The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-01
BATTLE BETWEEN BEASTS.
After . Desperate Conflict the Grizriy
Bear Was Monarch of the Field


We had descended the Judith mount
ain on the south side until 100 feet
more would have taken US to its ac-
tual base. when we sat down on a
rock to rest. Right below us was q
clear spot Of about half an acre In ex-
tent. and fairly in the center of II
stood great pine tree. which had
been dead for perhaps a score or years.
We had Just sat down and were filling
our pipes for q smoke when a grizzly
bear burst out OF a cedar thic<et to
the east and lounged across the open
to the tree. He was a male and full
grown and his bulk astonished us. His
very gait proved that he was In Ill
humor. and he had no sooner reached
the tree than he reared up and began
clawing at II. The wood had decayed
until every blow OF his claws sent dust
and chips and splinters flying right
and left. and the monster growled and
clashed his teeth as II fighting a live
enemy. He was the fairest sort Of a
target. and the captain was raising
his Winchester for a shot, when the
guide leaned forward and whispered:
Don't do II. The old varmint is mad
all the way through and would fight
a regiment of soldiers
but can drop him with one bull
let." protested the captain.
Don't try 1t. I'd sooner take my
chances with 50 Injun warriors. Jest
you wait and you'll mebbe see
sunthin'."
The bear continued fighting the tree
for perhaps I'VE minutes and then he
dropped down on all fours and faced
the thicket to the south and snuffed
and growled and finally uttered roar
Of defiance.
Keep quiet-thar's fun ahead"
whispered the guide. and we laid our
unlighted pipes aside and gave the
scene our whole attention.
| After q coupde of minutes, during
which old Ephreim continued to work
| up his temper. a mountain lion leaped
out of the thicket into the open at the
southwest corner. Ten seconds later
second lion leaped out at the southeast
angle. Sand the three beasts stood
growing and glazing and making
ready for battle. The lions were male
and female. and the female was the
more aggressive of the two. AS they
stood for a moment, switching the
grass with their tails and each having
a paw raised. they were about 80 feet
from each other and about 40 from the
bear.
Keep quiet and you'll see the purti-
est little bout a man ever sot down
| tor said the guide, as he removed his
hat and plucked up a small bush grow
| ing 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 to have a clear
1 space around him and defied them to
attack. The lions were too prudent to
make a rush. After working up their
| fury one moved to the east and the
| other to the west, keeping close to the
edge Of the thickets. The grizzly could
not keep both of them under his eye,
and seeming to think the lioness the
most dangerous of the two, he gave
her his whole attention. While he
faced her the lion moved past him to
the rear and then crouched down. We
thought his action cowardly. but the
pair had evidently planned the whole
affair and he was following the pro-
gramme. AS he crouched down the
lioness 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 II was a sun
shiny 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.
We knew that she was creeping UP
for a spring, but she did not make
the first move. When she had APP
preached within about Is feet she ut
tered cry and the lion made his leap.
He had a full 20 feet to go, and he
covered 1t at a bound. He rose from
the ground like bird. and his move
ments 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 rolling over and
over on the ground like a great ball
Soldiers as we were, and at safe
distance. and with trusty weapons al
hand. the sounds of conflict fairly
frightened u.s. There was a chorus OF
yelps, growls. howls. roars and screams
and the ball continued rolling about
for so seconds. Then 1t suddenly dis
solved into two lions and a bear. and
the lions sprang away to a distance
of 10 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 OF
The lion limped and seemed to have
lost the use of one hind leg. and hi:
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 it-they'n try
1t again. whispered the guide. as W,
wondered II IL was over. "Ole Epi
knows his gait. and this is his fightr'
There was a rest Of five minutes
Then the lioness began growing anC
switching her tail, and her courag,
returned. She moved over to the lioI
as IL she meant to attack him, anC
with an angry snarl he leaped ava,
J and skulked TO the rear of the beal
! again. When he had reached IL tn
! lioness began to advance. and now sh'
! was a picture OF fury.
. They'll do exactly as before" salt
the guide. land that's proof that thel
, hain't got no sense in thar heads. j
, thar wasn't but one of 'em ole Epl
would stand up to IL like boxer. Blu
, bein' thar's two his game Is to igh
on his back. He's willin' the liol
! should light down on him, bekase he'll
! fop him underside at the fust move
This we're bout win end the row. ant
one o. them lions will be left dead oil
the ground
VICTORIOUS BRUIN.
The lioness moved slowly. evidentl.
waiting for an opening. and this tim
she was hardly 10 feet from the bea
| when she made her lean. There wa