The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-06-14

I n hllVg-tip bear IN Ieuhleep tah"h
after a FIGHT In which he escaped al
most by miracle.
II came up from Paint Rock" said
/ he, and struck the canon at iw
[ mouth. little above the old w. T.
/ ranch. n was about 3 o'clock In the
morning. and the weather was pretty
cold. There was heavy snow on the
ground: and presently found whore
bear had como down from the Biz Horn
| mountains. through a gorge In the side
Of the rock. and entered the canon. !
followed the trail rapidly. expecting
every minute 10 come upon the animal,
yot II was nearly two hours before ]
/ caught sight Of H. | fastened my
steps. fearing II might get into the I'M
derhrush and escape. but when came
up | found II standing near q small
pine tree. growing savagely. ! knew
then that had no chlld'a play ahead
Of me. Some years ago. Phil vidal,
one OF tho best hunters In our west
ern country, and myself were partners
In the hunting and trapping business,
and we deliberately turned our heels
on n bear that we had tracked to a
pile Of rocks on Blg Horn mountains
because we realized that In a fight with
II one OF Ms would be killed. My OK
perlence IL that few OF the bears inhab-
lting the Rocky mountain ranges viii
show fight unless wounded, and when
they exhibit a tendency retreat In
my case ! could not do this. for ! had
been walking fast and came suddenly
upon the animal. had Winchester
rife ana carried a knife In my hip
pocket, raised my rife and fred at
the bear.
THE charge struck the animal In the
shoulder. but did nothing more than
enrage II. and Il sprang for me. II
stepped back a few PAGES and I fred a
second time. the ball entering the head
OF the bear but not checking liz adj
vance. II rushed At me with distended
Jaw. struck Il with all my strength
over the head with the butt Of my gun,
which was shlycred to pieces, and APP
pMcntly had no effect on the bear.
II drew my knife while I held thc
barrel OF the gun In my right hand,
and as the bear with a growl OF rage
aprang ON me. I thrust the gun barrel
into ita mouth and plunged the knife
into Tia right side Then followed a
desperate tuaale. for the bear knocked
the gun bgrrel out Of my hand, apd fas-
Joining his bhSs Upon ny shoulders
lrSV me basllSard on ths snow.
Twl@ We ttfncd over. ny desperate
struggles overcoming even the
strength OF the pain-maddened ami
NAL. | managed TO escape from the
grasp OF the bear and scrambled to
my fcot but had lost my knife In the
aoufiie. and my face and hands were
decorated and my elothca torn into
ribbons and blood covered. for the bear
was bleeding from the wound In the
side Tho snow for some paecs was
aplashed with blood.
MY one thought now was to escape
ana backed away from the bear. who
slowly advanced toward mo with II,
mouth diBtended and its eyes glowlnl
like live Goals. "A the animal ad.
vanced rctrcated. keeping my eyoi
fixed upon him and shouting loudly foI
help. hoping 20 attract the attention Of
any hunter who might chance 10 be II
that portion OF the canon. Unfortunate
ly In my retreat my heel came In con
tact with a rock. and fell backward
into bunch OF Sage brush,
Before | could get up the bcal
rushed on me again. and as felt III
sharp claws enter my shoulders | be
gan TO feel that my time had come
The fall hurt me, and the weight OF N,
bear nearly crushed the breath from
my body. lint as fell I caught hol,
OF piece OF sage brush, and with tina
for weapon | made desperate ngh
for my life, striking the bear repeated
ly over the head, and thus preventing
the animal from selling either OF m!
arms and crushing them In his Jaws
The blows ! dealt caused the bear 1,
loosen his hold and rise upon hi
launches with a howl OF pain.
struggled to my feet and tried 10 re
= away, but the bear struck nj me an,
; one OF his claws fastened itself In m,
. coat. holding me TO the spot Agall
= we had > tussle. The bear striving 4
fasten both It's claws In my shoulders
= and making every effort TO proven
= him doing so.
HE was growing weaker and weake
from the loss OF blood, which wa
streaming from the wound had mad
I In his side. and II is to this fact that
2 attribute my escape. For some mo
I ments we struggled, the bear rislng
and falling each time with more dif
q hculty. felt myself growing faint
I and by an effort l tore myself loos
from the bear staggered a few pace.
and dropped unoonsciously ON N
D snow.
4 II suppose remained inserrthle 10
( half an hour. The snow falling In m
e face restored me, tried TO get ~
! but could not do so for some minutes
s AZ length rose and looked around an
saw the bear lying dead only fe'
PAGES from me.