The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-04-21
THE MARiPoSA WHALE"
Some Exploits Of Asbsrry Wills. q
Giant California Hunter.

Steps are being taken here, says
Fresno (Cal. letter TO the New York
Sun, to erect monument TO Asberry
Wills. the famed Mariposa giant, who
used to whip bears single-handed and
who could lift more than Sandow,
and was altogether more formidable
in his way than Corbett.
He was most famous Of all Cahfor-
MAS strong men, and was probably
the most phenomenal man in his sue
cesses as a hunter ever known on the
Pacific coast. Asberry died over "A
dozen years ago, and his body lies in
rocky defile near the edge of King ;
Canon. The determination on the
part Of some California pioneers to
build n monument to his memory
has caused many remarkable stories
Of his prowess to be related. His
phenomenal strength, coupled with
his exploits in the Sierras, are fresh
in the minds of the Argonauts.
Asberry was born in MaripoSa
county, and at the age Of seventee?
years stood six feet four inches in his
stocking feet, and was at once en-
titled to and received the sobriquet
of the Butterfly Whale" The
word butterfly was the translation
of Mariposa, which in Spanish means
butterfly. The name was originally
bestowed to the county because Of
the very large number Of curious
butterflies there. The Whale was
of fine physique, proportionately
built, and with eyes as sharp as an
eagles. His hair and beard was as
black as n ravens wing and he al
ways wore quantities OF both.
The whales" beard when he was
wenty-three, reached to his hunting
belt, and it is n fact attested by many
pioneers that he could, and often did,
tie on his sombrero with his NOUS
tache He had some humor in his
character, and this, combined with
his great daring and strength and
commanding presence, made him
welcome in all the cabins and camps.
The strange man was always accom-
panied by two companions, whom he
designated as "Old Iell-in-the Brush -
and Heart Deep" The former was
IA magnificent London twist rife-bore
gun, which carried an ounce ball. 1t
weighed eighteen pounds, and was an
old-fashioned muzzle loader. but
never in any way went back on the
name bestowed on it by the Butter
fly Whale" Heart Deep" was n
huge double-edged steel dirk weigh
ing eleven pounds, which the
Whale" welded as easily as the
average man would penknife.
These weapons he always took
with him on all his trips between
Mount Lyell and Mineral King, and
many were the thrilling experiences
he had in that part of Fresno county.
These experiences occupied in all
twelve years.
On one occasion, while on hunt
ing trip on the south fork OF Kings
river, he came to meadow and con-
cluded to fence off a little Of il for
the use of his mustangs. He and
the single companion with him be-
gan telling the trees. By some mis-
calculation one Of the trees fell in a
different direction from what was ex-
pected, and caught the friend OF the
giant, crushing him to the earth. 1t
had been very lofty tree, was two
feet thick where 1t caught the unfor-
tunate man, and was almost as heavy
as lead. But the Whale" was
equal to the emergency. Con"en-
trating all his giant strength, he
lifted the trunk from the crushed and
bleeding form. The man soon died
of his injuries. but his last hours
were much easier by reason Of the
feat of his giant friend. Many other
feats Of strength were performed by
him at different times. His lifting
power was nine times his own weight,
or 800 pounds.
One of his most phenomenal feats
OF strength, combined with his great
presence OF mind in time Of danger,
was illustrated while he was on the
middle fork OF Kings river prospect
ing for gold Just before dusk one
evening he espied six-months-old
grizzly, weighing fully POO pounds,
on a shelving ledge Of rock asleep.
The Whale said he would capture
the beautiful thing alive, and began
TO steal up on it. His companion,
Lewis, advised him that he had bet
ter shoot il, but the Whale ~ said
he would enjoy the fun. At this
Lewis climbed tree to be out OF any
possible scrimmage. The giant ad-
vanced cautiously up TO the edge OF
the ledge and grasped the young
grizzly by its hind feet. The bear
woke, was astonished, and for the
first time in its life summoned all its
young strength i'm a desperate battle.
1t chanced that the edge Of the
boulder on which the Whale, stood
was sloping, and he could not get a
firm foothold. A fearful struggle en-
sued, and at length both bear and
man rolled of into the copse Of yerba
buena and fern. The brute was pow
erful and set up a yelling.
This called the mother, a huge
grizzly. only few rods away from