Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-09-20
BIG BUTTERFLY WHALE.
"reminiscences Of a Giant Strong
S. Man of the Sierras.
His Great Feats of Strength Capturing
- Cub and Dispstching a Fero-
- cious She Bear-Death His
Only Conqueror.

cfous She Bear-Death HIS
Only Conqueror.
Asberry Wills, says the Fresno (Cal)
Expositor, has been dead dozen years, but
bis phenomenal strength, coupled with his
daring exploits in the SIerras, are fresh in
the minds Of pioneers. Asberry was born
in Mariposa County, and at the age Of sew
enteen years stood six feet and four inches
high in his stocking feet, and was at once
entitled to and received the sobriquet of
the Butterfly Whale" The "Whale" was
unusually fond Of explorations among the
rugged, snow-clad peaks Of the jungled
mountains. He was man Of fine physique,
proportionately built, an eagle eye and
clear-cut American profile. His hair and
beard were as black as the ravens beak, and
he always wore luxuriant growth Of both;
his beard, at twenty-three, reached his
well-flled hunting belt, and / have often
seen him, says the corresponden tie on
his sombrero with his mustache. He had a
sparkle Of humor about him, and his COM
manding person, bold, daring and aggres-
sive makeup made him a general favorite
in camp.
He, like other phenomenal men, had his
peculiarities. sold ld-Hell-in-the-Brush" and
"HeartDeep" were ever his companions in
camp and on trail. sold d-Hell-in-the- Brush"
was magnificent London twist, rife bore
gun which exactly chambered an ounce
ball. 1t was an old-fashioned muzzle-loader,
weighing eighteen pounds, but it never
went back on its credentials, as indicated
by its name, when in the hands of the
Whale. "Heart-Deep'' was a tremendous
steel two-edged dirk weighing eleven
pounds, which the Whale could WELD as
easily as l pen-knife. These two weap-
ons which he had thus grimly christened
were his constant companions while travers-
ing the mountain ranges from Mineral
King TO Mount Lyell.
Many and thrilling were the daring en-
counters which could be related of him dur
ing his twelve years OF mountaineer life in
Fresno County
On one occasion, while camped at a
meadow on the south fork Of Kings river,
he found it necessary to fence off a pasture
for his mustangs. He and his companion
were telling trees for that purpose when,
by some miscalculation, a tree two feet in
diameter fell on his companion, crushing
him TO the earth. But the Whale was equal
to the emergency. Throwing his giant
strength into his arms he lifted the leaden
trunk from off the PROSTATE form of his un-
fortunate friend. HIS friend died from the
injury, but his prompt action in removing
the tree allayed much Of his pain, and gave
those who knew the Whale an example of
his muscular strength, which won the
plaudits and praise Of the people through
out the sparsely settled country.
The Whales lifting weight was nine times
his own, or 1,S00 pounds AT another time he
displayed even greater strength and won
derful presence Of mind. He and Frank
Lewis were on the middle fork of Kings
river prospecting for gold and silver.
One evening about dusk, when nearing
camp, the Whale espied cub bear fully six
months old and weighing upward of two
hundred pounds. The cub was asleep on
top of slanting bowlder. Wills determined
at once TO capture the beautiful specimen
alive.
"Better give him a little lead morphine
and burn q little saltpeter behind it, re-
marked Frank, ITO make him sleep sounder."
But the Whale wouldn't listen TO it. Frank
got on the pinnacle Of a neIghboring tree,
so, as he said, he could see just how Wills
caught hold of the cub. Wills grabbed the
animal by both hind feet and, startled thus
from its lair, the Whale was soon convinced
that he had large and powerful brute to
contend with. The cub set up a hideous
yelling, and, showing fight, summoned its
young strength perhaps for the first time to
cope with its new-found foe. The bowlder
was slanung and slick, making footing un-
sure, and down its declivitous side rolled
man and bear. A thick copse of yerba
buena and fern received the mysterious
couple into its wild retreat When a foot
ing was reached Wills was on top, but the
desperate animal by its cries had warned
the ferocious mother of its peril. Frank
from his perch attempted TO pour hot lead
into the approaching beast, now not more
than fifty yards away and nearing the spot
twenty feet at bound.
The Whale took in the situation. II took
both hands to overpower the cub; what was
he TO 0ol There was no time to theorlze.
Swinging the cub as a boy would cat, he
struck the mother full in the mouth with
the cubs head. The bear fell stunned to
earth and the cub slipped from the W hale's
grasp bleeding and helpless. Quicker Than
you could even think the circumstance in
trusty heart deep had done his
work. The cub and mother had met the
enemy aud they were his'n.
Frank cautiously descended from the upper |
tier OF the wild amphitheater, and spent the
OF the night in trying to find the /
place in the animals anatomy that the lead
en- messenger from the rifle had penetrated /
On its mission of death but he found only
wide, deep cash through which eleven |
pounds of steel, obeying the influence OF |
giants muscle, had served notice OF eject |
nent upon the chain Of life.
The Whale met with but one enemy 10
whom he succumbed. In the spring of ~ /
fever seized hIs powerful frame,
ais mind departed, and soon the reaper
wrapped his thick, mysterious mantle Of
sternity about him and the Whale was no
more. On the left bank of the great Kings
river canyon, meath few feet OF granite soil
md the refreshing shade Of a widespread
ny juniper, wrapped in his hunting garb,
inwept, uncofiined aud unsung, lies the
zero OF Mariposa, and above his grave Is
his simple inscription; THE Whale"
The Nature of Fogs.
In an interesting letter 10 Science Ii, A.
iazen, Of Washington, gives some inter