The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-20
BULL IND GRIZZLY FIGHT.
4 BATTLE TO THE DEATH WATCH
I'D ~ A Man W 4 TREE.
rU11ous Charges - the Dul1 Met
with the SKIN and Gigaatie
Strength 81 the DsaF@Catt1e.
Eagles anA Wolves Spectators.

NJ Pennsylvania, Il spent q
W. good deal Of time In the
great Northwest One day,
having time on my hands. thought
would get rid Of IL pleasantly by trout
Ing trip TO Q stream that lay a few miles
south from our camp The weather had
been hot and dry for some time. and when
I got over to the river found the head
waters were not much better than dry
land. all the moisture I could md being
little puddles here and there In the bed.
So concluded the best thing for me to do
would be to march right back TO camp.
There was heavy thicket along the north
bank Of the stream some distance above
where ! came out on the dry bed, and
Q few cottonwood trees were standing
maybe q hundred yards back from the
bank. AZ turned 10 retrace my steps
I saw o small herd Of wild cattle stand
ing OF to my right. Among them was
young bull. a splendid specimen OF his
kind. lie and the rest Of the cattle were
eying me with suspicious curiosity.
didn't like the appearance Of the bull. for
he had q way Of lowering his head, throw
Ing dirt with his fore feet and uttering
an ominous sort of below that seemed
threatening turned and walked away.
moving toward the cottonwood trees.
CHANGING back over my shoulder. ! saw
the bull coming along after me. l In
creased my speed. and so did he. until
I was running my fastest and the bull
was doing his best behind me. l can't
say exactly how u was done. but II
wasn't many seconds before found my
self in one Of the cottonwood trees. out
Of reach OF the bull. who was Immediately
under the tree. paving dirt and acting
a. X very mad.
The bull paved and grumbled q few
minutes, and then turned and walked to-
a hA
which there was a water hole. The other
cattle went on quietly grazing where
had frst seen them. I suppose the bull
started toward the thicket to get drink
at the water hole, but he never got the
drink. l saw him push his way into the
thicket. and the next instant l could see
that he had got into trouble OF some kind
and that trouble proved to be q grizzly
bear. A fierce struggle followed In the
thicket. The tops Of the bushes swayed
to and fro, and I could hear the heavy
crash OF driftwood as the two powerful
animals fought. A cloud Of dust rolled
up from the spot 1t was not distant over
100 yards from the three In which ! had
taken refuge Scarcely two minutes
bushes His head was covered with blood
and great fakes Of flesh hung from his
fore shoulders. But instead OF showing
any signs OF defeat he seemed literally
to glow with defiant rage. Instinct had
simply prompted him In his retreat to seek
an open space. He was 1.-THE and wiry,
yet wonderfully massive about the should
ers, combining the finest qualities OK
strength and symmetry. For a moment he
stood Riaring at the bushes he had retreat-
ed from. his nostrils distended and his
whole body fixed and rigid. But scarcely
had I time to note all this. when the bear.
a huge. repuisive-looking brute. broke
through the bushes into the opening. He
was the most formidable specimen OF his
kind had ever seen. and my sympathies
were at once with the bull In spite OF his
belligerent attitude toward me q few NM
utes before.
when the bear made his appearance
out Of the thicket the bull did not wait for
his charge. but. lowering his great head TO
the ground, rushed madly upon the bear.
The after seemed to appreciate the ahilt-
ties OF the bull. and summoned all the
wariness Of his nature 10 his aid. He
waited until the bull was almost upon
him, and then sprang aside with marvel
Gus quickness, seized his assailants horns
In his powerful grasp. and pressed the
bulls head down against the ground by
his great strength and the weight Of his
enormous body. biting the bulls nose and
tearing the flesh from his cheek and shout
ders with his long. sharp claws.
Presently both animals paused In their
desperate struggle. but the bear did not re-
lax the hold he had obtained on the bull.
The cessation OF the struggle had prob
ably been OF ten minutes duration when
suddenly the bull made one desperate
lunge, broke the embrace OF the grizzly,
hurled the bear from or bis head and
backed away some ten PAGES The bear
lifted his huge head and stood ready fer
the next assault. Tho herd OF cattle had
by this time gathered In from the plain and
surrounded the combatants. mooinR and
believing and paving up the ground. and
maintaining a terrified neutrality. The
bull did not remain al rest moment after
backing away for a new charge, but, rem
dered furious by hts wounds. he gathered
all his energies. and, with a resounding bel
low, rushed with impetuous force and fe-
rocssy upon the bear. The latter attempted
20 use the tactics that had served him SO
well at the f3rst onslaught. but the second
charge Of the bull was irresistible. IN spite
OF the bears terrific blows with hts paws.
and the grizzly went down in the dust be-
fore his craxed antagonist. and vainly tried
10 defend himself The bull thrust his
horns under the bear. caught him In the
belly with one OF his sharp weapons. and
with enc furious sweep OF his head, ripped
a great cash In the grixxiy's under side.
The grizzly rose TO his feet ard with a
time the two fought.
while the fight vas going on. two eagles
appeared from some mysterious acre and
sa led and csrcle~i above the scene Of the
conflict. leisurely and gradually dropping
nearer to the earth. Almost simultaneous
~ with the appearance Of the eagles I uw
the heads OF half a dozen hungry wolves
emerge from the bushes where the fight
had begun. I knew that the battle mus.
soon end. and that the eagles and the
wolves had scented the contest from affair."
and knew BY their infaiILbie instinct fha, IL
mus. result In choace prey for them The
presence ~ these hungry birds and beasts
OF prey added TO the terror 81 the conflict.
The desperate struggle continued. The
ground was torn ~ and covered with hIood
for many fee. around Both animals were
rrisvonsiy wounded II was plain that
neither could hold out much longef Masm-
ed and CORY. they fought with the certain
IS OF death the bear rolling over and over
In the dust. va.nly trying 70 avoid the fatal
horns OF his adversary. and The bull rip
ping. .sruss.ng and fesrfng the grizzly
with irresistible fsroeisy. AT last as X