Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-22
The Mountain MOnarchS 0Ver-ESti-
mated Their Proves.
Struggle to the Death-The Grizzly
Proves Two Strong for Even Their
Combined EffOrts-The Female
Lion is Left Dead on the Field.

and were filing our pipes lot sLnOhe'
when a grizzly bear broke out Of cedar
thicket 10 the east and lOunSed across
the open to the tree, says the Detroit
Free Press. He was a male and full
grown and his bulk astonished us. His
very gait proved that he was in Ill hui
NOR, and he had no sooner reached the
tree than he reared up and began claw
ing at it, The wood was decayed until
blow of his claws sent dust and chips
and splinters flying right and left, and
the monster growled and CRASHED MS
teeth as if fighting a live enemy. He
was the fa.rest sort Of a target, and the
Captain was raising his Winchester for
a shot, when the guide leaned forward
and whispered:
Don't do IT, The old yarmint is mad
all the way through and would fight
regiment of soldiers"
But I can drop him with one bullet"
protested the Captain.
Don't try it. ia sooner take my
chances with fifty Indian warriors. Jest
you wait and you'll mebbe see sun
thin"
The bear continued fighting the tree
for perhaps five minutes. and then he
cropped down on all fCurs and faced tho
; thicket 10 the south and snuffed and
gr0wled and finally uttered roar OF
defiance.
Keep quiet-tAar's fun ahead whis-
pered the guide. and We laid our IN
lighted pipes aside and gave the scene
our whole attention.
THE CONFLICT BEGINS.
After a couple Of minutes during
which old Ephra.m continued to work
up his temper, a mountain lion leaped
out of the thicket into the open at the
southwest corner. Ten seconds later a
second lion leaped Ou- at the southeast
angle. and the three beasts stood gr0wl-
ing and glazing and making ready for
battle. The lions were male and female,
and he female was the more aggressive
of The TWO. AS they stood for moment
switching the grass with their tails and
each having a paw raised, they were
about thirty fee from each other and
about forty from the bear.
Keep quiet and you'll see the purt.est
little fOut a man ever So, down TO- said
the guide. as he removed his hat and
plucked up a small bush growing IN
front of him.
The bear was expecting his enemies.
Perhaps he had found and destroyed the
cubs of the lioness and knew the parents
were after him He moved away from
the tree 20 have q clear space around
him. and defed them to attack. The
lions were too pruden. to make rush.
After working up their fury one moved
10 the east and the other to the west,
keeping close to The edge Of the thick
ct. The grizzly could not keep both of
them under mis- eye, and. seeming to
think the liOneSs the most dangerous Of
the TWO, he gave her mis- whole atten-
ton. While he faced her the lon moved
past him TO the rear and then crOuchod
down. We thought his action cOwardly.
but the paid had evidently planned the
whole affair and he was following the
programme As he crouched down the
li0ness began TO advance, but she moved
at an angle, and only foot by foot. She
kept up a low growing all the time, and,
though it was a sunshiny day, her eyes
glittered like Goals of fire. The growls
of the bear were deeper and louder, and
he stood stock still and waited for her.
TO THE DEATH.
He knew that she was creeping up for
a spring. but he did not make the first
move. When she had approached TO
within about fifteen feet she uttered
cry and the lion made his leap. He had
a full twenty feet TO 90, and he covered
il at a bound He rose from the ground
like a bird, and his movements were so
rapid that we did not realize his action
until he landed on top Of the bear. Two
seconds later the liOness reached the
same spot. and then the three were roll
ing over and over on the ground like
great ball. Soldiers as We were, and at
a safe distance, and with trusty weapons
at hand. the sounds of conflict fairly
frightened us. There was a chorus OF
yelps. growls, rOars and screams, and
the ball continued rolling for about six
" seconds. Then it suddenly dissolved
into two lions and a bear. and the lions
sprang away to a distance Of ten yards.
The grizzly had gotten the best Of the
fight. We could see that he had been
severely clawed and bitten, but the lions
were worse off. The lion limped and
seemed to have lost the use of one hind
leg and his right side was laid open
from shoulder to hip, and the lioness
was so badly hurt that she lay painting
and whining like a dog.
THAT isn't the end Of They'll try
IL AGAIN. whispered the guide as We
wondered If it was over. odd Eph
knows his gait. and this s his fight
There was a rest Of five minutes.
Then the lioness began growing and
switching her tail and her courage re
-urDed. She moved over to the lion as
# she meant to attack him, and with an
angry snarl ne leaped away and skulk-
cd 70 the rear Of the bear again. When
no had reached it the liOness began to
advance. and now she was picture Of
fury.
THEY'LL do exactly as before" said
the guide. and that's proof that they
ha,n't got no sense in thar heads. If
thar wasn't but one-Of EN- old Eph
would stand up 20 it like a boxer, but be
sn' thar's two his game is to fight on his
back. He's willin' the hon should light
down on him, bskase he'll flop him IN