The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-06-04
cRlzzi Y AND BlsoNs FIGHT.
1t Was a Battle to the Death, and There
Was No Survivor.


stalwart Indian, who. having been |
among the French half-breeds a good |
deal, had received from them the French |
name of Baptiste. He told us the story |
as we were huddled round u campfire
in the dense forest on the eastern side |
of Lake Winnipeg, from which we
and our dogs had been driven by a
bitter, binding, blizzard storm. He
said:
''One summer, long ago, was with
a large party of Indians. We were
making a long journey over the rolling
prairies, from one place to another.
That we might have plenty of meat to
eat, two of us were appointed to keep
about two days journey ahead of the
company to hunt and to kill all the
game we could.
The reason why we kept so far
apart was because we had dogs and
babies and women in our party, and
you know they will all make much
noise, so they would scare the animals
far away.
''Well, we two hunters kept well
ahead. Some days we had good luck
and killed great deal, and then other
days we did not kill much. What we
got we cached, so that the party could
easily find it by the sign we gave
them when they came along. We al
WAYS put it near the trail for them.
Then we would push on. looking for
more.
I'm the rolling prairies the hills are
| like the great waves of the sea, only
some of the hills are about 4 mile apart
with the valleys between, When we
were coming to the top of one of these
swells, or hills, we would creep up very
carefully in the long grass and look
over down in the valley on the other
side. Sometimes we could see game to
shoot and often there was nothing at
all. When there was no sign of any
thing worth stopping to shoot, as we
were after big game, having many
mouths to feed, we would hurry across
to the next hilltop and carefully look
over into the next valley.
"One day as we had passed several
valleys and had seen nothing that was
worth our stopping to shoot, we came
to the top of pretty large hill, and
cautiously looked over. There was a
sight that we shall never forget.
Fright down before us, within gun
shot, was a very large grizzly bear and
two big buffalo bulls. Well for US the
wind was blowing from them to Us
They were very 3.ngry-looking and wert
preparing for big fight. The buifaloe:
seemed to know that the bear was al
ugly customer. and he looked rs ii hi
did not know how to manage the two
of them at once.
For quite while they kept up wha
YOU might call a pretence of battle
The bulls would paw the ground, an,
keep up a constant roaring. This onl
made the bear the more angry, and
there had only been one he would sool
have got his big claws upon him, bu
) there being two made him cautious.
CATER awhile both of the bulls sud
3, denly lowered their heads and togethe
they charged the bear. As they rushe
at him he quickly arose up on hi
launches, and, as they closed in upo
him, he seized one of them by the hea
and neck. and, with sudden jerk, S
quickly broke his neck that he fell dow
as dead as a stone.
The older buffalo, which ha
charged at the same time, gave th
bear fearful thrust with his shar
Z horns, one of which pierced him b.
tween his ribs, causing an ugly woun
from which the blood soon began
flow. The bear, having killed the otht
buffalo, tried to seize hold of this one 4
n so. bat he. having given the bear the IL
Z Iy wound, quickly sprang back out OF h
D reach. He ran off for a little diStan c
but, as the bear did not follow him,
came back again. There they stoC
looking ut each other both very angr
but both very cautious. As they Ike
W moving round it seemed to us as thou!
- the buffalo had so come round on t
wind ward side OF the bear that he caug
the scent OF the blood from the WOun
The smell of blood always excltes
fury these animals. and so, lowerir
his head, he furiously charged at l.
- wounded, yet still savage, enem
The bear rose up on his hind quartz
to receive him, and, se;zing him as
did the other, killed him on the spot.
- ''NNe saw him 90 from one buffalo
another and smell them both. but
y did not offer to tear or eat either. v
could see that he was very bad
wounded from the way be kept twitc
ing his side, from which the bloc
s kept running. 1t was an ugly woul
and he was a very sick bear and
20 as he looked so cross we were not in
mt hurry to let him know anything abo
US.
NJ Imagine, if you cam said Ba
Is. tiste, while his eyes flashed at t
H. recollection of this royal battle, "hc
excited we were as we lay there
the long grass and watched this gre
70, fight.
Gr Then we thought: Now if we C
only kill that wounded bear we W
have plenty of meat for the whole can
for good while. But although '
had our guns, we were none too an
ious to begin the battle with such
bear as that one; so we crouched IL
and watched him. 1t was very fort
nate that the wind, which was quite
breeze, blew us it did. He never see
cd to suspect that other foes were ne;
After Il while he went off a lftt
distance and lay down in the lo
grass, which rose up so high arou
him that we could not see him.
waited long for him to get up, but
he did not, and we could not stay the
all day, we prepared for big lie
with him. We put our knives whe
we could instantly draw them, Il
carefully examined our guns to see I'll
they were all right. Then we beg
to crawl down carefully through
grass toward him.
My how our hearts did beat! a
how every second we expected he wOU
hear us, and the fight would begin
life or death.
1--WE got very close to him, althoui
not near enough to see him. Then.
:. we heard no sound, we made Il lit
noise to attract his attention. A
then we wanted him to get up, so
9 could have a better chance to she
I him But he did not stir. SO, wi
our fingers on the triggers of our gui
we called out: Mr.. Bear, here are c
emies ready for another battIe!' st