Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-09-18
FIGHT WITH A SHE BEAR

son had hand.io. hand fight with I
bear. They are well-io-do ranchmen
Dodso carries his left arm IN a sling
and his face, scalp, arms and hands are
covered with scratches and cuts. Ills
right ear Is nearly torn away and had 10
be sewed TO his head. Fuller also hes
decorations upon his arms. His left
shoulder has been torn open. He Is un-
der the care OF physician and cannot
leave the house
They had nearly finished their hunt.
ing and trapping a. the woods last Sat
urday afternoon. On Saturday morn
ing Fuller started on with his gun on
his shoulder to make up some fox traps
Dodson was left alone al the camp, and
little later went gu, for a stroll about
the woods, carrying his rifle with him
lie sat down upon stump 70 rest. and
had been sitting only a few minutes
when he heard the sound OF swapping
twigs. He looked about and was startled !
TO see a large female bear within 100
fee; Of him.
81 shall never forge. how big that bear
looked to me at that moment" said Dob
son. ~ never saw bear out Of cap
tiyity before. had read ali about their
quiet ways and how they will avoid a
tussie with a man. Now thought.
'here Il a chance TO astonish Fuller
when he comes back from dinner will
XII that bear In about five seconds, and {
4 4. I a. - !
was the most deliberate aim at old (
bruins head. The aim was poor, ans Il
the beast gave a grunt and leaped a foot n
or two IN the air The bullet hit her In h
the nose o
ain second theanimal rushed toward v
me swinging her head from side to side c
and showing large sharp teeth. b
reached for another cartridge and found n
that had forgotten to take my cartridge ~
box with me. The sensation was dread. p
iol had nothing about me but long
sharp two-edged dirk knife with which f.
10 defend myself; and there was that b,
inturiated aud hungry, prowling bear fl
almost upon mel re-
u drew my knife from its sheath. at fe
the same moment rushing forward OF
few feet to strike as pow erful a blow as IN
possible with my weapon The beast II
struck against my legs and nearly fell Pr
% the ground. turned aud In my @,
haste gave The animal a savage cut M
across the back Al that the bear to
prned upon me more fcrcey than ever. Ill
had got upon my feet and the bear CT
truck me powerful blow up N my be
hest. II had not been prepared for 1t IN
would have fallen under her. II seemed
IS II that was my last day on earth, ira
"rhe next move made was to at hn
empt to pat my knife into bruins WI
cart. Nv body, however. was SO close fri
b that of the bear that the knife blade IN
truck too close TO the bears shoulder car
, do any Injury. Old bruin was more VIII
rraged than ever. and dealt me a blow iiS
18th ono OF her great paws that seemed dec
Ike sledge hammer on my breast out
u backward upon the ground. wit
ain an instant the animal was upon
&c again. Reaching up, | gave her
ash across the breast from which I
santltics Of hot blood poured down tier
pom me. Then we had close embra e. Ter
airing which my face and hands. as you bell
e. were scratched and torn thai
~ Tough, Ike hi aud managed TO dou
'ep the bears jaws from closing upon eve
e. did not fear her hugs / don't sire
low how did H. but managed to was
I'D on 20 my knife. with when had Dig
ven the old beast three deep digs. and s''p
the same time 10 grasp her about the now
sist Then we rolled over twice. 1t was
re OIL yearly all my heavy clothing rene
} legs were lacefated BY the bears
nd paws. bat SIN warded off her 60 @
- and hugs 0O"'
Ny strength was beginning 20 fail. ''''
q realized I could not continue at
: rate much longer by almost
,erhuman strength rolled upon my ~
e. and getting my rIgh, hand free for 49,
instant. made lunge at the beast
lch meant should finish her. gun
ack exactly where wished. under ''''S'
left terepaw. That blow did no, O'"'
kc the heart. but Il struck In pretty ~ 60
der spot. for the bear fell upon me. '''
Nv left arm. as you see. here IN -,
&. was broken by the fall The bear Ivy
helpless for few minutes. aud YOU ',''i''
believe freed myself In the short. wy