The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-16
BETwIxT BEAR AND SMOKE.
The Plight of a Han Who Was freed in
the Michigan Woods.

tho Michigan Woods.
Last Friday afternoon Peter Nelson,
Swede, who was on his way to Grand Ma
rias. met with an adventure when about
fifteen miles from that place which nearly
resulted fatally.
Last Friday morning he started for
Grand Marias on the stage road with
horse and blackboard. He travelled along
slowly and was probably about fifteen
miles from his destination when he heard
noise in the bushes and stopped to investi-
gate He had a Winchester along with
him, and taking it from the rig he stepped
Off the road into the bushes Two bear
cubs were playing together not more than
two or three rods from him.
They could not have been more than one
or two weeks old, and thinking he would
like TO capture them alive he made
few steps toward them. The cubs started
TO run, and Nelson started in pursuit,
throwing aside his rife, a thing which
a moment later he regretted doing. He
succeeded in heading one of the cubs oil
toward the road, which he had nearly
reached, when he heard a sudden crash be-
hind him, followed by an angry roar, aud
turning, ne beheld, TO his horror, the moth
er of the cubs not many feet from him.
Ali thoughts of the cubs vanished from his
mind. He thought only of his own safety.
With greater alacrity than he had shown
in pursuing young bruin, he started for
the road and reached it just in time TO ses
his horse make mad dash up the road.
Nelson knew that his only chance of escape
was in climbing tree. He hadno time TO
select a tree, but Skinned" up the first
one he came TO, which was, fortunately,
large enough TO bear his weight, but too
small for the bear to climb.
Hardly had he got we'll out Of the way
before his pursuer reached the spot more
enraged than ever at his escape. The ami
NAL paved the ground at the foot of the
tree, making vain and desperate attempts
to climb il, and accompanying these at
tempts with roars of anger. Nelson looked
on from his lofty perch with some alarm,
and wished he had his rife for about one
minute. The time was wearing away.
though slowly TO him, and he was becom-
ing tired. He wondered if he would be
compelled to remain there all night, and
he wondered, too, what had become OF his
horse But the worst was yet TO come,
and it was not long before he realized this
fact
Smoke had filed the dir for some time,
but as it caused him no inconvenience he
thought nothing of it, But it became
thicker and thicker, and Nelson at last
found it hard to breathe On the ground
there seemed to be not much smoke, and
Bruin seemed TO be determined TO stay.
The cubs were but few feet away. The
wind became stronger, and to the great dis
may of Peter Nelson the air was filed with
burned leaves and cinders. Bruin seemed
to be getting uneasy too. But he could
stand it no longer. as the smoke was sufTo-
eating him. So, taking his pocket knife,
be opened the blade and started 20 slide
down the tree, thinking that possibly he
would be allowed to go on his way IN
molested, but determined to fight il out IL
Necessary.
The bear was then lying close TO the
ground but short distance away. Mel
son dropped from the tree when about half
way down and started on a run up the road
in the direction his horse had gone as fast
as his legs could carry him but he had
gone but q few steps when he stumbled
and fell. Before he could arise bruin was
up to him, and he received a heavy blow
on the back from the animals paw. All
Nelson. could do was TO try and dodge the
blows aimed at him Several times the
bears sharp claws pierced and tore his
flesh. In the struggle Nelson finally sue
ceeded in reaching the spot where he had
left his Winchester, and with great deal
of trouble managed 70 pick il of the
ground. The pocket knife which he had
thought Of using proved useless 70 him in
defending himself But now. with a rifle
in his hand, ne felt az il he stood "A good
chance If be could only find Al opportunity
10 use It.
The bear seemed to realize this fact, too,
for she made several attempts 20 knock il
out Of bis hands; but by lodging around
Nelson managed 70 get IN such a position
that he was enabled to fire thres shots ia
quick succession ct the animal, txo of
which took effect
Nelson then killed the cubs, knowing
they could not live without their mother.
lie found that the horse had broken loose
from the blackboard and run into the
woods. TIE wind had changed and blown
the smoke away By that time. lie did not.
however, 20 to Grand Maria, but "hooied'
IL back.
His clothes were BADLY torn. and he was
painfully. bat not seriously, hurs from the
wounds he received - eyy berry Democrat