Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-10
FIGHTING A GRIZZLY
Facing the Brute on Foot and
Meeting Each Charge.
FUSILADE OF FIRE
HAD TO HAVE HELP, THOUGH, AT
THE LAST.
The Nerve Of Kennedy, Who Carried
on This Fool
Fight.
FUSILADE OF FIRE

Written for The Evening Star by Chauncey L.
Preston
THE most remarkable instance that ever
came to my notice of ursine vitality and of
the danger of attacking grizzly, except
under the most favorable circumstances, -
said the man from Wyoming. occurred re-
Gently in the Wind river country of my
state, amid the foothills that lie at the
base of the main range of the Rockies.
"A bunch of eighteen head of beef steers
that had been kept in pasture had broken
the wire fence and strayed off into the hills,
and party of six, including myself went
out to round them UP and bring them back.
The cattle had been gone a couple of
days before their absence was noted and
word from a neighborins ranchman inform
ed US that we had trip of at least fifteen
miles before us. A suggestion was made to
take our rifles along. in case we should run
across bunch of deer or antelope and the
foreman of the ranch and one or two cow
punchers had their six-shooters with them.
I'VE had gone about twelve miles and
were on the track of the truants, when the
trail turned toward the foothills. and we
had every reason to believe that we would
find the cattle on the other side of a tum-
bling mountain stream that went, locally,
by the name of Teapot creek.
While we were fordng the creek the
bronchos began to snort and rear and give
evidences of their unwillingness to go
farther. This was rather unexpected as
the water was not deep, and we looked
about for some reason for their action. AS
we clattered across we could hear above
the noise of the rushing water, the snap
and clash of teeth and the peculiar hog-like
growl of a grizzly.
The Bears Meal Interrupted.
Standing on his hind legs and stripping
the servis berry bushes of their succulent
fruit was big Silver tip. He did not seem
to be disposed to dispute passage, although
his objection to the interruption of his fea2t
was quite apparent In spite of his bellig-
erent growls he did not discontinue his meal
but went on raking the branches through
his open jaws and masticating berries
leaves and twigs as though they were equal
ly toothsome.
Upon reaching the other side of the
creek we rode up the bank and over a level
stretch of ground that lay. at the base
of the foothills. Some one had suggested
taking shot at bruin, but the foreman
discouraged the idea, calling attention to
the fact that bear hides were not good in
August and that it would be necessary to
find the steers before dark. Just then
the trail of the cattle was lost for a mo-
ment. and we stopped to look around.
although we were fully 900 yards from
the DedI II was eNlueHl tIdl MS anger
over our appearance had not entirely cool
ed down. The same sWinish growls We're
borne to our ears, and the grizzly, still
standing on his hind legs and devouring
the servis berries, could be seen where his
head lowered above the bank of the stream.
"One of the cowboys, ALT Kennedy, took
exception to the Silver tips mood. With
the remark, 4 amt goin' to have no silver
tip grOwin' an snarlin' at me,' he took
his rifle from it's saddle sling and pro-
ceeded to look at the magazine. The fore
man saw what was up and tried to dis
suade Kennedy from his intention, urging
the necessity of finding the cattle imme-
diately. His pleading, amounting almost to
command, fell deaf ears, for Ken
nedy although splendid cowboy, was &C
customed to doing as he pleased on most
occasions.
"We'n go on after the cattle directly
he said. 1T won't take moren minute
to settle that bear
Kennedy Attacks on Foot.
Seeing that other members of the party
were also examining their firearms, Ken
nedy spoke up threateningly, saying that
he wanted help from no one and that if
shot was fired by another man in the
crowd there would be trouble. Knowing
Kennedy as we'll as we did, his wishes were
complied with.
Kennedy rode down until he was about
one hundred yards from the bear. There
he dismounted and turned the head of his
horse away from the game. AS a brave
coWpuncher he scorned to attack the grizzly
except on foot for. in his code of ethics, he
and men of his stripe disdained to do any