The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-22
BEARS AND HORSE FIGHT.
Jim Bells Wild Animal was Backed
10 win, anu lie did.


were congreguted about Simpson S
store, the only place of business within
20 miles, when arrived last Satur-
day, says correspondent writing from
Simpsons Corner. Having curiosity
to learn the cause Of the odd comhina.
ton, inquired of long-limbeo. e.
headed, butternut hunter.
oval, stranger, there goin to con-
off right away the gosh durndest tigh,
you ever saw right here at the cor
ncrs
"Who are the contestants and what
arc they going to fight for:'''
'tThar amt do who bout it. It's
old Jim Bells stalyun that's goin to
lambastc jam Cartcrs two big bars,
an let me tell you, stranger, it will be
a fight to member for manya year, an
I'm bettin on the stalyun.' -
"a horse to do battle with two full
grown bears? Why, my friend, the
bears ought to be able to tear him to
pieces in jitfy."
"Say, stranger, it's parent you don
know that hoss. Why, that stalyun
is the biggest devil this side Of ole
Nautchalah There amt no livin'
crittcr on four legs can down him.
That stalyun's wiped out half dozen
bars, killed painter an near bout
cleaned out the creek Of men and crit
tcrs the last year. He's dang'us as
din mite. an nobody can handle him
'ceptin ole Jim boy, Jack. an how n
thunder he does It nobody knows.
Sum folks say he hypn tixcs the moss.
Mebbe he does; anyway, he's the only
human that can handle him.
Where can find this terrible ami :
mal?"
Right over there in that pen re-
piled my informant, pointing to big
stockade of heavy timbers short dis
tance down the creek
When l climbed up and stood upon
a wide shelf or string Of logs which cx-
tended entirely around the G0-foot
stockade and looked over at the occu-
pant Of the pen was forced to CON
fess that the hunter had not cxaggcra-
ted. at least SO far as the horse was
concerned. The animal / looked upon
was wild stallion Of the mountain
breed. common in the highlands Of
North Carolina
Although not above H.! hands in
height. he was certainly the most vi
cious and savage locking brute of the
equine species | had ever looked at.
He was black as coal with: long
name and tail and with limbs of per
feet symmetry. and but for the man
ner in which he rolled his eyes and
/ curled his lips above his long, glisten-
ing teeth as he snapped at the people
on the shelf. making them dodge
down out of reach, he would have
been perfect beauty. AS it was. mis-
actions showed him to be devil in
carnate.
7 had scarcely taken all this in when
four men came up leading two tremen-
dous bears. either Of which would
have tipped the scale at 400 pounds.
The crowd followed close behind. and
almost before the men had opened two
small gates at the bottom Of the stock
ade to let the bears in human belt
encircled the stockade. The bears
were let in at opposite sides. and al
most in flash there began the most
terrific and bloody battle I had ever,
seen.
[ have witnessed in the Old North
State and in the mountains battles be-
tween catamounts and bulldogs.
have seen panther rittcd against
dogs. bears and catamounts and once
witnessed battle royal in Texas. in
which two big bears and a panther
fought drove Of peccaries but in COM
parison to the fight which followed
all of the above seemed placid as
schoolby play.
The bears had barely time to straight
en- up after their entrance before the
black stallion gave snort of rage and
bounded toward the big bear. which
stood almost below my feet. Bruin
saw him coming and rose to his hind
feet. his little yellow eyes swapping
with rage and hunger. The horse was
too quick for him. however, for before
the bear could strike with his power
full arms. the stallion reared up drove
both forefcet squarcly into the bear s
face and neck, knocking him six feet
away.
Wheeling like lightning the cnragcd
| 10 lion nnt hnrna 70 LII l..4 L e. l. =.