The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-04
BEARS THROWING STONES.
Showing That Bru.n Is Up With Man
and Ahead of Woman.

/
Jake Banks seated himself on an empty egg
crate and took out his pipe, threw one leg
over his knee, struck match on his
trousers y, calmly lit the pipe, and, taking a
couple OF draws to satisfy himself that the
tobacco was thoroughly ignited, he looked
up and began:
"Well, you fellows know I've been up on
Wolf mountain cutting timber for the last
two weeks. IL was pretty cold couple of
days, but / built myself sort of Iean-to
from the logs and kept right snug with
little fire. There are plenty Of bears in
that there neck of the woods, but | didn't
see any for most week. In the meantime
l had cut down and made quite a pile of
logs near the side where we shute them into
the valley
"You know over on the west side is a
place where there are no trees, and where
the ground is covered with stones OF ali
sorts and sizes. Wall, about o'clock one
afternoon started to take look at some
timber on the west side. My way was over
this clear ground. You know there are
some big boulders scattered around, too.
Wall, when got about half way across
this bare place [ thought saw something
moving around one OF those boulders about
100 feet in front of me. didn't think any
thing OF it, and kept right on. But when |
got to the rock what do you think l saw"
Jake didn't wait for his audience to guess
but went on.
"Wan, there out about sixty feet was a
big bear eating an ear of corn. He was
standing sideways to me and evidently
hadn't any idea that man was within five
miles.
II didn't know what to do. There was
the bear, and beyond him was the timber l
wanted to see. | didn't feel like tramping
clear back and going around through the
woods, no more did l feel like walking past
that bear. didn't have my gun along, and
the best thing in the way of weapon was
a big pocket knife.
"WalI, finally concluded to try feeler.
/ think | said the ground was full of stones.
picked up one about as big as my fist, and
fired it at the bear. 1t went way over his
head and made big racket where it struck
the ground. The bear jumped around and
watched the stone for most a minute, and
watched him. Then be turned around and
picked up his corn, which ne had dropped,
and stuck it in his mouth. flung another
stone. 1t went better. It struck the ear OF
corn plumb center, and knocked it ten feet
away. This made the bear mad, and he
growled and glared around. quickly let
fly another rock and it hit the old bDuin on
the shoulder, and then be saw me.
81 had hoped to clre him away without
betraYing myself. Now l was scared. But
just when l thought he was about to come
for me ne stopped and, picking up big
the boulder and glanced over my head.
IF be wanted to fight that way, was
willing to accommodate MIN, and let him
have the stones as fast as l could pick them
up. Bruin wasn't so quick in the mouiou,
but his rocks were bigger and more dan
gerous. His aim was good, too. had Co
watch mighty particular 70 keep from get
ting hit. Filally. l managed to connect
with his left paw, and he growled aud
shook it as though it hurt him; but
he didn't offer to come any closer.
We had been at this business
for at least five minutes, when
as he reached for rock managed to plant
a big stone right in his stomach. The force
of the blow seemed to turn him half around.
and the pain made him simply furious. He
d ,nced and growled and then the rocks
came whizzing past me as though shot out
OF gun. l h2d about concluded to cut and
run for cover, when | Noticed another bear
come around rock lenlnd my angry an
tagonist, AS lodged the missiles that were
falling around me, saw this new bear
waddle slowly forward TO within forty feet
of my particular bear, and then with his
hands on his hips he watched the fight curl
ously.
Gin the meantime had been hit by a
bounding rock on the leg, and, as flung
back with all my strength pound ssone
my foot slipped and went down in heap.
The stone went clear over the first bear and
struck the one in rear on the neck. He
jumped about'ten feet in the air, and then
| felt something STRIKE ma on the head.
must b We been 6sd for a minute; When
/ came around the Slood was running out
of this cut here made by the stone 1t
pleased me NIGHTLY, however that no bear
was clawing at nay legs. l looked hastily
around, and, gentlemen, hope may never
smoke another pipe of tobacco il those two
bears weren't stoning each other.
Evidently when my stone hit the bear
that was spectator he had followed suit
and fired a rock at the other bear, thinking
be had hit him. My fall occurred at the
same time, and my friend being struck in
the rear whirled around and Immediately
continued the SIGHT with one of his own
species. My head hurt me considerable,
but forgot all about it with watching
those bears.
They danced around, they growled, and
all the time they kept hurting stones at
each other; my bear seemed to be little
better thrower, however, aud he repeatedly
succeeded in landing a rock on his OPP
ponenrs hide. The fresh bear took it
pleasantly, without any abatement In the
care with which he was aiming his missiles ;
and it wasn't long before he managed to get
the range aud direction. Then his fresh
ness stood him In good stead, and he rainsd
the rocks in on his opponent till the very
air was black with them.
| The original stone thrower had by this
time become somewhat tired with his con-
slant efforts and began to slowly retreat
before his enemy's fire.
Absorbed in the novel spectacle of two
bears fighting with stones, had forgotten
my own danger. Now l woke TO it with a
suddenness that almost took my breath.
Here was, lying in this open space, and
two big bears within thirry-ive yards OF
me and both fighting mad.
Scared Wall, gentlemen" and Banks
carefully took his left leg of his right knee
and put his right leg on his left knee, 81
was wishing the durndest l hadn't stirred
up that original bear. / didn't exactly
know how TO get away, and l was afraid
that il the animals would see me they
would join forces and run me down. So l
started to roll slowly toward the shelter OF
the big boulder, before getting on my feet.
wall, l got there without any trouble,
and was just gathering myself to cut and
run when l heard laundering roar behind
me. l glanced around. with my heart in
my mouth, and saw bear No. holding his
left paw and dancing around like something
bewitched. The other bear was standing
leaking at the circus with broad grin; he
was enjoying the gymnastic exhibition.
Finally the pain seemed to make the bear
frantic aud, catching sight Of his grinning
enemy, he grabbed huge rock and chased
straight at him Before the astouished VIC