The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-04-10
A FAMOUS BEAR FIGHT.
BRUIN KNOCKED OUT WITH
VINEGAR BITTERS.
Old Aaron's Desperate Hand-to-Paw
Conflict in the Florida Woods
The Night Adventure of
q Bear Hunter,

1t was one of those dull, dreary
nights in the autumn when the clouds
seem to be weeping over the sins OF
the world. and the moon and stars hide
their faces in sympathy. In the little
parlor, however, the bright lamps and
cheerful freight had formed a leag ne,
| offensive and defensive, to repel the
dampness of the cloud-drops and to
replace the light that moon and stars
| withheld.
It was one of those country ..tav-
erns," as they are called in the
Southwest, where the father of the
family was both clerk and landlord,
the mother, cook and stewardess, the
daughters waited on the guests and the
boys took charge of outdoor affairs.
In the home-like room there were
gathered tonight four guests, all as
different as possible from each other
and also from their kind entertainers.
But all the same they received cor
dial welcome. They had sat down
with the family to a plentiful, homely
supper and were now enjoying cosy
smoke with the landlord and his boys.
And as they smoked of course they
talked.
One of the travellers was famous
trapper and hunter, well known by
reputation to the boys, and after many
winks, and pokes, and nudges, and
whispers between themselves the
youngest boy whispered to his father:
Father, won't you ask Mr.. Welch to
tell us story?"
Here is Mr.. Welch, Jimmie; why
don't you ask him yourself?"
The lad blushed all over his honest,
freckled face; and WEIGH. who was one
of the best-natured men in the world,
called out: Come here, Jimmie, and
tell me what kind OF story you want.''
Thus encouraged, the boys crowded
about him and begged for a ''real, true
story of some hunting adventure"
Something about BEARS" said jim
mic.
Welch closed his eyes for moment,
and then, without word of warning,
broke out into a perfect gale of laugh
ter, SO jolly, and SO hearty, that every
one in the room laughed too, without
at all knowing why.
'-Well, well, must tell you what
happened once when was spending
winter in Florida. I had been sick
with chills in the fall, and went down
to that warm country to see if I could
not cure myself by living out of doors
a while. had little cabin not far
-
natives and colorcd folks, and never
met regular white man unless when
had to go to town for necessaries.
Zone Sunday evening I was walking
home through the woods when I was
overtaken by a negro who lived near
my cabin. He had been to revival
meeting, and was in joyous frame of
mind walking slowly along and sing
ing one of his favorite hymns. l had
some bundles, and Aaron kindly offered
to share my burden so gave him
basket that contained some medicines
and other things had just bought.
1T was early, and the moon shone
as bright as day. so we walked along
quite happy. Aaron singing and I
when suddenly we heard deep,
hoarse growl, and in a moment more a
great overgrown bear rushed out of
some bushes by the path and came
straight toward us. Aaron, who was
just singing
DO not pass me by!'
ended the sentence with loud groan
and 'Lawd sabe us!' and rushed to tn
nearest tree, hoping thus to get out +
his bearship's Dad. But alas, I too,
had selected that same refuge, and had
the start of the poor fellow, so that by
the time he had a chance to climb it
the bear had nearly reached him.
"Bruin must have been hungry and
smelled the basket for all at once he
reared up on his hind feet aud adj
vanced right on to poor old Aaron.
The fellow backed up against the tree
yelling all the time, and seeming to be
completely ratified Gas the boys say.
On came the bear growing and show
ing teeth, while his great outstrctched
paws seemed to the bewildered man to
be double their real size. From the
tree-top l could see but little, as the
leaves were thick, but at a venture I
called out: 'Whack him in the eyes!
Whack him in the eyes with the bss-
ket!' Nearer and nearer came the
great creature, and louder and hoarser
was the growl. when suddenly Aaron
recovered his wits.
He seized bottle from the basket
that hung upon his arm and brought it
down on the great blunt nose. It br oke
into dozen pieces, and filed the bears
throat and eyes with the horrible burn
ing Vinegar Bitters that had bough t
for my chills.
''You can imagine Master Bruins
establishment. He stood still for a
second, and then with dreadful growl
of pain and rage began to advance
again on Aaron. But by this time the
old fellows blood was up and his wits