Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-11-09


Pennington remarked: by gosh,
where's tho muller" We all looked, but
no mule could we see Possibly II had
broken away and gone of, or II might
be hidden in the grass, lying down. but
fcld-glass failedto reveal the animal.
Proceeding slowly toward camp, we
soon reached the space where tho mule
had been left.
There was no longer any question
where the mule was. IL was lying on
the ground completely discmboweled,
its back broken and its head literally
torn off.
One word told the story. bald
face bear had discovered the animal,
and II being hobbled SO securely that
escape was impossible, had killed II,
The grass showed that there had been
u struggle, and the immense tracks OF
the bear were plainly seen. Its marks
on the back and side Of the mule looked
as II clcavor had been ut work.
Three ribs were torn away from the
backbone and one hind leg almost
stripped of its flesh. An nx In tho
hands Of q giant could have done no
better.
With our guns ready 10 fire on tho
instant we all noiselessly crossed over
TO the camp only TO find II vacant.
Kingsbury's Winchester lay on the
ground some little distance away, tho
kettles, pans and camp fixtures woro
knocked about as u cyclone had
struck them, the tent was thrown to
the ground and across II were the
bloody tracks OF n bear. To my ex.
cited Imagination they looked as large
us bushel measure, and could al
most see the flying form OF our camp
keeper und the pursuing terror of tho
mountains.
Kingsbury was nowhere 10 be seen.
Everything was perfectly quiet Hut
we knew that the trouble had been ro-
cent, because the blood still oozed from
the neck OF the dead mule, and there
was fire at the camp not nearly burned
out
Meanwhile n shot from BlalSe's rifle
rang through the forest and It's rever.
berations had scarcely died away when
the voice OF Kingsbury gave answer
faint and long distance of. The dogs
were away in a moment and the yolls OF
our partner at intervals mingled with
the tongue of the dogs
Better load up your bolts with shell
and get up In these little trees, boys"
said Pennington, "for that animal will
be back here powerful soon"
We were so excited that no second
suggestion was required. We could
tell by the cry OF the dogs when they
reached tho scene OF action and In a
little time they quit barking. A few
minutes later the pup came tearing
through the brush, followed by noise
which greatly rescmblcd an immense
bowlder bounding down hill.
Look out" yelled Pennington. and
half second later the bald-facc burst
through the underground not ono hun.
drcd feet away His face was bloody.
Two dogs and mule had fallen vic
tins to his fury and he came on foam.
ing towards us. A vollcy attracted his
attention and with roar he rushed at
the small trees In which we were stand
ing. think but one shot hit him, for
the rifles were mighty shaky. give
II 90 him." said Pennington. Don't
waste your FIRE, take fair aim at him.
and don't pull the trigger till you car
land"
No fury could equal the rage Of that
brute. IL came at the small trees
tried 10 climb them, tore the bark and
snapped them with Il mouth which
looked yard long. In the excitement
Of the moment ] dropped my rin,
while shifting my position, and as II
struck the ground twenty feet below
the brute ran and seized 1t at the butt
crunching the stock like a piece OF clay
or glass.
The attack became perfect fusillade
and perhaps hundred shots were fired
before the bear gave signs OF weaken
ing, One Of Its monster legs wa
broken and It's sides were plowed will
bulle u. Risdon, who by the way, cam,
from this city, was anxious TO do gooS
work and undertook 10 change his posi-
ton. His foot had torn tho bark from
the limb of the little tree and II was
slick as ice In an instant, "a he stepped
about, his feet went from under hin
and he was precipitated to the ground
The bear, blind and about dying
heard the fall and stumbled and ran u
the tree. The fall had stunned Risdon
or else he could have got away.
But the fierce brute was upon him II
an instant more, Its immense jaw
closed on his thigh just at the hip ant
the bones snapped like twigs.
We almost sprang from the tree and
Mt short range poured from the two re
manning guns a brondside into the AMI
NAL which ended its life. But oui
friend was insensible and dying. Tho
mass of inert meat fell across him
With the utmost difficulty the carcas,
was removed from our PROSTATE com
Tade 10 find shat the claws OF the bear
had cut through his body under the lief,
arm, penetrating the cavity and tear
ing hole In his side.
Risdon never spoke never gave q
sign that he was In danReN fear OF
pain. The whole catastrophe was SO
quickly ended that no effort could have
saved his life. The bear was practical
ly dead when II reached his PROSTATE
form, and single stroke Of its fore
paw and Il crunch Of its formidable
jaws, which In death struggle had nc
instinct other than 10 mangle and kill
had ended his life In Il moment