The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-08-04
LEFT FOR DEAD.
A Brave Though Reckless Hunters Re-
markable Escape from "a Bear.

A Brave Though Reckless Hunters Re-
markable Escape from a Bear.
Some years ago, writes Henry Howe,
the historian Of the western pioneers, a
party Of trappers were on their way to
the mountains, led, we believe, by old
Sublette, well known captain of such
expeditions. Among them was John
Glass, who had been all his life among
the mountains, and had seen numberless
exciting adventures and hairbreadth
escapes. On the present expedition he
and companion were one day passing
| through cherry thicket in the Black
Hills when Glass deserted large griz-
ely feeding on pignuts. He ut once
gave the alarm and both men crept
cautiously to the skirt of the thicket.
They took careful aim and fred their
guns at the same moment. Both balls
took effect, but not fatally. The bear,
growing with pain and fury, charged
upon his foes.
"Run for it, Bill" shouted Glass, 'or
we'll be made meat of sure as shootin!'
Both men bolted through the thicket
but the heavy brush INSTRUCTED their
progress, while the weight and strength
of the grizzly bore him on, and he was
soon close upon the men. They man.
aged to get through the thicket, how
ever, and were hurrying across little
opening toward a bluff when Glass
tripped and fell. Before he could rise
the bear was upon him!
Glass did not lose his presence of
mind, but discharged his pistol in the
brute's face. The next moment the bear
blood streaming from his nose and
mouth, struck the pistol from his enc
my's hand and, fixing his claws deep into
the poor mans flesh, rolled with him to
the ground. The hunter struggled man.
fully and drew his knife and plunged it
several times into the body of the furious
animal, which was tearing his face and
body, barring the bone in many places.
Glass, weak from the loss of blood. at
length dropped his knife and fell over
in faint.
Bill, who had watched the conflict up
to this moment too badly dazed and ter
ror stricken to do anything, now thought
Glass was dead, and ran to the camp
with the awful tale. The captain sent
man back to the spot with Bill They
found the bear dead and stiff, lying on
he body Of the unfortunate hunter,
whom they likewise called dead. His
body was torn and lacerated in shock
ng manner, and the bear, besides the
hree bullets in his body, bore the marks
If twenty knife stabs, showing how des-
'erately Glass had fought.
The two men collected their late COM !
AIDES arms, removed his hunting shirt {
md moccasins, and left him beside the
arcass of the grizzly. They reported at
he camp that they had buried him.
In few days the hunters moved on,
nd soon the fate of poor Glass was in s
MEASURE forgotten. Months elapsed, the l
unit was over and the trappers were re- t
urning with their pelts to the trading 4
ort. On their last evening out, Just as
ley were making ready to camp, a h
was discerned coming toward C
1em, and when he drew near the hunt d
RS saw lank, cadaverous form, with v
ace SO SCARED and disfgured that /
;arcely feature was normal. 81. t
Bill, my boy" called the stranger, v
he rode up, ''you thought I was gone
nder that time, did your Hand over
~ horse and gun. amt dead yet by
long shoty'
What was the establishment of the q
arty to hear the we'll known voice of I
ohm Glass, whom they had supposed e
cad and buried. The two men who C
ad left him for dead, and thus made O
lelr report, We're Mortified. I
Glass, it appeared, after the lapse of il
knew not how long time, gradual b
recovered consciousness. He lived a
pom the carcass of the bear for several q
avs, until he had regained sufficient
rength to crawl, when, tearing off as
luch of the meat as he could carry, he
'ept down the river toward the fort s
e had suffered much, but had reached a
lie fort, eighty miles distant, alive, and t.
his story by declaring, Pm 6
slick as peeled onion" a