatening
manner, expecting to see the bear am.
Bile away in fright. But the unorthe-
dox brute didn't run. on the contrary,
he reared mp on his hind legs and ad-
vanced toward the minister in q
threatening manner, with mouth open
and his black paws stretched out
ready to embrace his opponent in a
warm, if not affectionate, manner.
The preacher lodged behind large
oak tree and drew his pocket-knife.
Just as the bear reached the tree
the doctor lodged around to the other
err side but was quickly followed By
the bear. The subsequent proceed.
ing interested the doctor to
such an extent that he forgoC the text
for the next Sundays sermon on
which hs had been Illuminating. Round
and round they scurried; sometimes
the bear would get close enough to
reach the doctors coat sleeve or skirt,
on which occasion he would eliminate
q portion OF the doctor apparel, and
the doctor would return the compli-
ment by plunging the knife. blade into
the bears paw, neck or npse. In
short time the doctor was most com.
pletely stripped of coat sleeves and
skirt, and had number of severe
scratches on his arms and body,
while the bear had received dozen
or so of cuts and stabs from the
preachers knife.
1t didn't take many minutes OF this
exercise to convince the preacher that
he was not an adept in killing bears,
and he concluded to climb q tree.
By lucky stroke he struck
his knife into the eye Of
the brute, which lay down and
whined pitifully. Taking advantage
OF the opportunity, Webb ran to the
nearest tree with low-lying branches
and scrambled up, but not too soon.
for the bear was on his feet and after
him before he reached safe limb. A
bear is an excellent climber, and in a
trice was in the tire, with Webb, who
began to crawl further out on the
limb. The bear followed him up until
he was within four of FIVE feet of Webb,
when the limb began to settletowards
the ground. Bruin hesitated mo.
ment, and then carefully advanced
until he was within reach OF Webb's
arm, when the latter plunged for the
bears sound eye and succeeded in
slunging his knife in the brute's head.
The bear lost his balance and fell to
the ground. The limb, which had
been thus bent at an angle OF forty
degrees by the combined weight OF
preacher and the bear, suddenly few
back to its natural position, throw.
ing the preacher into the air. His de-
scent was more rapid than graceful,
and he landed almost on top OF the
bear, which was by this time getting
upon his feet. Webb was not hurt by
the fall, and before the bear could get
his sound eye in proper bearing Webb
stabbed him in the neck and severed
the jugular vein. In another moment
Bruin was dead at the preachers feet.