The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-03-19
THE MARIPosA GIANT.
Ne Carried an Eleven Pound Dirk and
whipped Bears single handed.


he Carried an Eleven Pound Dirk and
Whipped Bears single Handed.
Asberry Wills has been dead dozen
years, but his phenomenal strength,
coupled with his daring exploits Ia the
Sierras. are fresh in the minds of pio-
neers. Asberry was born in sEariposa
county, and at the age of l7syears
stood feet and 4 inches high in
his stocking feet. and was at once en-
Titled TO and received the sobriauet of
Butter.y Whale. The Whale was un-
usually fond of explorations among
the rugged, snow clad peaks OF the
Jungled mountains. eNas u man of
line physique. proportionately built.
with an eagle eye and "a clear chi.
American profile Lis llaif and beard
were as black as the ravens besiii. and
he always wore a luxuriant growth Of
both. His beard at 23 reached his well
filled hunting belt; and have often
seen him, says tue correspondent. lie
OH his sombrefo with his mustaclIe.
He had u sparkle of humor about him,
and his commanding person. bold.
daring and aggressive make up, made
him a general favorite in camp.
He, like other phenomenal men,
had his peculiarities "Old Hcii-in-
the-BrIsh and Heart Deep" were
ever his companions in camp and on
the trail. ''0ld Hell-in-tha. Brush,
was magnificent London twist. rifle
bore gun, which exactly chainbered
an ounce ball. IL was an old fashioned
muzzle loader, weighed eighteen
pounds, but IL never went back on its
credentials, as indicated by It's name.
when IN the hands of the Whale.
Heart Deep was tremendous steel
two edged dirk. weighing eleven
pounds, which tine Whale could use as
easily as penlSnife These two weap-
ons, which he had thus grimiy
cliristened, were his constant compau,
ions while traveTsing the mountain
ranges from Mineral King To Mt Ly
ell
Many and thrilling were the daring
encounters which could be related Of
him during his twelve years of noun
tain life IN Fresno county.
The Whales lifting weight was nine
times his own, or 1880 pounds AT
another time he displayed even greater
strength and wonderful presence of
mind He and Frank Lewis were on
the middle fork of Kings river pros
pecting for gold and silver.
Ono evening about dusk when near
cub fully six months old and weigh.
ing upwards of 200 pounds. The cub
was asleep on top of Il slanting bowl
der. Wills determined at once TO cap
ture the beautiful specimen alive.
Better give him little lead NOR
phine and burn a little saltpeter behind
II, remarked Frank, ITO make him
sleep soundcr."
But the Whale wouldn't listen to il
Frank got on the pinnacle of a neigh
boring tree, SO, as he said, he could see
Just how Wills caught hold of the
cub. Wills grabbed the animal by
both hind feet. and startled thus from
its lair, the While was soon convinced
that he had q large and powerful brute
to contend with. The cub set up u
hideous yelling, and showing fight,
ITS young strength perhaps
for the first time TO cope with is new
found foe. The bowldcr was Slantinw
and slick, making footing unsure, and
down its declivitous side rolled man
and bear. A thick copsc of ycri,l
buena and fern received the nystcri-
GUS couple into its wild retreat When
a footing was reached Wills was on
top, but the desperate animal by its
cries had warned the ferocious mother
OF its peril. Frank, from his perch,
attempted to pour hot lead into tho APP
preaching beast, now not more than
nfty yards away and nearing the spot
twenty feet at bound.
The Whale took in the situation. IL
took both hands to overpower thee
what was he to dor There was no
time TO theorize. Swinging the cub
as boy would cat, he struck the
mother full in the mouth with the
cubs head. The bear fell stunned TO
the earth and the cub slipped from the
Whales grasp, bleeding and helpless.
Quicker than you could even think the
circumstance in rehearsal, trusty
'l1eart Deep had done its work. The
cub and mother had met the energy
aud they were his'n.
f4ank cautiously descended from
the upper tier of the wild amphithe-
atre, and spent the remainder of the
night trying to find the place in the
ANIMALS anatomy that the leaden
messenger from the rifle had peuct,.at-
ed on its mission OF death; Eut hefound
only wide, deep cash, through
winch eleven pounds OF steel, obcvinc
the influence of u giants muscle, l,:Id
served notice of cjectment upon the
chain of life.
The Whale met with but one enemy
10 whom lie Succumbed. In the spring
OF u mountain fever seized his power
full frame, his mind departed. and soon
the reaper wrapped his thick, mysteri-
Gus mani lie of eternity about him and
the Whale was no more. On the left
bank of the great Kings river canyon,
beneath a few feet of granite soil aud
the refreshing shade OF a wide spread.
ing. juniper, wrapped i'll his hunting
garb, unwept, uncoflined aud unsung,
lies the hero of Mariposa, and above
his grave this simple inscription:
The Whale. Fresno (Cal.) Exposi-
r,r,. n.,,s t,r s.r.n..