The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-08
A Hot Fight With Bears.

A correspondent of the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat, writing from Green
Pond, Fla, gives an interesting &C
count of a fight three women had
with three bears:
At Bat Simpsons sons place, some
three miles from here, and about a
half mile from the river swamp, the
women folks had an exciting contest
with bears afew days ago. Mr.. Simp-
son takes great pride in his hogs,
and has some very fine ones. The
pen is near the house, and the fence
which surrounds it is very strong,
being built of heavy rails strongly
braced, and seven or eight feet high.
He has had visits from bears before,
but thought that such fence would
! bother them not a little.
The men folks were off about a half
mile from thehouse, at work, and the
females, Mrs. Simpson and her two
grown-up daughters, were washing
at a small stream that runs near the
house. About 10 o'clock they heard
a great uproar at the pig pen, where
at that time they had some ten por-
kers fattening. The hogs were
squealing in wild alarm, while above
all could be heard the deep grunts
that too plainly told who the intru.
ders were The plucky women, how.
ever, didn't intend to let their prize
porkers go without a struggle. Mrs.
Simpson ran up to the house, and
Selling the tin horn blew a loud whistle
which she knew would bring up the
men in a hurry. The two girls and
their mother then seized big brands
of pine knot sfrom under their wash
boilers and ran out back of the barn
where the pigs were, not counting their
own danger at all. As they rushel
around the corner of the barn
the loud whifs 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
a younger one was sitting down
outside as if on the watch. The girls
were not daunted by the savage
growing, and made for the young
one, waving their fire-brands and
shouting loudly. The bear stood
his ground till they got so close that
the flames flashed in his face, when
he turned suddenly and ran off with
a savage growl. He stopped after
he had gone q dozen rods and licked
his wounds, snarling savagely all the
time. Running up to the other two
bears on the fence, they thrust their
torches close to the animals haun-
ches, resulting in their flesh being
burned. With roars of rage and
pain the two scrambled forward, and
not taking pains to secure safe
footing, 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 rushed
around the Enclosure, and then
dashed up the inside ofthepen, climb
ing with rapidity that showed they
meant business. While Mrs. Simp-
son ran to the house for an ak, 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 and snarling as he
came. One of the sisters ran toward
him, and at the same time the two
trapped bears made a desperate at
tempt 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 as his saw
age face appeared over the rail with
her effective torch, and he again
dropped backward. His plucky op-
ponent then saw to her dismay that
the other one was apt to get out, as
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 glance
she rushed up in front of the escap-
ing bruin and delivered a blow at his
hind paw, cutting it off. Mrs. Simp-
son uplifted her ak, took deliberate
aim and brought down the sharp
blade square on the bears head.
With snarl of pain he fell back into
the pen. The youngcub, in the mean
time, retreated before the blazing
pine knot, though the roar of it's
mates had melted its anger to the
highest point. While one of the
women kept it at bay, the other two
guarded the imprisoned animals.
Finally the men arrived, and, hasti-
ly securing their Winchesters, made
short work OF the bears. The women
are all grately praised for their plucky
fight.