Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-01
even was to bring on fight. the result of
Khich usa mot fo ha dnnhfed

which wss not to be doubted.
But the action of the rushing water was
frail hut, and the lower parts of the cabin
were already gone, and little beside the
roof left. The bear seemed also aware of
the growing danger, and exhibited great
restlessness, and prowlsd backward and
forward, turning her ugly head with o
snarling menace every time she approached
the spot where the farmer crouched.
At last the cabin, which had melted
away In the torrent to q mere shell, was
violently thrown sgainst q minute island
In the center of the stream, and Liver
more and the bear leaped from the dissol-
wing structure on to- the land, whsrs they
slipped and almost fell back into the foam
Ing water, but the grizzly, by the strength
of her giant, curved clsws, managed to Sc
cure foothold on the water-lsshed islsnd,
and drew herself up from danger, while
Livermore was fortunate enough to lay
hold of a small tree iutting out over the
stream.
But the bear, maddsned apparently by
the water 30 near at hand, aad probably
fearing that the tiny ssfehold was only
large enough for one, now showed q dispo-
sftion to eDcroach on Livermore's share of
the isle, and pushed him further and fur
ther toward the edge of the leland. The
farmer, being clad only In the scsnty gar
ments In which he had hin down to sleep
the night before, and being wholly un-
armed, realized that he was no match for
his formidable antagonist and Withdrew as
far as was possible from the angry animal.
But she was not to be sppeased, and final
ly struck out at him with her terrible claws
unsheathed.
Livermors. realizing his danger, fell
back from the stroke and narrowly escaped
falling into the water. The grizzly, which
had put forth her entire strength into the
blow, WAS In turn nearly upset and rolled
over on the wet ground. This gave the
farmer time TO wrench loose q bough of the
tree which had saved his life by allowing
him hold by which he had drawn him
self up out of the water, and, armed alone
with this, he met the next assault of the
grizzly. which seemed to grow more furi-
ous as her enemy foiled her attacks. The
broken end of the branch was sharp and
jagged, and, as the bear once more rushed
upon Livermore, he struck her over the
hesd with 1t, and then, as she paused for q
moment In the surprise Of the blow, he
thrust at her and tore away the flesh from
one entire side of her Jaw. The bone and
teeth we're laid bare by this thrust, but
Livermore had failed to accomplish his
purpose, which was to pierce the creatures
skull to the brain.
She gave a shrillcry OF fury and, throw
ing out both of her forefeet, struck at him,
and, though the farmer escaped the full
force of the stroke by springiDg backward
in all probability his chest would hsvs
been split by the long. curved, sharp claws
he was most severely scratched and the
blood flowed freely. But, seeing that his
one chance lay in killing the creature If
possible, the farmer again made at the
grizzly with the sharpsned branch, and as
she turned her heavy brute head toward
him, spsrling with open mouth, he thrust
In the stick, and would have driven 1t on
into the back of the throat, but, closing
her great jaws upon 1t, the bear broke II
short off, and then rushed forward to
strike at the farmer.
Livermore lodged the bear and stun
bled back on the bough referred to bsfore,
that overhung the water, and, losing his
footing, went head over heels into the tor
rent. The grizzly followed blindly, and.
making grasp outward for the body of
her fallen enemy, lost her balance and
staggered forward, but caught and held |
for q moment or two. TIE wet ground |
soon gsvs way, and she shot ont into
the water. She clswed at Livermore,
who WAS endeavoring to catch the bough /
again, bat missed him, and wss borne |
struggling away by the rushing stream. |
The farmer was more fortunate and |
succeeded in drawing himself up. and |
finally was able to climb ont of the resch |
of the angry water. He was badly cut \
by the claws of the ar zzly, ard exhaust
ed from the loes of blood as well as half |
frozen by the wstiipg he had just re-
ceived. Some hours sfterwsrd he WAS
seen by q rsnchmsn riding through the /
valley looking after the scattered herds,
and with some difficulty an old Indisn was
found who owned a dug-out, which wss /
borrowed, and when the waters had sufi- |
ciently subsidei for it to be possible 10 |
control the small boat in the current, II |
was launched, and the half dead ranch |
man was taken TO the nearest house,
where he was put to bed and medical at
tention provided for him.
The drowned body of the bear was soon
afterwsrd discovered near the banks of
the river, and when weighed Was found
to be the lsrgeet seen in this vicinity for
many years. She was something over
four hundred pounds In weight, and
meaeured, when erect, nearly i've feet
and half.
A Ahorse's Sense OF Locality.
From the Lewiston Journal
Abou. theyear 1856 little colt was born |
en- q farm In Aroostook county iu the