The Turnbo Manuscripts
by Silas Claiborne Turnbo
1844-1925
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HE HAD LOADED THE GUN THREE TIMES
WITHOUT THINKING WHAT HE WAS DOING
By S. C. Turnbo
Among a number of amusing bear chases that occurred in Ozark County, Mo.,
is an account given me by Elias Keesee, son of Paton Keesee, who said his
father and Mose Lantz while hunting together one day on the left prong of
Bratton’s Spring Creek met a big bear at the west end of Bald Jess
which resulted In an amusing chase. The dogs were as anxious for the chase
as the men were and the moment the bear was sighted men and dogs went for
it In a lively way. His bearship took shelter In a shallow cave where he
was not able to hide himself entirely. When the men reached the cave they
could see the bear’s nose sticking out and the dogs were baying and
barking at Bruin’s smeller but was afraid to take hold, for fear he
might use them up. The hunters shot at the protruding nose and struck it
once and out come the bear in a rage. He snorted and the blood flew out
of his nostrils. The dogs surrounded him and let on like they were going
to take hold at once, but after scattering them with his paws he started
off on a run and the dogs followed him. The race was exciting and amusing.
After Bruin had went some distance he halted. My father and Lantz were both
afoot and the former outrun the latter and had reloaded his rifle and shot
the bear once before it had stopped but failed to knock it down. The fury
of the bear had went up to fever heat and the wounded animal when It stopped
had put on its fighting humor, and it caught one of the dogs in its hug.
My father seeing the danger to his dog’s life and desiring to save
the animal, he darted up and punched the bear hard behind the shoulder with
the muzzle of his gun, for he had not time to reload it again after he had
shot. Bear, dogs and hunter were in a confused mess in a hand to hand battle.
At this time, Mr. Lantz come up on a fast run. Bruin went on with his work
of crushing the life out of the dog. When father saw Lantz make his appearance,
he stepped back from the bear and dogs and says, "Mose, shoot it before
it kills my dog," and Mr. Lantz replied., "Oh., I cant, I’m
out of breath," and handing father his gun said’, "Keesee,
you shoot it." My father not suspecting anything wrong with the rifle
took it and shot the bear in the region of the heart, and It relaxed its
hold on the now nearly lifeless dog and sank down with the dog In its arms.
The report of the rifle resembled the sound of a small cannon, and father
fell before the bear did for at the report of the gun a blank come over
him; he was unconscious and down he went to the ground and lay there senseless
and helpless for a minute or more, before, he was able to. speak. Mr. Lantz
was bad seared for when he saw father drop to the ground so sudden he supposed
he was killed or severely injured and went to work to revive him, and was
greatly pleased to see his old friend get on his feet again. When father
had come to himself again he says,, "Lantz, did I faint or what was
the matter with me? Is there anything wrong with your gun?" At this
Mr. Lantz remembered what he had done, and explained to father that he had
loaded his rifle three times after they had shot at the bear’s nose
in the cave and there were three charges of powder and three balls in the
barrel and it come near getting the life of father as well as that of Bruin.
The dog did not revive and they left the dead form of the faithful animal
where the bear had hugged it to death.
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