The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-22
A Boy and q Man Attacked
on Beaver Creek by q
Grizzly.
They Both Escape with Their Lives,
but are Badly Shaken Up-self-
Preservation.

wAOAA e4O AdARCA 01l4AndASs
One Of the most to be dreaded when
aroused to fury is the grizzly bear. Some
times dozen rifle balls are insu fficient to
give him his quietus, and if the hunter has
not the means of escape he is sure to be
manRled and torn, if not killed. A tree is
the safest refuge in case OF an attack from
q bear, provided there is one.
The earliest record of bear hunt in
Montana is related in the journal of Lewis
and Clarke during their journey across the
continent in 1864. The expedition had
assembled the Missouri river to Three Forks,
where an encampment was made for a
short time in order to take time for explor-
ing the different streams with view to
crossing to the Pacific coast. One day a
party of four, who we're out hunt
ing. came suddenly on q grizzly
bear near the river. They opened
fire on the animal, which, being struck by a
bullet, Immediately attacked the party.
Those were the days of flint locks and muz-
zle-loaders, and before they had time to re-
load the bear was close upon them. The
party soon scattered, but one man was sin
Rled out and forced to leap q high bank into
the river. The bear followed suit, and both
pursuer and pursued struck out for the OPP
posite shore. The men on the bank real
pended upon prompt action, opened fire on
the bear, and after the expenditure of q
good deal of powder and lead
succeeded in rounding up the bear.
It was dragged ashore, and in its
carcass were found fourteen bullet holes.
This shows that even Winchester sixteen
shooter is hardly sufficient to give bear
his quietus, unless the ball is planted in
the right place. And it is hard to do this
after the first shot, and difficult at any time
unless the bear is unconscious of the pres
ence of the hunter.
remarkable bear hunt took place on
Beaver creek, about twenty miles east of
a startling instance of the first law of ma
ture-self- preservation A strong and active
young man, about twenty-eight years of
age, concluded to rid the country of bear
that had been killing calves. He shoul-
dered his repeating rifle one morning, and
in search of the maurauder. They rode
horseback we'll up to the canyon, then dis
mounting and picketing the animals, en-
tered the woods.
It was in October and about two inches
of snow had fallen the night previous,
making it easy to track any animals. They
had gone up the canyon about half mile,
and found plenty OF deer tracks, but no
bear sign had been seen.
They moved cautiously along, however,
keeping sharp lookout for fear of being
surprised, and for the purpose of getting a
shot at the bear before it discovered them.
In passing through small open glade they
saw the fresh tracks of a monstrous bear
that had come in from the foothills to the
east. A short consultation in undertones
was held, and it was resolved to follow the
trail and do up this marauder of the flocks.
They had not proceeded more than three
fsS yards +,a and Wv, were +hrosb
pine thicket when sharp growl
appraised them that old bruin was at hand
and probably in no very good humor. Both
man and boy were badly scared. but as they
could see nothing it was decided upon q
few whispered words that that the boy
should remain where he was and the man
would proceed little further in hopes of
twenty PAGES when rifle shot rung out on
the morning air followed by a fierce roar
and terrible crashing of underbrush.
The boy, realizing the danger of the stu
alton, had taken the preoaution to stand by
a tall pine tree that could be easily and
the shot than, dropping his gun,
he went up like q squirrel. The
man came running. out with
hair standing on end and the bear in close
pursuit. He had dropped his gun in his
fright and seemed to have lost his wits as
we'll. The bear was no more than ten feet
away and gaining at every stride. There
and when near the tree in which the boy
was safely ensconced, the savage animal
overlook and knocked the terrified man to
the ground with one of its paws. He fell
on his back and the bear lost no time in
seizing him with its teeth. The man en-
his arms, which the bear lacerated in &
fearful manner. His right arm was bitten
terribly, and the bear grabbed him by
the left shoulder, every bite of the
bsar bringing ing forth e. yell S;. Of pain
the man caught sight of the boy in the
tree. He was sitting on one OF the lower
upon the terrible scene below. No sooner
did the man see him than the thought up
permost in his mind, self-preseryation,
manifested itself. He instantly yelled to
the boy to jump and run. The boy was
perfectly safe where he was, but on the i'm
pulse of the moment, and without taking
time to think, he jumped from the tree and
started to run as fast as hislegs would carry
him. The bear, hearing the racket created
in another direction and seeing the fleeing
form. left the PROSTATE and now nearly half
dead man and started after the boy. This
was what the man expected It was hard
on the boy, but it was preservation for the
question, and if there had been it is quite
probable the same course would have been
taken.
The man scrambled to his feet aud went
Keeling out of the thicket. He heard the
boy scream two or three times and his con-
science smote him, but there was no
help for it now. Although weak from
the loss of blood and pain, he
finally reached the horses and mounting
his own rode to the settlements as fast as
he could to give the alarm. posse of
we'll armed men was soon formed and ON
the trail in hopes of rescuing the unfortu-
nate youth. In about two hours they found
him, badly bitten and torn by
the bear. but still alive. His arms and
legs were chewed up in horri-
BILE manner and three of his ribs
were broken. He had become unconscious
during the feroeious attack of the bear and
this alone saved him. Finding no signs O.
life the bear left for its den in the noun
tains. After three months of suffering the
boy recovered. but has never expressed de-
sire to 90 bear hunting since.
Old hunters say to feign death is the only
way to escape from bear when once it at
tacks you.
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About the Superb Pullman Dining Carr
which have been recently placed in service
VIA the Union Pacific. "The Overland
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Express between Council Bluffs and Denver
and on the Limited Fast Mall, betueen
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u you want to get a aumpfuous meal
while travelling don't fail TO take the train
on which thea dinaYR nm Nsaie .h;cL