The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-17

my attention was attracted by the fierce
bellowings of a wild bull. and thinking TO
have some sport l instantly unslung my
heavy rife and prepared for a shot should
the opportunity offer. From the great
noise of bellowings and snorts l could dis
tinguish lower note of sullen growls which
puzzled me not little.
1T was but the work Of a moment TO
spur my horse in the direction of the noise,
where / soon found the cause Of the dis
turbance to DO a fight 70 the death between
magnificent red bull and an enormous
grizzly bear. The beasts were but a few
feet apart, and the bull was evidently spar
ring Tor an opening. The bear appeared TO
be on the defensive and was awaiting, half
raised upon his launches, the attack from
his foe.
1.-The bull, with lowered head and glaring
eyes, seemed to be measuring his opponent.
With a sudden bound, as il hurled from a
catapult, the bull sprang forward, full at
the bear, knocking the great grizzly out Of
his position, but at thesame time receiving
a blow from the paw of bruin which fairly
raked the hair from his shoulder and caused
the blood TO flow from the deep wounds
made by the sharp knifelke claws Of the
bear. The bear did not escape unframed,
for both hair and blood were to be seen on
each Of the horns of the wild bovine.
THE now fairly infuriated bull backed
away. shaking his head from side TO side
and uttering snorts OF rage and defiance.
Marching about, the bull seemed to
await an opportunity TO strike the bear
when at a disadvantage, but bruin was not
20 be outdone and kept turning around and
around, keeping a bold front to his horned
antagonist. This seemed to be the prin-
cipal feature Of the conflict during the in
tervals of actual fighting, neither animal
taking his eyes for an instant from the
other. Neither was ever taken at a disad-
vantage, and the fight was one Of pluck and
endurance. For more than an hour the con-
nict lasted. the combatants frequently rest
ing for some considerable time between
rounds.
The bull was a most powerful animal
and exerted all Of his strength ia attempt
ing TO overthrow the bear. This, on more
than one occasion, 1 thought he had accom-
plished but the bear would scramble to
his fighting posture with a suddenness that
made his movements laughable.
I'm the final charge the bull retreated
from the conflict with the blood streaming
from his neck and shoulders, and the bear
seemed TO totter and reel away in half
dazed condition. My sympathies were with
the bull from the start, and now brought
the conflict to an unequal close by sending
bullet into the body Of the bear
AT the report of my rifle the bull am
bled away, and the bear turned with all the
ferocity Of his nature toinvestigate his new
enemy / rode out into the open not a
hundred yards from the bear, which now
became the aggressOr wiohout any cera-
mony whatever. Time after time ! fired
full at the body Of the bear. and almost rs
often was | compelled To turn and flee TO
escape his ferocious charges. Bloody, torn
and bleeding from innumerable wounds in
ficted by the bull and from my rifle, ho at
length succumbed 20 the inevitable aud
turned over on his side to die"