The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1901-02-02

A Fight 10 The Death Between a Wilt
Bore and Bear.


Bore and Bear.
James R. Dean, who was born
near the present site OF Harrison,
Ark, is a son of Burrel and Melvina
(Simmons) Dean. His parents came
to Carroll county when they were
small children with sick" Wright,
one of the earliest pioneers of Car
roll county. Deans parents have
been dead several years; his father is
buried at Fayetteville, and his moth
err rests in. the cemetery at White
Church house, 7 or miles south
west of Harrison. MIR. Dean, after
leaving the sunny banks of Crooked
Creek, came to White River where
he lived several years near Bradley's
Ferry, in Marion county, but his
present residence is Protein, Mo.
One day he told the writer the fol-
lowing story, which may be of in
terest to those who enjoy reading
sketches of fierce encounters bet ween
wild animals that have occurred in
the hills OF the Ozarks. Mr.. Dean
said that after the thriving town Of
Harrison began its existence, he was
employed by some of the merchants
to haul goods from Springfield, No
II made many trips" said he,
sometimes | was alone, at other
times accompanied by other freight
ers. In the tall of the year, when the
weather was dry and pleasant and
the road in good condition, ENJOY
ed being out. 1t was healthy to
breathe the balrpy atmosphere and
drink of the pure springs of water as
found along the road, The road al
so traversed beautiful country
where hne views of towering noun
tains spread out before the traveller.
During cold wintery days though,
when snow, ice, rain and smaller
streams intervene the freighters'
humor is changed, and all this fine
landscape does not appear so beau
tiful, and hauling goods is net so
much to be enjoyed.
ION certain occasion during the
autumn days when the foliage of the
trees began to assume varigated col
ors | was hauling goods tor George
Cocker, who was then in the mercantile
business at Harrison, but now one
OF the leading merchants OF Lead
Hill. One night camped in the Lay
ton Prairie, midway between the
Layton saw mill place and Omaha,
which are about 8 miles apart. But
Just before stopping | met noted
hunter OF the name of Jimmie Young
blood, this man was-also a gunsmith
and repaired numbers of rifles for the
settlers. Youngblood had been
hunting that day and informed me
that bear and a wild boar had
met and fought desperately in the
late afternoon. Ny curiosity being
aroused / drove to where Young
blood said it occurred and camped;
the old hunter went with me and we
stayed together that night. The
combat had taken place among tall
pine trees which stood near the road
on the slope Of a hill. 1t was a bat
tie to the death, and as | viewed the
scene OF the terrific encounter
imagined how savagely they meas
ured their strength and ierocity
against each other. Mr.. Young
blood stated that while he was hunt
ing in the forenoon he struck the
trail Of a bear that had been made a
few hours previous. He put his
trained dog on the trail of the bear
and he and the dog followed the ami
NAL slowly to where it had met the
boar. Though Youngblood did not
witness the encounter, yet evidence
was not wanting to testify that the
confliCt was something awful; it
made me shudder while viewing the
scene Of the combat. Over the space
Of half an acre grass and weeds were
trampled down and spotted with
blood that flowed from the bleeding