Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-04
SURPRISED A GRIZZLY.
A Reckless Montana Hunters Dan.
gerous Mistake.
He Attacked the Boar and 1t Required
tho Utmost Exerti0ns Of tho Whole
Family, Including tho Dog,
to save Him.

Family. Including tho Dog.
to Save Him.
Not more than twenty-five miles
from Gallatin City. M. T.. near the
Missouri river. and in one OF the
most sequestered localities to be found
in the whole country. accidentally
ran across an ''old-timer" named
Clark. who went there some time
away back in the sixties. and there he
has stayed and raised family of
half-dozen or more sons and daugh-
ters, who are so large that they really
seem to belong to some giant tribe.
for not a single one of them weighs
less than two hundred pounds, and
they look every inch as healthy as
their weight indicates. This pioneer
and his family have been SO long shut
off from civilization that they have
acquired sort of mountaineer dialect
peculiar to themselves, and when
they first gaze upon you you almost
imagine that their fierceness of looks
somewhat resembles in aspect that
very much dreaded monster of the
Western wilds-the grizzly.
On a closer acquaintance. however,
you soon discovered that the fierceness
of looks soon gave way to the warm
est kindness, for their very heart
strings freely 60 cut to make the
stranger who may chance to be their
guest comfortable and happy. and
with the wearing away of the back
wardness and mOdesty they seem to
be among the cleverest people on the
globe.
Around their home is yet to be
found plenty of game. and hunting is
a favorite pastime with the Clarks. as
one readily observes the walls of their
rustic dwelling covered with the skins
OF the bear, mountain lion, deer and
many other animals.
IN fact, these Nimrods obtain quite
a revenue from the sale of furs, and in
general don't mind attacking any kind
of ''varmint" that comes in their
way. This, of course, has caused
them to have many ferocious and
hand-to-hand encounters. As likewise
they have had many of the narrowest
escapes from death by the rage of ami
Dnals on record.
One would naturally suppose that
these hunters. having destroyed so
many wild animals, could scarcely be
expected to feel any way timid at the
presence of beasts. but on questioning
the old pioneer l found him exceeding
ly afraid of grizzlies. Them are
pesky critters; fife and fife to beat all
natur," exclaimed he. Il wud a soon
be chucked 'mong a hull passed. of
wolves and expect to wallop my way
as to tackle a mad grizzly 'thout
thinkin' O. gettin' chawed up. Arler
tina ar shot to pieces thar is more fife
In one to the squar inch than in all the
wolves on airth piled together" /
did not so much wonder at his express
sions afterward. for at the very time
we were conversing there lay his SEC
ond son in bedroom near by, badly
mangled in an encounter with one of
the grizzlies only two days previous.
1t was one of the most exciting ad-
ventures with bear we ever heard of,
and happened in this wise: The son
had taken his firearms and was scout
ing along on the side of the table-land
adjoining the premises. when suddenly
he heard his dog give tongue in very
peculiar manner only q few rods in
front of him. Thinking that it might
be nothing more than some small ami
NAL he endeavored to coax the dog
away. believing that the barking Of
the latter would brighten away game
of more Importance. Tho dog. how
ever. stuck to the bushes. and the SON
was induced to attempt an exploration.
Looking from the outside the bushes
were of such dense growth rs to entire
iy conceal every thing within, 30 Clark,
noticing sort Of pathway leading
into the interior. with his gun in hand.
stopped down and began to crawl to-
ward the center of the thicket Scarce
Ay had he entered the bushes
before an ugly snort followed
1900 8AVWAs anu S00u y
huge grizzly came tearing toward
Clark. mad with rage. because he had
been disturbed in his winter retreat
Clark had Just time to hurriedly
-crawfish out Of the thicket and half
raise his gun to his shoulder before
the bear sprung from the thiclse and
stood erect in front Of the hunter, SO
close to the latter that although he
fired. it was without taking aim. and
tho bullet only slightly wounded the
animal In tho jaw. The next moment
u blow from the grizzly's hugo paw
knocked Clark. gun and all. over .
steep bank at least fifteen feet distant
among some shrubs end gravel With
0pen jaws. tho grissly sprang after
hin, = II intending 70 finish - his