or cripple it； and as his two companions ran forward they saw the bear
seize him with its wide…spread jaws； forcing him to the ground。 They
shouted and fired； and the beast abandoned the fallen man on the
instant and sullenly retreated into the spruce thicket； whither they
dared not follow it。 Their friend was at his last gasp； for the whole
side of the chest had been crushed in by the one bite； the lungs
showing between the rent ribs。
Very often； however； a bear does not kill a man by one bite； but after
throwing him lies on him； biting him to death。 Usually； if no
assistance is at hand； such a man is doomed； although if he pretends
to be dead； and has the nerve to lie quiet under very rough treatment；
it is just possible that the bear may leave him alive； perhaps after
half burying what it believes to be the body。 In a very few
exceptional instances men of extraordinary prowess with the knife have
succeeded in beating off a bear； and even in mortally wounding it； but
in most cases a single…handed struggle； at close quarters； with a
grisly bent on mischief； means death。
Occasionally the bear； although vicious； is also frightened； and
passes on after giving one or two bites； and frequently a man who is
knocked down is rescued by his friends before he is killed； the big
beast mayhap using his weapons with clumsiness。 So a bear may kill a
foe with a single blow of its mighty fore…arm； either crushing in the
head or chest by sheer force of sinew； or else tearing open the body
with its formidable claws； and so on the other hand he may； and often
does； merely disfigure or maim the foe by a hurried stroke。 Hence it
is common to see men who have escaped the clutches of a grisly； but
only at the cost of features marred beyond recognition； or a body
rendered almost helpless for life。 Almost every old resident of
western Montana or northern Idaho has known two or three unfortunates
who have suffered in this manner。 I have myself met one such man in
Helena； and another in Missoula； both were living at least as late as
1889； the date at which I last saw them。 One had been partially
scalped by a bear's teeth； the animal was very old and so the fangs
did not enter the skull。 The other had been bitten across the face；
and the wounds never entirely healed； so that his disfigured visage
was hideous to behold。
Most of these accidents occur in following a wounded or worried bear
into thick cover； and under such circumstances an animal apparently
hopelessly disabled； or in the death throes； may with a last effort
kill one or more of its assailants。 In 1874 my wife's uncle； Captain
Alexander Moore； U。 S。 A。； and my friend Captain Bates； with some men
of the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry； were scouting in Wyoming； near the
Freezeout Mountains。 One morning they roused a bear in the open
prairie and followed it at full speed as it ran towards a small creek。
At one spot in the creek beavers had built a dam； and as usual in such
places there was a thick growth of bushes and willow saplings。 Just as
the bear reached the edge of this little jungle it was struck by
several balls； both of its forelegs being broken。 Nevertheless； it
managed to shove itself forward on its hind…legs； and partly rolled；
partly pushed itself into the thicket； the bushes though low being so
dense that its body was at once completely hidden。 The thicket was a
mere patch of brush； not twenty yards across in any direction。 The
leading troopers reached the edge almost as the bear tumbled in。 One
of them； a tall and powerful man named Miller； instantly dismounted
and prepared to force his way in among the dwarfed willows； which were
but breast…high。 Among the men who had ridden up were Moore and Bates；
and also the two famous scouts； Buffalo Billlong a companion of
Captain Moore；and California Joe； Custer's faithful follower。
California Joe had spent almost all his life on the plains and in the
mountains； as a hunter and Indian fighter； and when he saw the trooper
about to rush into the thicket he called out to him not to do so；
warning him of the danger。 But the man was a very reckless fellow and
he answered by jeering at the old hunter for his over…caution in being
afraid of a crippled bear。 California Joe made no further effort to
dissuade him； remarking quietly： 〃Very well； sonny； go in； it's your
own affair。〃 Miller then leaped off the bank on which they stood and
strode into the thicket； holding his rifle at the port。 Hardly had he
taken three steps when the bear rose in front of him； roaring with
rage and pain。 It was so close that the man had no chance to fire。 Its
fore…arms hung useless and as it reared unsteadily on its hind…legs；
lunging forward at him； he seized it by the ears and strove to hold it
back。 His strength was very great； and he actually kept the huge head
from his face and braced himself so that he was not overthrown； but
the bear twisted its muzzle from side to side； biting and tearing the
man's arms and shoulders。 Another soldier jumping down slew the beast
with a single bullet； and rescued his comrade； but though alive he was
too badly hurt to recover and died after reaching the hospital。
Buffalo Bill was given the bear…skin； and I believe has it now。
The instances in which hunters who have rashly followed grislies into
thick cover have been killed or severely mauled might be multiplied
indefinitely。 I have myself known of eight cases in which men have met
their deaths in this manner。
It occasionally happens that a cunning old grisly will lie so close
that the hunter almost steps on him； and he then rises suddenly with a
loud； coughing growl and strikes down or seizes the man before the
latter can fire off his rifle。 More rarely a bear which is both
vicious and crafty deliberately permits the hunter to approach fairly
near to； or perhaps pass by； its hiding…place； and then suddenly
charges him with such rapidity that he has barely time for the most
hurried shot。 The danger in such a case is of course great。
Ordinarily； however； even in the brush； the bear's object is to slink
away； not to fight； and very many are killed even under the most
unfavorable circumstances without accident。 If an unwounded bear
thinks itself unobserved it is not apt to attack； and in thick cover
it is really astonishing to see how one of these large animals can
hide； and how closely it will lie when there is danger。 About twelve
miles below my ranch there are some large river bottoms and creek
bottoms covered with a matted mass of cottonwood； box…alders； bull…
berry bushes； rosebushes； ash； wild plums； and other bushes。 These
bottoms have harbored bears ever since I first saw them； but； though
often in company with a large party； I have repeatedly beaten through
them； and though we must at times have been very near indeed to the
game； we never so much as heard it run。
When bears are shot； as they usually must be； in open timber or on the
bare mountain； the risk is very much less。 Hundreds may thus be killed
with comparatively little danger； yet even under these circumstances
they will often charge； and sometimes make their charge good。 The
spice of danger； especially to a man armed with a good repeating
rifle； is only enough to add zest to the chase； and the chief triumph
is in outwitting the wary quarry and getting within range。 Ordinarily
the only excitement is in the stalk； the bear doing nothing more than
keep a keen look…out and manifest the utmost anxiety to get away。 As
is but natural； accidents occasionally occur； yet they are usually due
more to some failure in man or weapon than to the prowess of the bear。
A good hunter whom I once knew； at a time when he was living in Butte；
received fatal injuries from a bear he attacked in open woodland。 The
beast charged after the first shot； but slackened its pace on coming
almost up to the man。 The latter's gun jambed； and as he was
endeavoring to work it he kept stepping slowly back； facing the bear
which followed a few yards distant； snarling and threatening。
Unfortunately while thus walking backwards the man struck a dead log
and fell over it； whereupon the beast instantly sprang on him and
mortally wounded him before help arrived。
On rare occasions men who are not at the time hunting it fall victims
to the grisly。 This is usually because they stumble on it unawares and
the animal attacks them more in fear than in anger。 One such case；
resulting fatally； occurred near my own ranch。 The man walked almost
over a bear while crossing a little point of brush； in a bend of the
river； and was brained with a single blow of the paw。 In another
instance which came to my knowledge the man escaped with a shaking up；
and without even a fight。 His name was Perkins； and he was out
gathering huckleberries in the woods on a mountain side near
Pend'Oreille Lake。 Suddenly he was sent flying head over heels； by a
blow which completely knocked the breath out of his body； and so
instantaneous was the whole affair that all he could ever recollect
about it was getting a vague glimpse of the bear just as he was bowled
over。 When he came to he found himself lying some distance down the
hill…side； much shaken； and without his berry pail； which had rolled a
hundred yards below him； but not otherwise the worse for his
misadventure； while the footprints showed that the bear； after
delivering the single hurried stoke at the unwitting disturber of its
day…dreams； had run off up…hill as fast as it was able。
A she…bear with cubs is a proverbially dangerous beast； yet even under
such conditions different grislies act in directly opposite ways。 Some
she…grislies； when their cubs are young； but are able to follow them
about； seem always worked up to the highest pitch of anxious and
jealous rage； so that they are likely to attack unprovoked any
intruder or even passer…by。 Others when threatened by the hunter leave
their cubs to their fate without a visible qualm of any kind； and seem
to think only of their own safety。
In 1882 Mr。 Casper W。 Whitney； now of New York； met with a very
singular adventure with a she…bear and cub。 He was in Harvard when I
was； but left it and； like a good many other Harvard men of that time；
took