Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-03-22
A FIGHT WITH \ GRIZZLY.
Young Hunters In II rcrilous Situa.
don After Their Dogs Had Been
Killed.

The recent prevailing cold weather
has driven game In larger numbers
than has ever been known down from
the mountains to the valleys In search
OF food, and hunters brave enough to
face the snow and blasts OF the Icy
wind have found rare sport bringing
home full bags Of small animals. with
now and then fine buck, to prove the
prowesS OF their arms. One or two have
even killed prowltng puma or wild
sought the vicinity of The rauchman's
/ poultry yard or sheopfold
| 1t was, however reserved for three
young officers from Il military post in
the northern portion of Utah to track
homo and slay the biggest grizzly
seen in these parts since pioneer days
II was while following the lead OF II
couple Of hounds that had struck the
scent Of deer that these hunters pres.
entity came across the marks OF feet
that were neither those OF the deer nor
OF the dogs. but with the widespread
ing claws and deeply imprinted nails
OF m enormous bear,
The dogs had evidently also found
that there was still bigger game around
and had abandoned the trail OF the
deer to follow that of the bear A
| light fall OF snow helped to preserve
tho guiding footmarks and II was with
out difficulty that the soldiers tracked
the bear and Its pursucrs to small
glen with steep rocky walls On on
tcring this they could hear n little fur
thcr on. the haunting barking of the
dogs and the fcrocious growing OF the
grizzly. worried by It's willy enemies,
and In n few minutes arrived on the
scene to find that the bear had turned
ut bay, with Its back against Il boulder,
and was striking out at Its tormemtors
with It's terrible claws, but the dogs
| had little difficulty In cvnding the
blows, while ut the same time madden
ing the animal by wheeling about It,
barking and swapping at Its logs.
The grizzly, on Its Launches, with its
gigantic head and hloodshot eyes ana
gaping mouth, armed with long white
! teeth, presented n formidable sight, aud
every stroke of Its powerful curved
claws was enough to rcnd the flesh
from mans body. At last however,
one of the dogs growing holder,
Sprnng ut the great hears throat. and
was instantly fcllcd by II blow that
scnt him head over heels. with his
/ muzzle torn and bloody. The other,
seeing his companion wounded. re-
/ treated also; hut the grizzly. now thor,
oughly enrngcd, made rush mt the
nearest, ana before the hunters could
/ interfere had torn him literally to
! pieces.
The first dog now ran toward Its
friends, but the bear was too quick
for It and overlook It, and though the
! soldiers sent n volcy after It, the
! flying shots which missed the mark did
not stay the animal for n moment,
ana with one blow of Its paw 1t fairly
4 laid open the body OF the dog with
its extended nails The foremost hunt
or now fired again at the bear and this
! time succeeded In drawing Its blood
/ by slight wound along the creatures
side.
The grizzly, for the first time, now
seemed to become cognlzant OF the
fact that II had other enemies to deal
with besides the two dogs, but II had
clearly no idea OF retreating, but turned
Mt once upon the new danger All
! three now fired mt the bear, but though
every shot apparently found n home
I In its huge carcass II rushed on with
out hesitation In the direction OF the
enemy, which received II with an aim
| less fire and broke for the nearest
boulder One Of the hunters In his
flight droIred his gun. and this was in
stantly seized upon by the grizzly,
which cndeavored to claw II to pieces
but In some way the weapon was dis
charged and the explosion, while doing
the bear no real injury, frightened Il
into run, but the load entered the
ficshy part OF the right leg OF the
hunter who had dropped the gun and
who was In the act OF scrnmbling up
the boulder.
The other two, seeing the foe In full
flight and regretting the loss OF so
splendid trophy Of their expedition.
fired after the grizzly, and succeeded
! In breaking the creatures hind quarter.
Halted In this manner, the bear turned
about and waited the arrival or IT.
foes with a snarlIng mouth, but seeing
that although wounded, the animal
was by no means hors de combat but
still game TO the death, the hunters
did not approach closer, but from their
perch on the boulder kept ap steady
fire on the grizzly until the great
head fell to one side and the terrible
claws ceased TO tear at the loose soil
to apply to Its numerous wounds.
/ Thinking the animal dead at last.
the three descended TO look mt the
prize, but as the foremost reached the
spot where the bear lay, 1t suddenly
stroye to rise on its feet. and failing
| In this. sank back again, closing It's
eyes. Drawing his knife one OF the
soldiers bent down to make sure OF dis
patching II this time. but az he was
about TO plunge the blade into the