The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11
hit THE GRIZZLY u TINES.
BUT STILL the BEAR WAS ABLE
70 KILL TEE NAN.

" ss~@S~ 4. . ~'
Fight Between Reckless Cowboy and Q
Silver TIP In the Wind River Country
Only One Of the Bullets Struck
. the Bear in . vital spot-The Duel.
"The most remarkable instance that ever
came to my notice Of ursine vitality and ct
the danger OF attacking . grizzly, except
under the most favorable circumstances
said the man from Wyoming. occurred
recently in the Wind River country Of my
State.
We had started after bunch of ni10ins
cattle. As We were fording Teapot Crea
the broncos began to snort and rear ana
give evidences OF their unwillingness to
/ go further. We looked about for some
reason for their action and then heard the
snap and clash OF teeth and tho peculiar
hoglike growl Of q grizzly.
| Standing on his hind legs, and strip.
ping the service berry bushes Of their suo.
oulsnt fruit, was big silver-tip. He did
not seem to bs disposed to dispute pas
sage. although his objection TO tho inter.
ruption of his feast was quite apparent.
In spite Of his belliGerent growls hs did
not discontinue his meal, but went on rak.
ing the branches through bis open jaws
and masticating berries, leaves and twiSs
a. though all were equally toothsome.
Upon reaching the other side Of the creek
We rode up the bank and over q level stretch
Of ground thu: lay at tho base Of the foot
hills. Some ono had suggested taking .
shot at Bruin, but the foreman discouraged
the idea. calling attention to the fact thaS
bear hides were not good In August and
that it would be necessary to ind the steers
before dark.
| 'Just then the trail Of the cattle was lost
for q moment. and We stopped to look
around. Although we were fully two hum
dred yards from tho bear, 1t was evident
that his anger over our appearance had mos
entirely cooled down. ~
"One Of the cowboys, All Kennedy, took
exception to the silver-tip's mood. With
the remark. 7 amt goin' to have no silver.
tip growlin' an snarlin' at me, he took his
rife from its saddle sling and proceeded 70
look at the magazine.
.The foreman tried to dissuade Kennedy
from his intention, urging the necessity
of finding the cattle immediately. His
pleading, amounting almost to q command
fell on deaf ears. for Kennedy, although
splendid cowboy, was accustomed to Do
as he pleased on most occasions.
well 60 on after tho cattle directly
he said. 1t won't take norm minute
to settle that bear
Seeing that other members Of the party
were also examining their firearms, Ken
nedy spoke up threateninsly. saying that
shot was fired BY another man in the crowd
there would be trouble. Knowing Kennedy
as well as we did, his wishes were compiled
with.
kennedy rode down until he was about
one hundred yards from the bear. Ihere
horse away from the game.
As . brave cowpuncher he scorned
to attack the grizzly except on foot; for.
In their code Of ethics, he and men Of hts
stripe disdAined to do anything that would
takes a brave man to attack bear on foot,
and Kennedy was not Of tho sort to shirh
the task.
'He stood by the side Of his horse and
drew his bead on the grizzly. The barre
; Of the rife steadied down for moment
} Then came q pun Of smoke and . shaFr
A second later our straining ears caugh,
the impact Of the bullet a. 1t found the
game. The head Of the bear went back
az though 1t had been struck by q slsdg>
hammer.
fright in tho snoutr was the exolama-
ton Of the foreman.
AThe bear disappeared for an instant
and a second later was seen clamberin9
up the bank. Kennedy Aired again, but
thi. did not stop the snra et grizzly &c
ssns one !. .sraah sor &. eovboy
Kennedy did not finch when he saw
what was before him The barrel Of his
rife looked as firm and rigid AZ bar OF
iron. so little Was it disturbed by the process
OF ejecting the shells and throwing tho
cartridges into place.
.The emoke curled upward from tho
muzzle In a steady stream and the rides
crack came with the regularity Of clock
ticks. It appeared to us that Kennedy
made every shot count.
THE grizzly presented an appeerance
calculated to inspire terror IN the hearts
Of the bravest. He was covering the ground
at high speed. In spite of his apparent awk-
wardness.
.His numbering gait rendered him the
poorest OF targ,ts, for the reason thas
only chance shot could strike q vital part.
Al one moment he would be doubled up
like Il jack knife, with only his hump show
ing; the next he would be stretched out at
full length. like greyhound.
Blood spurted from nearly . dozen
wounds on his head. hump. neck-every-
bullet to stop him. He was crashing his
teeth like wild boar, and from his jaws
clnpped great fakes OF foam, which fecked
his crimson ct q ined hide.
an less time than 1t takes to tell II, Ken
nedy had emptied his rife, but still hs
scorned 10 take advantage Of his oppor-.
tunity and noun the waiting bronco end
escape. He cast his rife aside and drew his
six shoot ers. pair OF short-barrelled forty
tours.
As he threw his rife away he struck
his horse with 1t, and the animal, already
nervous from the firing and probably
soenting the bear. started forward few
feet and then stopped. The animals
bride rein hung in front Of him, and the