The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-04-24
FIGHT WITH A BEAR.
AN FASTENER DISCOVERS AN
UGLY CUSTOMER.
bruia shows Fight Early whsreupon
;iss Traveller T-s-- - si'Ess --S Il
Rescued al Las, by Cexkoys' Lassos-
he Weighed 700 Pounds.

the Mongollons. last week. started
out alone one morning 70 climb the
Mesa de Ia vaea. about FIVE miles from
the home ranch" writes a New York
man who for several years past has
resided In Colorado and New Mexico.
This mesa or table land rises from
the valley 10 a height Of 700 feet Its
sides slope very steeply all around,
ana the level top ! should estimate az
700 acres In extent. decided not 20
Try to ride mp the slope. so plcketed my
horse In the valley and started up on
foot II was steep climbing, though
not otherwise a difficult path-merely
smooth. grassy rising at an angle per-
hapa SO degrees. found by the time
that | got to the top that the lifting Of
my 40 pounds weight to a height Of
200 feet In the rarefed air OF New Mex
leo was ali wanted for one morning.
When az last got TO the top was
glad enough 10 sit down. and lucky II
was for me that I sat there until / got
thoroughly rested. for needed all my
wind and endurance a few minutes la
ter.
Having sufficiently admired the view
on the side which I had aseended-a
grand outlook Il was OF mountain. plain
and valley extending to a distance Of
hundred mlles-I started to cross the
top OF the mesa 10 find what was to be
seen on the other side. Midway on the
top was the beginning OF raylne,
which deepened toward the edge Of the
mesa until Il opened as a chasm In the
side. ] had got halfway 10 the head
ofthis ravine. Intending to walk around
u. when / saw something big and gray
moving up the hollow; a moment later
II emerged into sight as a grizzly bear.
Whether the brute had heard me com
Ing and was advancing to meet me or
the encounter was purely accidental.
can not tell: but what he did on per-
celving me was to turn and come up
like a fash to the level Of the ground
facing me. There he paused. cycling
me. his hair bristling until he looked
twice as big as at first. and the loud.
snarling growl that he gave made
shiyers run up and down my back.
Except a 32-caliber revolver was
without a weapon-and a grizzly bear
would never distinguish the difference
between 32-oallber bullets and peas.
! would have turned and run. but
was afraid that to do so would inspire
the bear to take after me. What I
actually did was TO stand still and
watch the bear. hoping very earnestly
that. seeing me stand my ground. he
would turn tail and go back down ra-
vine. But he was In a bad temper. lie
growled again and took q step nearer
me; then a louder growl. and another
step. and then. as began to back
away in the effort TO keep the distance
good between US. the bear showed his
teeth and came for me on the run.
making surprising speed for so clumsy
a looking animal.
"of course turned and ran for II.
I was counted a good runner az college.
and am about as swift for a short dash
~ was then; but II there had been
fifty yards more between me and the
edge OF the mesa the bear would sure
~ have got me. As Il was got TO
the brink twenty yards ahead-and
down the slope ! went. reaching for
distance and not caring where or how
/ brought up so long as I kept away
from the bear. could hear him be-
hind me. and the stones he dislodged
came rolling down the hillside after
me; but a bear. owing to the length
OF his hind quarters, is not good AZ
sprinting down hill. and did not think
he could overhaul me before we got
TO the bottom. There was another
hope, FOR caught a glimpse Of horse
men down In the valley riding toward
the foot OF the mesa. and saw that
they were lifting their lassos from the
horns OF their saddles. They were
waiting for me az the bottom when I
got there. and ran between two OF
them out into the valley. where | sank
down painting for breath.
Before | could stop and turn around.
for | came TO the bottom OF the slope
under terrific Roadway. the shouts OF
the men and the angry snarling OF the
bear told me that business was going
on behind me. There we're three cow
boys-two Mexican vaqueros and a
Texan-and they were lassoing the
grizzly.
One moose had fallen about the
bears neck and the trained horse OF
the rider who had thrown the rope had
drawn II tight by instantly backing
away. As the bear. rising on his
launches. tried to claw the moose from
his shoulders. another iasso caught
one foreleg Then. dropping upon all
fours. the bear made a rush for the
nearest horseman. but the two lassos.
drawing opposite ways. held him fast
and tripped him. A third moose caught
the bears hind leg. and. by dexterous
naneuvering on the part OF the COW
boys. he was thrown upon his back.
whereup one OF them, dismounting.
wound the bear round and round with
his rope. tying his legs together so
that the creature lay helpless.
Then the cowboys held council OF
war as 10 whether TO keep the bear
alive or XIII him then and there. They
finally settled the matter by cutting
his throat and taking on the skin. for
which latter | gave them $40 The
bear was large one-they estimated
his weight at 700 pounds-and the fur
was unusually thick and fine"
Book Worms.
These curious little marauders. who
inhabit old, unused books. are attracted
by the paste in the binding, which is