Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-04

foe, should the latter still exhibit any
signs of life As Clark lay almost un-
conscious. the huge beast grabbed him
by the side, and. after giving him q
good shaking, threw him down and
stood over his body growing savage
ly. At this spectacle Clark's dog be-
came enraged, and rushed to the res
cue of his master, swapping at the
bear furiously.
The bears anger increased. and he
sprang after the dog, which led him
a chase up the bank. when the bear
discovered fresh enemies. The Clark
house was not far distant and the re-
naming members of the family had
heard the fight from the beginning.
and hurried to the sons rescue. Old
Mr.. Clark had just returned from tax.
ing a ride, and with his gun held aloft
he came flying on horseback. bare
headed and with his long hair stream
ing in the wind, determined to re-
venge the death of his son, whom he
felt sure must be killed. The rest of
the family sratched up whatever
weapons they could find and came rum
ming on foot, the women having clubs
or butcher-knives. The bear, seeing
at a glance that he was largely out
numbered. began to shuttle OF at a
good pace toward the high mount
aims. though not at q gait that
indicated that he was much alarmed
for his safety. Mr.. Clark now urged
his pony at the top of its speed. and
passing by the grizzly turned and gave
the latter a shot at, perhaps, three
rods distant. This aroused the grizzly
to its utmost fury. And it rushed to-
ward the old hunter like very demon,
and had not Clark's pony quickly
jumped aside he must have swept both
horse and rider to instant destruction.
The old pioneer was perfectly thunder
struck at the horrid appearance of the
grizzly, as he came flying through the
air with outstretched paws and open
mouth, the very picture of terror it.
self. and he cleared that bar" jumped
over the ground not less than twenty
feet in the single jump. 1t dazed the
old hunter 50 that for a long time he
could not quit talking about the
'bar's" big jump. Disappointed at
not catching its enemies the grizzly
and made second charge.
but man and horse luckily got out of
his reach.
Two more of Clark's sons had by
this time come up and fired at the
grizzly from behind some bushes. He
was badly wounded. but full of wrath,
and the two young men had an excit-
ing time ''hustllng" among the bushes
to keep themselves out of his reach,
for, almost blind with rage, he dashed
over every obstacle in his way in the
most reckless manner. Finally he
discovered one of the sons at a short
distance and made desperate rush
toward him. There was steep bluff |
near at hand, at the foot of which lay
huge piles of powders. After drop.
ping his gun the young man ran with |
the speed of deer, expecting to reach
a clump of bushes that stood at the |
edge OF the brink. The grizzly gained
on him every moment, but the young
man sprang over some vines and was |
behind the bushes in twinkling. But
the grizzly was in such haste to
catch his foe that he either could not
check his speed or else trlpped, and
the next moment was seen tum bling |
through the air like an immense ball
straight for the rocks at the bottom OF
the precipice, hundred feet below.
As he struck with a heavy thud
roar rent the atmosphere, for
the very life was almost crushed out OF
him, and he was then at the mercy OF
the Clark family. who Immediately
him. The son. who was sc
badly injured in the beginning of the
fight, was found with several ribs
broken and was severely crushed and i
bitten. .'But. stranger" said old Mr..
Clark. pointing to the huge skin that
nearly covered one side of a good.
sized room. ''that thar bar come
nj bein' fyin' grizzly. and
he wuz the grittiest varmint that ever
tramped roun' these ere mountings."
Cincinnati Enquirer.
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