The Sunday morning news., 1891-11-08


ualIy driven inward until it had pene-
trated the sac of the heart.
.sThis untoward event delayed us some
time, and when we had put one OF tne
reserve mules in poor Dicks place anc
again got under way, it was nearly sun
down. Just beyond the spot wRereon
was left the carcass Of the faithful BEAST
there was quite considerable ascent to
surmount, and on reaching the top men
and horses were halted for a rest
"Sam Bidwell, brooding over his loss,
instinctively looked back toward the
motionless form of his late companion,
but had no sooner done 80 than he ut
tered startled cry, for there, in plain
view and not ten yards from the partly
fiayed body. stood two enormous grizzly
bears, doubtless preparing to enjoy
feast. Sam could not tamely endure
such sight as this, and he proposed
that ten or twelve Of us should go down
and attack the monsters. All hands
eagerly assented, and eleven men, be-
sides himself, at once set out. just ~
they were leaving, Taylor called them
back and insisted that they should carry
in addition to their rifles the nine re-
volyers. The fellows laughed at the
idea, saying that they could not fail to
kill the bears at the first volley, but
when Gus assured them that a single
grizzly had been known to get away
with a score of small caliber bullet holes
in his hide they consented to take the
pistols.
"From the top of the hill to the place
where the dead horse lay was about two
hundred and fifty yards, but at that par
ticular spot the canyon was not more than
twenty yards wide, so that by dividing
his party and creeping along through the
cover on each side, Sam hoped to get the
formidable foes between two fires and
slaughter them offhand.
1--WE, who remained with the wagons,
watched the hunters in great anxiety as
they made their way slowly among the
rocks and bushes, until finally both par
ties arrived opposite each other and
fairly abreast of the huge brutes, by this
time fully engaged satisfying their
hunger and apparently quite unaware
Of danger.
sFor q minute or two after our COM
rades had gained their places they re-
manned perfectly quiet, to steady their
nerves, and then, at a low whistle from
Sam, the twelve rifles cracked together.
Both bears rolled over at the report, but
instantly sprang up again, and, side by
side, charged savagely upon the party
under the immediate command of Bid
well. It was now almost dusk and we
could but dimly see what followed, as
the six men on the other edge of the
gulch rushed across to the aid Of their
fellows, but we distinctly heard the
furious growing of the enraged griz-
zlies, the loud shouts and occasional
the fitful volleys of revolver shots.
"sBoys,' said Gus Taylor, some ones
getting hurt. All Of you, except the
three married men, get your guns and
we'll 90 down and hsEp.'
"At this moment, laundering along
the hard trail, his horse covered with
foam, came Jim Burrows, who, hearing
the first shots, had dashed in at headlong
speed. Two words apprised him Of the
state of matters, and he almost screamed;
why, my Godl hez them fool boys bin
crazy 'nuff ter tackle two full sized
grizzlies with ther smallbore popguns!
Here, Morris, quicki Hand out that big
rifle O yournP
"The man hurriedly produced the al
ready loaded sixteen pound weapon and
placed 1t in the hands of Jim, who, fol-
lowed by nearly the whole crowd, rushed
down the slope.
"As none but the married men had
been left behind, I, Of course, was in this
party, and when we reached the battle
ground fearful scene presented itself.
prone ON the earth lay the inssnsible
forms Of Sam Bidwell and three other
men, while the nine who still kept their
feet were frantically loading and firing
their revolvers at the ravening, blood
covered brutes, which seemed to be 50
far disabled as to be incapable of maxi
ing further rapid charge, though il
would have been certain death to any
one who should venture within possible
reach of blow from their murderous
forepaws. Stand back, all NV you,'
cuVutCo oAIOW53 " AAOt6ho % "SNA
shoot at er log ez the bodies Nv them
critters, and coolly advancing in front
of us all he leveled the heavy gun and
sent Its long bolt through the brain Of
the nearest bear, which thereupon drop
ped stone dead--as easily killed in this
way as dog.
"The remaining grizzly, on seeing its
mate fall, staggered with bloodshot
eyes and foaming mouth toward Jim in
last desperate rally. The experienced
hunter stood stock still until the animal
was almost upon him, and then springing
to one side he placed the muzzle of re-
volver which he had jerked from one of
the men against the beasts ear and
pulled the trigger.
''No more instantaneous could have
been the effect of lightning flash, for
on receiving the shot the shaggy mon
ster sank lifeless to the ground with
scarcely tremor.
"'Now, boys said he, 'ye see these
varmints is nuthin ter kill when o fell
Ter knows how. Eff you'd shot 'em in
the brain stead NV wastin lead on ther
carkisses all this misfortin' wouldn't
happened. I've seen grizzly smash