The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-08
GRIZZLIES FIGHT TO a FINISH.
Terrific Battle Between Giant Brutes Wit
messed by an Old Hunter.

Terrific Battle Between Giant Brutes Wit.
messed by an Old Hunter.
Professor Dyche, of the state university
is great hunter and spends his summer
among the wiids of the northwest getting
specimens for the museum of the institu.
tion. During these trips he gets acquaint-
e. with sll the guides and hunters of the
region in which he is hunting, and the re
suit is that when any of these men get tC
civilization they endeavor to call at the
university to see Dyche and his museum
One of these men, George Ayers, while in
Lawrence on visit, told a story of an ad-
venture which he had in the mountains OF
Washington. He lives in a country whert
the grizzly bear grows to an enormous
size, and while he has never been success
full as a hunter of the animals, he has
killed two or three bears.
The story lac told me was of a combS,
between two grizzlies which he witnessed
from the safe retreat of a tall tree, where
he had fed from the approach of one of the
brutes. Ayers says that it lasted Iona
enough for him TO get over his scare and
pay close attention to what was going on.
He had been hunting, having started at
daylight, and at o'clock he was surprised
10y meeting huge grizzly in his path. He
did not have time to do anything but cliIsL
tree, and the old brute Immediately laid
siege to him and attempted to reach up al
him. While this was going on Ayers heard
noise up The trail, and there was another
bear coming down toward his tree He
thought he was liz for night of it, as the
two would keep him there until he was
starved or some one came to his assist
ance
he was mistaken, however, for the two
bears were evidently not friendly and one
of them undoubtedly thought that The
other was poaching on his preserves, fol
the animals no sooner saw each other than
they roared and rushed at each other, bent
Oh fight.
Then ensued one of the widest scenes
ever witnessed in the mountains-a battle
between the kings of the forest. The ami
mails fought with skill that showed them
both to be the victor of many previous
conflict. They skirmished for position and
boxed with the dexterity of trained pugil
lists. Suddenly one made savage rush at
the other and they were locked in an EN-.
brace that was terrific. They roared and
howled and bit and clawed each other in q |
most horrible manner. The whole place |
was torn up, small trees being uprooted in |
the struggle of the enraged brutes. With |
an awful snort one tore away from the |
other, and then they began their sparring |
tactics again, but it was evident that the |
first bear had got much the worst of the |
tackle.
Round and round they went again, until |
a second rush was made, and then came !
the most fearful death struggle 1t was
evident that one or the other would be |
dead before the other would give up the |
fight.
They fought savagely, biting and goug-
ing until one of the brutes fell, and the
Rther got grip on his throat which soon
ended the fight and the fallen bears life.
After biting and clawing the fallen enemy
until there was no possibility of there be-
ing any life left, the victor set to work to
eat his fallen foe. He then retired up the
mountain, leaving Ayers alone. Ayers got
down and skinned what was left of the
dead grizzly, and now has the hide with
the great hole in the hip to show that the
story is true.
The skin measures So feet in length and
Is feet across its broadcast place. Ayers
says the bear weighed not less than 1000
pounds, and was as large as the largest
bull. He has had the skin prepared for a
rug with the hole in it, and this hole gives
him the opportunity of telling his story
Kansas Cor. Philadelphia Press.