The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-18
ATTACKED BY A FEROCIOUS BEAR.


After Many Injuries MIR. Best Saves His
Life by Feigning Death.
Mr.. Best of Durango came very near
losing his life recently by being devOured by
a ferocious BEAR and his escape is probably
the most miraculous in the history of the
State.
Mr.. Best was up Lightner Creek looking
for horses, and was coming down the side of
a steep canyon shout ten miles from town,
and as he drew near portion of the trail
where the brush and underground was very
thick he heard cracking and smashing of
the scrub-oak on one side.
Suddenly low growl met his ear, and
without further warning the brush parted
and Mr.. Best was confronted by large,
ugy-looking, silver tip or range bear, that
stood hardly two feet away. For moment
bruin stood as if considering what tactics to
pursue. Then raising herself upon her
hind feet and waving her paws in the air
she rushed for Mr.. Best, who, totally I'M
armed, knew not how TO escape the III
furiated animal.
As she approached closer and closer until
he could feel her hot breath against his face
he managed to catch her by the feet and. be-
ing possessed on ordinary occasions OF enor-
nous strength, which now in this exciting
moment became superhuman, he held her
feet in such a manner that she was unable,
although trying her best, to strike or tear
him with her claws.
For a moment both paused for wind and
Mr.. Best was looking for some way to let
60, but no way was found. The bear, fnd-
ing herself pOwerlesS to crush her victim.
and as he held her feet SO widely apart that
she could do nothing with them, saw her
way clear to end Mr. Bests career by eating
his head and face, which, as both his hands
were employed in holding her feet, she could
do and 10 cOul1 prpypnt Il unlp3s he
should turn her feet loose, and then she
would have more advantage than before.
Slowly she leaned her ugly face toward
him and then opened her mouth and began
to crush in his face and Lead with her teeth.
Mr.. Best was. of course, unable to stop her,
and was compelled to let her pursue her
man-eating course.
Finally, overcome with pain and loss of
blood, Mr.. Best fell back ward, the bear fall
ing on top, and being now so weak that he
could offer TO further resistance, bruin, find
ing herself free, proceeded to tear and lace
rate Mr. Bests face and scalp.
While she was infilcting her punishment
upon him she heard. as well as did her vic
tim, who had not yet lost consciousness, lot
of noise from the brush accompanied by a
few sharp growls. which evidently came
from her cubs. Leaving Mr.. Best, she started
to investigate the trouble there and disap-
peared.
Mr.. Best, half-unconscious and blinded by
the blood that was flowing from the many
wounds that had been inflicted on his face
and head, was unable TO rise, but tnrned
over on his face and tried to think what to
do. Just as he had determined to try and
find his way to some ranch or camp he heard
the bushes crash and knew that the bear
was returning.
Having heard that they will not bite or
touch anything they think dead he resolved
to find out, and as the bear approached
again he laid perfectly still. Bruin came up
and waited for him to jump or move and
seeing that he did not she bit him on the
nosed him a little, aud after few farewell
bites grInted to her cubs and plunged into
the brush.
Mir. Best succeeded in dragging himself to
tie ranch five miles distant and medical
assistance was summoned The physician
his recovery is still uncertain.-Denyer Re-
publican,