Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-10-22
MANGLED BY A BEAR.

While was in the service as scoutiI
1879. on the Big Horn expedition, we
were out on Rush Greek, branch Of the
Big Horn, in Wyoming, and the scout
were riding ahead, keeping lookoutfoi
Indian signs. In the advance were Bill
Cody, old California Joe, Barrett, the
trooper, and myself. just behind uh
was NJ troop Of the Third Cavalry.
Seeing something move in the sag'
brush about 900 yards away, called the
others to it. In moment Cody said:
ats bear; give it 10 him, BillyV
and / just banged away.
The bear broke cover and ran to the
creek, and all of US fred at him
Some of the bullets hit him, but he didnh
stop. He tumbled down the high bank
and crossed the creek on a beaver dam.
Barrett dismounted, slid down the bank,
and followed the bear across the beaver
dam. There was large pool above the
dam, and between the pool and the oppo'
site bluff was a rank growth Of tules,
into which the bear had gone out OF
sight. California Joe shouted to Barrett
not to go into the tules.
@That bars hurt, said Joe, "and he'll
fight in that brush.
"Think never hunted bar before?
Barrett growled, and paying no atten'
ton to the warning he began making
his way into the tules.
The firing had brought the troop up in
q hurry, and the whole command was
strung out along the bluff, watching Bar
rett. Perhaps Barrett had hunted bear
before, but he did the most foolish thing
/ ever saw done by man in this world.
Instead of holding his cnl5ine in both
hands and parting the tules with the bar
rel as he advanced, he held it in his right
hand by the middle of the barrel, and
pushed the tules out Of the way with his
left hand.
And there we stood, more than 40 men,
on top of the bluff and not more than 90
yards away, watching that death strug-
gle on the narrow strip of sand, the muz-
zle of every gun following the motions
of the man and bear, and every finger
aching to press trigger. Three men of
the plains and whole troop of veterans
stood there with every nerve strained,
and not shot could be fired.
But while we old frontiersmen stood
there. sighting our rifles TO no purpose,
one Of the raw recruits, a trooper named
George Pennyroyal, from Pennsylvania,
slid down the bank, crossed the beaver
dam, and ran up to where Barrett and
the bear were fighting. STOPPING down
beside them, the trooper poked the muz-
zle of his carbine into the bears mouth
and pulled the trigger, and the whole
top of the bears head went up in the air.
In moment the tules closed behind
him, and the next instant his carbine
came whirling through the air and fell
into the pool. Then came the most
dreadful shrek / ever heard. Godl l
can hear it now. The tules swayed. and
crackled, and out came Barrett and the
bear, locked Ogether and wrestling fOI
life. BaITett's back was toward us, and
he was struggling with all his strength
to drag the bear across the narrow strip
of open ground TO the water.
Forty carbines and three long rifles
were leveled in an instant, but Barrett
was between us and the bear, and we
dared not fire.
"Don't take your eye from the bead, .
said old Joe to me. "Watch for an open.
ing, and let her go.
Old California Joe looked at the boy in
admiration, and turning to Cody he
said:
"Bill, we've let tender foot come
along and show us how to tackle bar.
He's got more sense than the whole of
u.s..
Barrett was fearfully hurt. A great
piece Of flesh was torn from his breast,
and the muscles and cords of his left arm
were all laid bare.
~Pm worth dozen dead men yet,
said Barrett. "No bar can getaway with
me, " and then he swooned.
Toward sundown Barrett's face began
to turn ashy gray, and ] knew he could
not last much longer. The first chill OF
the nights breeze came, and / saw
little tremor in Barrett's frame. put
spoonful of brandy to his lips. and he
opened his eyes wide and looked at me.
"Didn't 1 tell you, Bill, that no live
bear could kill"
His chin dropped upon his breast, and
his eyes turned upward under the wide
open lids.