The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-10-06
RAM AGAINST BEAR.
Bruin Was Looking for . Dinner
But Got q Broken Neck
Instead.

Among the farm possessions of one
Peter Morely, who lives along the wa
vania, is large black ram. AS the story
comes in from there, like Jim Smiley's
famous jumping frog, no one noticed
until recently any more points about
this ram than there were about any
other ram. Now this ram is the sensa-
ton in the Little Kettle creek country.
for he has proved himself benefactor
to the neighborhoodlb by killing alone
and s3nxided, and in one, two, three or
der, a big bear that for weeks had been
devoting himself % thinning out the
sheep pastures.
This bear had been hunted in vain far
and near. A few days ago Farmer
Merely heard that the cunning mutton
stealer had been seen in the vicinity.
and he posted his 1S-year-old boy Peter
as a guard over the field where his sheep
were feeding. The boy was armed with
a double-barreled shotgun loaded with
buckshot. If the bear appeared young
Peters instructions were to give him
both barrels. Young Merely watched
with patience and fear for two days.
but no bear appeared. On the third
day he felt himself more at ease and
began to think that Bruin did not care
to bother with that flock of sheep, his
accommodating having probably dis
covered to him the boy and the gun on
guard. About the middle of the after
noon of the third day, however. the
guardian of the flock was startled to see
the bear jump over the stone wall, only
q few feet from where he was sitting.
The bear put so ferocious front to-
ward the lad that he dropped his gun,
sprang over the wall, and ran at the
top of his speed toward a field, not far
distant, where his father was at work.
Farmer Merely started for the sheep
pasture as fast as he could run. When
the bear appeared in the field the sheep
were feeding in group in the middle
of the lot. By the time Farmer Morely
reached the fence where the frightened
boy had left the gun only one of the
flock remained where the group had
been. That one was the black ram.
The others had fed into far corner of
the field, where they were huddled to-
gether, bleating in terror as they gazed
back at the shutting form of the bear.
Bears are epicurean in their tastes,
and If they visit pigstye it is always
the youngest and latest inmate they
select. If it is mutton they are after.
they work on the same principle. So
this particular bear paid no attention
to the black ram, but was passing by
intention of making his selection from
the trembling and bleating flock be-
yond. 1t was at this interesting mo-
ment in the proceedings that Farmer
Merely appeared at the wall. The bear
had got in range of the ram as he
shuffled contemptuously along, and
then the ram seems to have made up his
mind that this ugly-looking stranger
had no business there. He leaped into
the air, ard like shot threw his thick.
hard head against the bear, striking the
big brute in the side, near the shoulder.
The bear went down like a lump of lead.
and for few seconds lay there. The
ram backed away, his eyes glazing and
every sense alert. The bear rose to his
feet and gazed in unmistakable surprise
at the ram.
IF anybody ever wondered what had
struck him." says Farmer Merely, that
bear did,"
But the bear didn't have time to fig
ure the matter out, for the ram took
the air once more and landed against
Bruin again, this time between the
eyes. Again the bear bit the dust. AN
this occurred SO quickly that Farmer
Merely had not yet come within sure
gunshot of the bear, and before he
could reach good range the bear rose
again, but only got half way up, for the
ram followed up his advantage and
pounded his head the third time against
the trespasser. The bear lay still mo-
ment and then sprang quickly to his
feet, turned, and began a lettering re.
treat. But Bruin did not get five feet
away. The ram caught the bear
laundering blow on the neck, and down
went the discounted sheep stealing
again. The ram stood in position to re-
peat the dose, but it was unnecessary.
The bear did not rise again. When
Farmer Merely got there he found the
bear, to all appearance, dead, but to
make sure he shot the animal in tho
head. He might have saved his ann
munition. The black rams last butt
had broken the bears neck, no doubt
killing the big brute instantly.
From all accounts it in not likely that