The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-13
TO MAKE YOU SILVER.

DR.. Nansen's Fight With a White
Bear In the Polar Regions.
From the Net0 York advertiser.
Most noted explorers of the far north
have been explorers only, but DR.. Fridtjof
hansen who, is great hunter also, has slain
many a white bear, and would think him
self disgraced as a NorsemRn if his hand
should tremble when be draws a bead on
the fierce brute at a few yards distance.
Disgrace in such a case would be likely to
end In death, as one experience of the doc~
tors shows.
1t was in July, 1882, that the sealer Vik-
ing was held up for a month By floating
ice off the east coarst Of Greenland. The air
was not very cold, however, and bears were
abundant. I'VE had only to go out to
them on the ice" says DR.. Nansen, 'and
let them see US or get scent of US, and
they came along. We sat OF lay down and
waited, and when they were only a few
steps off we sent bullet through them.
And 80 iG happened one day near the
middle of July that the weather was as
mild and beautiful as it can be up there in
the ocean Of ice. The sun glinted and gilt
tered on the snow and on the heavy blocks
of ice which surrounded us in every direc-
tion as far as eye could reach, up to the
line where the clear blue sky and the white
ice met.
ain the afternoon the man who is always
sitting up at the top of the mainmast on the
lookout through his big telescope called out
that big bear was on the ice not far from
US. The captain, one Of the crew named
Paal and myself were not long, as you may
imagine, in getting our rifles ready. Away
we went over the ice good distance till we
came so close to the bear that we thought
he had seen us.
''As l was taking long jump from one
block of ice to another the block broke un-
der my feet; l slipped and fell into the
wa er. Ugh! it was cold. felt that soon
enough, SWAN over TO the second block and
threw my rifle on first climbing up after
it. The first thing did was to shake my
self as free aS possible and blow the water
out of the barrel of my gun. The cartridges
were in my trousers pocket, which was
waterproof. and SO l was soon ready for
the bear.
when | saw him turn corner to get
behind big block of Ice l steered straight
for the place. Just as | came close up 70 it
and bent over the edge | was confronted by
Mr.. Bruin, who stood at "a distance of less
than ten feet. My rifle flew instinctvely
up to my shoulder, but Bruin was quicker
still and lunRed over the edge into the
waler-my bullet hit the place where he
had been sitting, while he vanished.
"a few leaps and l had crossed the hill
Ock and stood on the edge TO shoot him IN
the water. But there was no animal To be
seen. Where had the fellow gomez With
a long face | looked down into the dark
blue water, and there. deep below, l saw a
big white something which Rrowled and
! dubbed terribly. The situation was ex-
plained-the bear had taken a dive. But
the open water between the ice flakes was
broad. The best thing to do was to 20
across and meet the creature on the other
| side, since perhaps he would dive under the
sheets of ice and come out a long dis
tanCe from me.
II jumped to another floating block, and
was just steadying myself when the bear
came up on the other side, threw himself
with roar upon the ice aud snapped at any
legs. / fought with my arms as best l
could. ] could not shoot, for had not re-
gained my balance. don't you see, but this
was not 80 easy on "a round piece of ice,
though at all events it offered this ad-
vantage-thAt there was no room on it for
any one besides myself"
cat last / succeeded, raised my gun and
sent the whole contents into the broad
white chest. The bear fell backward into
the water; another bullet behind his ear
and he was finished off. Shortly before he
died be tried 10 take q deep breath and get
down under water. was obliged to take
him by the ears and hold him up while he
drew his last breath"
Rather exciting sport, this-hRnd to hand
with big white bear on lettering block
Of ice. But the hardy NoTseman and bold
explorer got his opponents hide, aud now,
beautifully dressed and grinning so horri-
bly, that strange dogs are afraid Co 90 near
it, 1t adorns the doctors study. 1t seems
that there are still few tracts on earth
where the wild ANIMALS have not learned to
fear mau.