The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-08-06
HOOFS AGAINST CLAWS.
A Battle to the Death Between q Nor
man Stallion and O Grizzly Bear.
st. Louis Glohe-D Democrat

DolSE, luuIlo, Jtiy ia DdJtle bc-
tween u powerful stallion and a big
grizzly bear was witnessed by the en-
ployees of James Murfree at the latters
mountain ranch, on Monday last.
Old Ursus Horribilis proved himself to
be the better fighter, and, though he
was terribly injured by his iron-hoofed
antagonist, he might have recovered
from his wounds had not Jim Maxwell,
a vaquero, sent a slug from a Sharp's
rifle through his body. Before he died
however, he played even with his hu-
man foe.
The battle royal betwaen the two
beasts commenced at about 4.30 in the
morning and lasted about an hour. The
ranch hands saw the melee from the
commencement, but, so confident were
they that the stallion would prove the
victor, that they did not attempt to
interfere until it was too late. Time
and again, old Gray Rex, as the big
Norman stallion was called, had in
short order killed black bears of con-
siderable size, and the men thought
his early morning antagonist was
nothing more than a black bear of IN
usual size, which had come to the ranch
in search of a juicy shoat. They OBJ
served that the shaggy animals method
of fighting was quite unusual, but they
were too anxious for a little sport, to
give the matter a second thought.
Old Gray Rex had been sleeping in
his shed the previous night and when
he heard the men moving about out
side he pranced out, neighing for his
Measure of grain. AS he rounded the
COW pen,the men saw him eagerly sniff
the air, his ears slantIng forward and
his name stiff and bristling. Gazing
over the grassy range, the men saw the
figure of a bear leisurly making off
toward = heavy copse. A moment
later, Gray Rex, his eyes distended
with rage, sharp snorts of anger and
defiance issuing from his nostrils, start
ed majestically across the PLAIN to offer
battle to the re~treating intrucdr. The
bear heard The hostile advance of the
stallion, and he glanced over his
shoulder but did not quicken his pace.
He had seen horses before.
s'By George, boys there's goin' to be
some fun!" cried Cowboy Jack S pires,
and the men cllmed to the top of the
shed in order to have a better view OF
the battle.
1t was not long delayed. Gray Rex,
with a piercing scream of rage, with
his white teeth showing dashed at the
bear, which, with a low, grumbling,
growl, jumpted to one side IN time to
avoid the onslaught. The savage stall
hon wheeled, slowly approached the
bear and with a quick turn, he landed
his hind feet on the BEARS ribs. The
blow was a sumner, and the men who
heard it thought the bear was done for.
1t was Il surprise for the bear, but it
did not disable him. With a shake of
his big head, and a shifting of his feet,
he faced the stallion, which again
rushed at him with widely opened
mouth. The grizzly was ready and
old Rex received a slap on the muzzle
that knocked him off his feet, and
caused him to collide with his hard
hitting antagonist. Over wen horse
and bear. Rex was first 10 regain his
feet, and, with a fierce scream and
terrific force, he brought his sharp
fore-feet down upon thu bears left flank,
bringing the blood in a stream. 1t was
a fearful wound, and the bear, for a
moment was badly dazed. The stallion
had gained II decided advantage, but
had become more wary. He was ac-
customed to fight with bears hat rose
upon their launches, giving him SPLEEN
did opportunities to deliver adroit kicks,
the force of which soon proved fatal.
The tactics used by his latest opponent
puzzled him and he hesitated. The
ranchmen noted this with surprise, and
they jumped from the shed and cautious
Iy approached the battlefield. To their
subsequent regret they were too excited
to think of bringing firearms.
Rex heard the men approaching and
he speedily regained his waning cour-
age. He dashed at the bear, turning
nimbly, and kicked HIM end over end.
The bear did not seem to be very bad
ly injured, but he was now thoroughly
aroused. Rex was upon HIM in an in
slant, thinking to again stab the bear
with his forefeet. AS the horse reared
for the blow, the grizzly darted fore
ward, and with a tremendous swipe
from one of his armored paws it ripped
open the bowels of the belligerent stall
lion. The men saw the blood rush
forth, saw the %protruding entrails and
knew that Rex had met his match. Jim
Maxwell rushed to the house for his
gun, and the other men tried by shouts
and sudden sorties to brighten the bear
away.
But it was now too late. The ami.
mails were at it hoof, tooth and claw
engaged in one final struggle. 1t was
a terrible struggle. Both animals were
bathed in blood, poor old Rex's color
appearing only in irregular spots. He
fought like a demon, striking, kicking
and biting. Again and again, with hi;
cleaning teeth he tore great pieces o.
hide and flesh from the body of thu
bear, and nearly every time he attempted
to land his feet he succeeded. But the
bear was as savage as the horse. II,
had been crippled fore and aft, but hi
was full of fight, and great patche
upon the stalhon's Sides breast am
head, showed whsre tie BEARS blow
had landed 4hs blsedmg animal
did not pause for a moment. The
fought ike tigers, the horse screaming
shfilly and the bear sullenly growing
: Presently the hear saw a chance t
deliver a blow with N of his tremer
: dous paws. 1t fell with murderer
! force upon the horses shoulder, and
, knocked him over and over When
arose he was dazed, 1t seemed that b
! could not see the hear, for he con
menced to trot here and there in scar
of his foe.
r Presently he saw the bear, and wit
: a fearful cry of rage, the horse rushed
! or rather staggered at his red-eye
' antagonist, and again he essayed
] strike him with his fore feet, but
! was so weak that he gave the bear a
opening, and a moment later sank
the earth with a broken neck.
Just at this instant Maxwell fire.
d The bullet pierced the grizzly's bod
{ : and with a sharp yelp, he turned
a flee, but suddenly wheeled, dashed
d the men, struck Maxwell on the hi
breaking the bone, and then, fallll
y y foreward across the body of the pro
. trate man, died, with his face iowa
II the foe.
n $1,000.
IS The Santa Fe railway will sell tickt
n IN nanyer and return for SD, tickets