The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-10-04
DEATH FI6HT OH All ICE CHI.
A Hunter Pittsd Against 2 Grizzly Bear on
Colorado Mountain.

The Fight Began with the Shooting Of an
Elk, and Was Carried on Across . Gre
vasse-An Engineers lesson in Hunting
Bear.
my bear fight began with the shoot
ing of an elk, y said Mason Mcintosh,
mining engineer. 81 was in the Col
orado mountains in the UncOmpahgre
region, investigating some mining
properties for a New York syndicate,
when it occurred. The leads we're all
at high altitude, and in following up
some float on a mountain side one July
day left my two companions at the
timber line to await my return and
kept on going upward until l got
among the summit levels near the
edge Of the ice cap. This is the snow
and ice which collect in winter upon
high mountain tops, and which. in
places sheltered from the sun, does not
disappear through the entire year.
Upon broad level SUBMITS, which in
some parts of the Rocky mountain
form lofty, irregular table lands, the
accumulated snow of winter melts very
slowly through the warm season and,
alternately freezing and thawing,
forms glaciers often of great extent
and depth. 1t was toward such table
land and glacier that was climbing.
ga half mile from the summit an elk
broke out of a little canyon ahead, and
stopped for a moment to survey me as
he crossed my path. I was carrying a
Maynard rife, light mountain gun,
and at once fired, wounding him in the
body. Immediately he turned and
started at full speed up the face Of the
mountain. knew that the way to Sc
cure him was not to follow him up
closely, which would keep him on the
run as long as he had strength to 60,
but to wait for him to stop and lie
down, which, if undisturbed, he pres
emily would do if badly hurt Then
the chances would be that in a short
time could approach him near enough
to give the finishing shot, If one were
necessary. But the elk did not stop
while within my view. He kept straight
on up the mountain side and disap-
peared over the edge of the summit.
''Then I started after him. The slope
was very steep, and in the rarifed air
of the high altitude climbing was slow
work. But what a glorious scene it led
me toI When came up to the edge Of
the summit it was to look forth upon
rough and undulating ice plain many
acres in extent, rejecting the suns
rays in tints of white and crystal Tn
compahgre lowered high above it, but
on every other hand the many SUBMITS
in view rose to heights inferior or only
equal to that of the glacier. Upon the
icefeld, FIVE hundred yards from where
was, the elk had laid himself down.
Against the smooth surface about him
he presented, with his branching
horns, striking picture, the only liv-
ing thing, except the eagles, in sight.
His course on the ice was marked by
trail of blood, and he evidently had
sunk down exhausted, not to rise.
las I peered over the edge, debating
whether had better at once try to ap.
proach him, another actor appeared on
the scene. From behind some Show
bound rocks off to the right huge
silver-tipped bear emerged suddenly
upon the icefeld. lie walked out
short distance upon the ice, stopped,
looked around and snuffed the air;
then started toward the elk, his long,
loose, shutting pace taking him along
much faster than would appear merely
from looking at his motion. The vino
was blowing in direction to carry his
scent from the elk, that did not seem
to be aware of his coming until he was
close at hand. Then the elk started to
his feet to face him. but fell upon his
knees. The bear went straight upon
him, pulled him down by the head, and
broke his neck with one powerful
twist He wasted no time in prelim-
inaries, but fell az once to tearing and
devouring the carcass.
by that time, as the ell's fate was
settled, and it was now a question of
possession between the bear and me,
had decided to take hand again in
| the performance. was then novice
in Rocky Mountain hunting, and
thought at the moment only of the
fine chance l had to bag big silver
| tip, trusting to my light Maynard rife
with a tenderfoot's confidence that
was not at all justified by its caliber
and carrying qualities. started with
no more ado across the ice to interrupt
the bear at his dinner, I was some
what apprehensiye, not from a sense OF
danger-far from it--but for fear he
would run away before could get
within easy shot. might have spared
myself any concern on that account.
The bear was too busy at his repast
even to look at me until had gotmore
than half way to him. He looked up
from time TO time as came nearer,
then fell to tearing the elk again.
1T was not until was within a
hundred yards Of him that he seemed
to take my coming seriously; then he
stopped his eating to grOwl in deep
bass note that seemed to shake the air
like the distant muttering of thunder,
lifting his head and looking at me in
a way that made rue for the first time
realize what I was venturing upon.
The chill and desolation Of the frozen
landscape suddenly impressed me as
they had not done before, and the
proximity of a tree convenient for
climbing would have added vastly to
my comfort jast then. The absence Of
such a feature made me unappreciative
of the grand and savage spectacle that
the bear presented as he stood facing
me, his forefeet planted on the elk, his
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