The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-24
ARKANSAS BEAR STORIES.
Two That We're Told in the Presence
Of Rival Gu International Can
didates.
Gov. Eagle Was of Inquisitive
Turn Of Mind and Was
Badly Sold.
Would-Be Gov. Fizer Was More Crafty and
Held His Tongue-Eaten
by Bruin.

LITTLE Rock, Ark, Sept. 2s-Just before
gentlemen were seated in the small parlor
of the only hotel in a certain country town.
The landlord was all clee tonight because
of his "big guests" as he called the candi-
dates for governor, viz: Rev. J. p. Eagle,
present governor, and Rev. n b. Fizer, who
wished to be.
In the little parlor were assembled num-
Der of citizens to do honor to the distin-
gnished guests of the Farmers Home
There was the justice of the peace, the
lawyer. the doctor, the blacksmith and
others.
The conversation of the evening wound
through the tangled meshes of many. very
many subjects, and finally drifted to the
achievements of local nimrods. This sub
iect was brought up by the arrival of a
countryman who informed the host that he
that afternoon had kilt the biggest. latest
and greasiest bar that ever gnawed hog
in them bottoms" and had brought the
governor Il ..b'ar steak for his breakfast
When the bear hunter had received the
thanks of the governor and made his adieus
the blacksmith said:
I'm bet my vote agin four bits tibet his
III NoSlA do DO VIC Ouc 1 hllt ldSt
week.
Then the subject OF bear-hunts was
opened up. and very soon some thrilling
adventures were related in genuine Missis-
sippi bottom style. Finally old Ned With
ers went down in the musty regions of his
memory and brought forth the following:
1T was a rainy day and had gone out to
look after my milk COWS. had gone about
mile from home. when my little dog at
tracted my attention by his vigorous bay
ing down in a dense thicket. Going to him,
found that he had freed a fine black bear.
Bruin was seen perfectly at ease as he
rested ON large limb of a black oak some
80 feet above the ground. ldrew a bead OF
his fat head, and pulled the trigger of my
trusty rifle. But the bear didn't fall!
made bad shot. Well, RELOADED my gun
and, great Scots! when | went to put a car
on the nipple ! found that it had beer
blown out! 1t was then growing late, anG
the rain began falling copiously.
swell. turned to go home knowing tina,
! would never see that bear again. l haG
gone about fifty yards when there came I
binding fash of lightning that felled me X
the ground. Presently got upon my feet
but everything looked blue and green, anG
there was a ringing in my ears that sounded
like bacon frying III pan. The first thlnS
that l distinctly realized was the bark o.
my little dog as though he was gnawinf
something. looked and saw that he Wal
under the tree III which the bear had taker
refuge. ! looked for the bear. but coull
not see him, nor, indeed, could see mucf
of the tree. Then it was all plain enough, u
and the narrator paused.
What was plain enough?" Gov. Easl,
ventured to question.
''Why, lightning struck that oak, tore il
up as badly as you will tear up the Unior
Labor forces, and killed that bear as deaC
as you will politically kill your worthy op-
ponent, Bro. Fizer there.'
There was good laugh at the expense OF
the Union Labor candidate for guberna-
to1ial honors; but it was not 20 we'll relished