HUNTER TRAPPED

Southland Times, Issue 22813, 12 February 1936, Page 8

HUNTER TRAPPED

FIGHT WITH BEAR. ADVENTURE IN THE ROCKIES. Vancouver, January 8. A thrilling encounter with a black bear is described by Captain J. Leary, M C who represents a mining district in'the Rockies in the Provincial Parliament. He was hunting, and took a shot at a horned owl, perched on. a cedar, about 30ft from the ground. It toppled over, but, as it did not fall, Captain Leary climbed the tree after it. The tree was hollow and, missing his footing, he slipped to the ■bottom. Presently he heard his dog growl and, looking up at the opening, saw a black bear descending, hindquarters first. Realizing there was no other way to save his life, Captain Leary waited until the bear was near the bottom, then, grabbing its tail with one hand, he drove his hunting knife into the animal’s rump and flanks and screamed like a Comanche Indian. “The bear stopped for a split second, then started up again,” said the hunter. “Holding on to his tail, jabbing and yelling, I went up with him. At the top he tumbled over, nearly taking me with him. I spent the night in the tree. Next day a search party relieved me. The bear was dead of a broken neck. My dog, fatally mauled, lay beside him.”