, 1890-08-14
A CLUMSY sTEED.
Away Went a Hunter on the Back oil
Bear.

Away Went Hunter on the baoH o'
Bear.
A correspondent of the Sc Louis
Globc-Dcmocrat, writing rom iioi.
lister, Fla, says: IL. NJ. Morstiy, oi
this place, is the champion Dear
hunter at present. Several dlSs"So
he went hunting in Rice creek
swamp. After half days uhsuc'
cessful hunt he sat down to eat MS
lunch. soon rustling near by Mt
tracted his attention, but before ho
could move IA monstrous she Dear,
accompanied by two young CUPS
came out into the opening wlere ne
was and not over dozen rods from
him. Selling his rifle without stop
ping to think, he shot at the mother,
but, in his haste, did not get goou
aim, and only inflicted nesh
wound, serving TO irritate her To 'he
point OF madness.
His shot was answered by n
urowl that made his hair stand on
end, and through the smoke he
saw the big bear come tearing AT
him. Throwing down his gun,
the hunter jumped for the over
hanging limbs of the water OAK
under which he sat and drew hinl-
self up into safety, just as the ola
bear came furlously charging up
Seeing that he was out OF her reach
at present, she stood roaring
ruriously ut him for few minutes,
and then, calling her cubs, sat down
and coolly began eating up the rem
nants of his meal.
The situation was comical. over
head I'm the oak, some twenty ieet
in the air, sat Morstly, looking
angrily at the family group that
was so contently making away win
his lunch. His gun lay on the
other side of bruin, and there
seemed no chance to secure 1t Mt
present. Suddenly he bethought
himself of his hunting knife, and
drawing II from his pocket, cut oil
long limb from the tree, and then,
with some cord which he found in
his pocket, firmly bound the knife
to the end. He then had n spear in
fashion, though not II very iormid-
able one.
Descending the tree to the lower
limbs which brought him near the
"happy family" he poised his spear
and lungcd at bruin. His aim was
good, but he put too much force in
the blow and he accompanied the
spear in its downward descent, the
weapon sticking into the bears
back, while Morstly fell with n thud
over bruins head. The bears
started up with growls loud and
deem of alright and surprise, and,
for IA moment the circus was unseen
for the dust. Morstly recovered
himself first and with II jump
sprang up, trying to get b"Hk into
the tree; the old bear ran at him ms
he jumped, but, the cubs getting in
her way, she missed him, and by
some mischance Morstly landed
right on the old bears back.
Bruin gave "A loud whiif OF sur
prise, fright and rage at this, and
for IA second seemed unable to move.
Morstly seized the opportunity and
instinctively caught hold of his
knite-spear that remained sticking
in the brute's back, and gave bruin
another dig. This decided the mat
ter, and the old bear with loud
growl started of on II gallop into the
swamp. Morstly could hardly keep
his seat, but he clung to her long,
shaggy hair with one hand, while
Inc Piled the knife with the other,
The novel ride continued for several
minutes-though hours to Morstly-
aud he began to feel the effects of
his terrible jogging.
Finally Bruin ran under a small
tree, the low branches of which
struck Morstly, knocking him oil.
Bruin stopped as she felt her rider
drop, and, turning quickly, made
at him with wide open jaws, her
ferocity aroused 10 its higher point
by her cubs peril. Morstly retained
the knife as he fell, and, as he
in both hands. AS the bear came
up he lunged forward, and by rare
good luck stuck the knife point in
Bruins right eye. She stopped az
she felt the nife.blade, and, calling
her cubs to her side, she backed oil
for second. Morstly thought that
she was going to quit, but III this he
was mistaken.
Placing her cubs under a tree a
short distance OIL, the old mother
bear came back yrowling loudly and
| tiercely, the blood streaming from
her wounds. making herlook wicked
and dangerous. Morstly began to
think that his time had come, but
he determined To fight well. Hold
ing his knife-spear well In front OF
him, he waited until the bear had
approached to within six feet of
him, when he plunged forward his
novel weapon striking bruin in the
open mouth, the knife going way
| into her throat. A hollow roar OF
rage followed, and then rush OF
blood showed that bruin was badly
| hurt.
Morstly pushed and jabbed with
his spear, putting. his full force on
the stout handle, and the old bear
howled with pain and rage. She
made furious attempts to get at him,
springing forward and sideways,
but the stout spear handle held, and
Morstly being n stout, athletic man.
held 1t in its place. This continued
for several moments, and finally
bruin showed signs of weakness.
Her loss of blood was great, and her
howls were chan ging to cries of dis.
tress. Slowly she backed oil, trying
to get the spear-heud out of her
mouth or TO bite II in two. But IL
was so far down that she could not
well bite. In few moments, much