Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-28

| his story, "a revolver, combined with
| presence of mind, no doubt saved your
| friend from death And that reminds
me Of story told to me last fall. when
Mr.. Whyte, Dan Harris and | went TO
| the Big Horn elk hunting. Bliss Davis
still bears the marks OF the terrible
/ struggle, and the old man related the
story just as will try to give 1t. One
afternoon, said he, a little while after
| | had come to the country,as l was
/ busy building log store house for the
/ grub | expected would come soon by
wagon, my partner yelled out to me:
81 say, Bill, there's big silvertip down
/ in the chokecherry bushes cross the
| creek" Now, You know that bear
! meat is prime eating In winter, and
/ such a chance wasn't to be lost, so
! ran into the shack and, catching up my
/ Winchester, started to get that bear.
had TO go about half mile, ana
when / got there | couldn't see any
/ thing but the bushes moving. At last
/ made out brown patch just where
| the bushes ran out to the foot of the
hill. So climbed up and then started
down, thinking l would not let him
smell me before he saw me and per-
haps show enough to give me good
shot But it was no go; he just stayed
still and wouldn't come out. At last
lost patience and said to myself: III
Just pump a bullet into what can see,
though whether it's a head or tail
don't know" So / raised my gun and
let drive at that brown patch, thinking
now he'll make for me and when he
gets near I'll split him open. The
smoke hadn't cleared away before
you'd thought an earthquake had
broken loose in them bushes. or all
the tumbling and rolling, grunting and
soualling ! ever heard, that was the
worst Down he dropped but was up
right away and up the hill he came
mouth open. I've seen and killed lots
of bears, but this fellow looked four
times bigger than any I've seen before
or since. When he got within thirty
feet | threw down the lever OF my
Winchester, and nary cartridge came
I'D. Sick? | nearly tainted. / did
have sense enough to turn and run,
yelling to one OF the boys who had
come near to bring my belt OF car
tridges. But was too late. The bear
overlook me and struck me on the
shoulder. taking all the shirt and some
! of the flesh from that side and knock
ing me spinning to the ground. ne
was right on top in second, and Ill
never forget how big and white those
teeth looked as he tried to get my head
in his laws. His bot breath came fun
in nv face and almost sickened me.
Luckily had kept hold of my gun, and
now | TANNED it crosswise In his
mouth. which kept him somewhat on
and his laws from shutting. One rake
of the right paw took big ribbons OF
flesh from my side and arm, and 10
keep him from ripping my stomach
omen | doubled my legs up.
"rhe bear was worried by that iron
gun barrel and gave back little, so l
shot out with both feet and caught him
below the paws, and head over heels he
went down the hill, and you can bet l
didn't stay there to see II he landed
ALI right. I ran to meet Tom with the
cartridge belt, and examining the mag
azine full. started back after the bear,
for I wasn't gong to let him get away
when he had torn me so. There ne
was still in the choke-cherries, tear
ing I'D the bushes and raising cain.
No sooner did he see me than back he
came lust spelling for another fght,
but this time / was ready for MIN, ana
as he reared let drive. The ball struck
him fair in the neck and broke the
spinal cord. He gave one Jump. fell,
and rolled down, lying there kicking,
but I wasn't taking any chances, for
dead bear amt always as dead as he
looks so getting little nearer l gave
him one through the head that settled
him. and i left Tom to skin and cut
him up, while I pulled out for the
house.
"You ought to have seen Mrs. Davis
when she saw me. | was one big spot
of blood, no shirt, and mighty little
pants. but she tied me up and ! went
to bed. and it was long time before
cared much about tramping around.
You boys can see the scars yet. and
this left hand never has gotten
straight.
How did come to tackle him with
only one cartridge in the gun! Well,
YOU see my COY had been using the
gun. and hadn't filed 1t up as l keep
It. and was in too big hurry to look,
but when / got well just talked to
him, and he amt touched that gun
since.
mo, sir! A knife Il no good with
q mad grizzly, and I've never carried
revolver. but II I'D had ono that day