A FIGHT BETWEEN DOGS AND BEARS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2486, 16 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A FIGHT BETWEEN DOGS AND BEARS.

A correspondent of the Wind River Mountaineer, Wyoming Territory, gives an account of a battle between wild dogs and silver-tip bears, in which the latter were vanquished. He states that the " dogs are not the common wolf of tho Western prairies aud mountains; they aro something far more powerful and dangerous. Several years since a male Scotch staghound and a female English bulldog ran away in company from Fort Washable, and made their home in the mountains, and these wild dogs of the Upper Wind river are their savage offspring. With such ancestortihip, how can this wild offspring help being , a canine terror? To the speed and endurance of the Scotch staghound is mated the ferocity and tenacity of the English bulldojr, and these wild dogs aro evidently worthy in every way of their origin. Speedy, savage and stubborn, these animals are deterred by no pursuit, are restrained by no fear, and aro daunted by no difficulties. They pursue, slay and devour; such is tho simplicity and efficiency of

this native code of canino ethics. The latest exploit of those canino maurauders of which we have any account ia the destruction of a small herd of bears It appears that recently about a dozen bears of the dreaded and large silver-tip variety came down from the surrouudiug mountain to enjoy thomselvos on the sunny slopes of the Warm Spring basin. In the course of the day thoso bears all got together, and while

thus massed were attacked by about 100 of the wild dogs. The conflict was terrible. The bears fought with all the courage and ferocity for which the silver-

tip is noted, but the mingled strain of staghound and bulldog supplied a courage and ferocity greater still, and at the end of half an hour every bear had died where he was brought to bay. The dogs suffered severely, 25 of the number perishing in the fight. The survivors wasted little time, however, in mourning over their dead companions, but begau at once on the banquet their own powers had provided, and in an hour from the

time the combat ceased only the cleanpicked bones of the 12 bears remained to toll of the struggle."