The daily sentinel., 1902-05-06
A NAVIGATING BEAR
James Gill of Hannah Creek Has
a Eerocious Contest With a
Huge Silver Tip. Known As
"OId Club Foot. "and Has
an Arm BadIyLacerated.

1t is not often, in this day in the
r ,cky mountain region, when tale can
oe told OF bear attempting to eat up a
boy or a man, but such was an actual
fact and it occurred last week in the
Hannah creek country, not more than
twenty miles from this city.
Yesterday James Gill came to this
city with his left arm all bandaged up,
which had been gnawed by an immense
silver tip bear.
Gill and a companion were out bear
hunting just about one week ago. They
found the tracks of huge bear which is
we'll known in that country as "Old Club
Foot" He had come down from The top
Of Grand mesa, driven from there by
storm, and the young hunters soon ran
onto his tracks. They knew at once
that it was "Old Club Foot" as his
tracks were we'll known in that country
and measured in the snow at least nine
inches across the ball of the foot.
They followed the animal to Indian
creek and thought that he had escaped
them. When nearing Indian creek.
young Gill, who is not over 10 years OF
age. separated from his companion and
followed the trail across the creek. He
noticed that the animal had gone into
some thickly growing quaking asp and
he went around and saw where the ami
NAL had apparently gone out on the 9TH
er side. But he determined to enter for
himself He went into the opening and
had advanced but a few feet when he
noticed bruin standing Immediately in
front Of him. They we're less than ten
feet apart and the bear made a lunge
for him, the bear evidently having been
in waiting and ready to fight. The ami
NAL struck at Gill and hit him full on
the breast, knocking him down. How
ever, an instant before and while the
bear was only five feet from him. he
pointed his gun at him and shot, the
bullet taking effect in the animals
mouth and breaking his jaw.
All this was done in much less time
than it takes to tell it and that fortunate
shot saved the young mans life.
Wnen he-w was struck he fell to the
ground and the animal stood with his
fore feet on young Gill's right arm The
boar started to gnaw at his left arm. the
blood from the animal covering his
breast and pants. But the shot which
had struck the grest silver tip had done
pretty effective work and he could only
chew at the young mans arm with one
side Of his mouth. Gill made desperate
efforts to rise, but he could not, and, as
TIE bear found he could do nothing with
his jaws, one side Of them having been
broken, suddenly LETT the prostrate man
and won't IF at flying gait. AS soon
as young Gill could reoovsr r himself, not
withstsnding his arm was badly lacsrat-
ed. he pursued him into the heavy
growth, but the bear had made his es-
cape.
Young Gill said he was not much
frightened when he found the bear go
close to him, but regrets greatly that he
did not get fair and square shot at him.
He thinks had he been 10 feet away with
knowledge that the bear was in the
quaking asp he would have made short
work Of the bear.
"Old Club Foot" is we'll known to
hunters In that section. Only last week
B. F. Jay and George W. Knowles made
special trip to the Hannah creek coun-
try to fnd him. He has killed many
domestic cattle, only last week having
killed . Hereford bull and several calves.
He had been feeding on one OF the calves
when the boys found his tracks.
The farmers in tho Hannah creek
country would give much to have this
old fellow killed He has been rsen Of
ten and his depredations have been
many. 1t is to be hoped that young
Gill may yet be enabled to kill the big
animal. which is generally acknowledged
to be the largest Of it's kind in this Soc