The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-18
No Pen Can Describe
Lood,. ri:ls act easily. yet promptly.
IT VAS a GREAT FIGHT.
Three Hunter-.a Hor.er, 10 Dogs, n Mu-ket,
Tomabawk, and n Bear Were In II.

| Three Hunters.R Horser, 10 Dogs. q Musk et
Tomabswk, and n Bear Were I'm II.
Jesse Funk is dead and no Is his brother
| Isaac" said Octogenarian Franklin Pancake
OF Richmond. Ind. and that leaves me the
last survivor OF the greatest bear fight that
ever took place in tho State Of Ohio. There
isn't a bear left in the State now. but there
were plenty within my recollection. and we
used to hunt them on horseback with big
| packs OF dogs. This was in Faystte county.
| In the Deer Creek region.
| THE two Funk boys and myself went out
ono day to run down benr. We started big
one and 1t gave us and our nineteen dogs a
long anu exciting chase before we ran 1t to
cover. which was in mound Of prairie grass
six feet high. Isaac Funk was a daredevil OF
young chap and spurred his horse at a Rallop
right through the bears nest. out tumbled
the bear and three cubs The pack OF dogs
pitched into the bear family. and in less than
minute the old bear had whipped out tho en-
tire nineteen, killing six Of them and disabling
four others. She was terror. After doing
up the dogs she got hor cubs behind her and
stood ready for our next move. Young Ike
Funk didn't keep her waiting long. He
charged straight upon her with his horse.
knocking her over and scattering the cubs.
The old bear was as quick as a fash. though.
and before Ike's horse got out Of her way she
had him by the fetlock Joint with her jaws. and
tore half OF his leg of. The horse tumbled.
throwing his rider to the ground almost
within reach Of the Infatuated bear. The
horse scrambled UP and tore away over the
prairie on three feet.
The bear sprang upon Isaac before he
could get out OF the way. and would have
killed him before We could have prevented 1t
but for his dog Bull This dog had been badly
whipped By the bear. and. with the others that
were left had Kept out OF the fight since their
first disastrous attack. But when Bull saw his
master at the mercy OF the bear he jumped on
her and grabbed her by the throat. a very un.
wise thing for a bear dog to do. He should
have Erabbe her In the rear His attack saved
his master, but it was the last of Bull. The
bear tore him almost in two with one sweep Of
her paw.
ute and before the bear could turn on Isaac
again after dealing with the dog. Jesse and
dashed our horses against her and tumhed
Ssa itte BY this interferonee sd and
stood nesr The only weapon. we .ff had were
an AM, 3ld nt,ock musaet that had done duty IN
Funk carried When the bear climbed the
stub Jesse tried to shoot her. but the flint
s% and lie poWas sG" in he 'nsn
port The gun tieEed Jesse OF Of his Horse s
and tumbled the bear out Of the tree at the
same time. | was deaf for three days from
the shock and shatter that gun gave my hear
ing apparatus.
Jesse wasn't hurt by his fall from the
horse. but his shoulder WAS dislocated by the
kick ofthe gun Isaac and / pue it back in
place again. and Jesse remounted his horse
The bear lay on the ground bowling fright
1ully. Ike. lmpetuous rs over grabbed Jesse's |
tomahawk and pitched into her again. She
got to her feet and rushed Ike down once |
more and had him foul. when Jesse and ran |
our horses against her the second time. |
Jesse had kept hold OF the gun. The bear |
rose up against him and his horse. set both OF |
her paws in the horse's neck. and made n grab |
at Jesse's leg with her Jaws. AS she did so |
Jesse rammed the gun barrel down her throat, |
and Iabbed her in the neck with my pocket |
knife. The dogs by this time plucked up |
courage enough to take part in the fight again. |
and between them. Ike with the tomahawk. |
Jesse with the gun. and with the knife. We !
succeeded in killing the bear. We took the |
cubs alive. On our way home we were chased |
by big pack Of hungry wolves. They fol- |
lowed us nll the way homo.
"A few years after that Jesse and Ike Funk |
to Illinois. They walked all the
way to whore Bloomington Is now. because
they hadn't money enough to get there any
other way. Jesse died worth $4,000 900. and |
guess Ike was worth a million. They made
their money dealing In hogs and cattle. Jesse
was n state Senator during the rebellion. and
made the speech that shamed the half rebel
Legislature OF 1854 out OF passing bill refus-
ing to grant further aid from Illinois toward
prosecuting the war"