Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-21


to give them away, but nobody would have
them, although half the people in this dis
trict had threatened to shoot them This
was the condition Of things when Smiley
rode up to Withers' house, where, as mat
ter Of course, it being a general idle time.
the conversation turned upon the subject OF
something in the way Of sport. Suddenly
thought struck Smiley.
'Say, Bill, +" said he, ''Il1 tell you what I'll
do. will bet you my saddle-horse against
your roam mare that have three billy goats
which can lick that bar Of yourn."
: "Great thunderi' said old Bill, 'srll take
that bet. know yer burned goats kant
keep the flies off'n that bar, but it'll be fun
for the boys. When'll the fight KUN orr'
i LESS see," said Smiley. Unexpectedly.
,"It'n take, maybe, week to ketch them
burned goats and build pen and get the
news to the nabors-this is Tuesday, say
next Thursday week. How'll that suit"
It was agreed that Thursday of the fol-
lowing week should be the time. and the
place was fixed on q spot on Withers' farm,
as 1t was supposed there would be more
trouble in getting the bear than the goats to
che ground.
During the week Smiley and Withers had
notified the neiRhbors, who set to with a
will. The goats were trapped, the only way
to get them, and q big rail pen, about seventy
When the morning Of the day set began
the whole country was there, to the number
of over one hundred, among whom were q
dozen women and twice as many half grown
boys. The goats, tremendous fellows, with
terrible horns and worse tempers, were
brought to the ground tied by the feet and
hauled in q wagon. They were lifted out
and placed in q small pen adjoining the
fighting arena, when their lashings were
cut loose and their captors took to the fence
out Of harms reach. The animals were to
be left in their pen until after dinner, by
which time it was believed that their circu-
lation would be fully restored and their
stinened limbs again return to their nat
ural elasticity. The bear was left in the pen,
and as he had had nothing to eat since the
morning before he was in q ferocious humor
Old Withers and the crowd collected in
the yard in front Of the house and lay in the
shade, talking and joking and eating their
lunch, which they washed down with an oc-
casional touch Of the contents of suspicious
looking jugs. About one o'clock prepare
tons were made for the fight. A long pole
about twenty feet in length, with q slip
moose Of chain in the center, was brought
out. The moose was let down between the
cracks In the bears pen, where, after con-
siderable trouble, 1t was at last caught
about his neck. The roof OF the pen and
one end were then torn out, and four strong
men at each end Of the pole dragged and
pulled the bear to the center Of the pit
where he was firmly fastened to q chain
about thirty feet long, which in turn was
fastened to stake in tho center Of the
arena, after which the moose was slackened
and pulled over his head. Every thing now
being ready, the bars of the separating pens
w6fe pulled out The bear, Is was expected,
was In . terrible rage, and tore about the
pen, trying in vain to break his chain and
get at the mountaineers. The goats were
also in an exasperated state Of mind, and in
at condition to fight at the drop Of hat
As soon as the bars were let down the
goats trotted through into the pen, but
upon seeing the bear they hesitsted,
wnistled and stamped their feet, while the
hair on their backs rose stir and straight.
Meanwhile the bear had got sight Of his en-
emies, and as he was hungry he made
straight for them the full length Of his
cham.
This open challenge for fight was not to
be ignored. One old fellow, the patriarch,
no doubt, lowered his head and made q
bound, and before the bear knew what was
coming he got blow In the stomach which
knocked him fat on his back. The other
two were not to be behind, and they let him
have it, one on the rump and the other no
the side. The hard raps he had received
stirred the BEARS temper to it, depths, and
he rose to his feet just - one Of the goats q
second time made run at him. Just as
the billy got within reach bruin let fly his
paw and Knocked the goat At least twenty
feet away. but he was not quick enough to
avoid the second goat. which gave hum a
jam between the ribs, making him 9runt
and snarl The third one let him have 1T in
the side, but didn't get away in time, As he
received wipe from the big black paw
which sent him head over heels. By this
time No. had gained his feet, and with q
blink and wink at Il he went. striking the
bear squarely between the forelegs, when
over went both bear and goat. the latter