The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-15
Great Test of strength.

Such a display of physical strength
as was witnessed couple Of days
ago at Toulou mountain, near Orient,
Wash, on the Great Northern rail-
Frenchman, in a life and death COM
bat completely overcame an immense
black bear, is as yet without parallel
in this district.
According to the report that has
reached here Debois and a young
were out cutting cordwood, when they
came upon bears den and seeing
what they supposed was the bears
nose projecting from the winters
quarters OF Mr.. Bruin the big French
man, after some elaboration struck
nose with his keen az blade.
AS soon as the blow was struck un-
derbrush and snow was flying in all
directions and the two Woodsmen
now perceived that what they had
mistaken for the bears snout was in
had completely severed. BY this
time the bear had made a savage at
tack. Campbell, the smaller of the
two men. succeeded in getting out Of
reach, but the big Frenchman, con-
eeited over his personal strength, pre-
ferred a personal encounter with the
bear to running.
Debois raised his heavy double-bit-
ted ak to strike the bear, but in the
twinkling Of an eye the bear had rails
ed his forepaw which was uninjured
and threw the ak to one side and the
next instant the bear had the big
F'renchman in his embrace.
The man, an adept at wrestling.
succeeded in tripping his antagonist,
the bear falling heavily to the ground
with pebois on top Of him. In this
position the Frenchman actually pin
ned the bear to the ground, holding
the bears legs apart and clutching
time both man and bear were cover
ed with blood.
AT this juncture two other woods
men came along and wanted to dis
patch the bear with their axes. but.
under the directions of the big
artery in the bears neck and let the
animal slowly bleed to death in the
Frenchman's arms. When the men
returned to camp and Louis Debois
was thoroughly washed it was ascer-
tanned that he had not received a
scratch.-Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Tacoma's Lively Monagenarian.
John Strange Reeves. 81 years of
age, and living in Old Tacoma, has
the reputation among his neighbors
Of being the oldest man in Tacoma.
Notwithstanding his great age. he still
has excellent eyesight. is hale and
hearty, and with the look of a man
not more than 60 years of age. He
delights in squirrel hunting, and on his
hunting expeditions uses an old flint
lock gun, which he himself has recon-
structed, and which Is now shot by
means of q percussion cap. At a dis
lance Of 200 feet he can kill squ1r-
rel every time, his friends declare, and
Reeves is proud of his prowess- The
gun was used during the war of 1872,
and is in itself curiosity.
Reeves was married when a young
man, and was the father Of IA chill
dren, ten of whom, however, died in an
epidemic Of diphtheria. Twelve years
ago his wife died, and Reeves now
admits that he is thinking Of marry
ing again, believing that he would be
a better citizen if at the head Of a
attic Post-Intelligencer.
As 1t Is in Germany.
If there is a system of abbreviation
of merchanti1e terms in Germany, per-
haps all the shorthand clerks know it.
There is a little story about social
rivalry among a semfofficial class in
Berlin: A proud young matron ex-
claimed in high spirits that she was
enjoying the happiest moment of her
life. MY Fritz has been appointed
Haup tkassenver waltungsassist ent!"
That means assistant cashier. "Now."
she went on, Sin my title Of Hauptkas-
senverwa1tungsassis I boast of
five letters more than that stuckup
o hofsteuramtsinspectorin (excise
inspectors wife) can claim!"-New
York Press.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.