Nogales International

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Bear, Caught In Can, Slain By J. Merritt

A full grown bear with his head firmly encased in a milk can encountered John Merritt, Sunnyside rancher, during the last days of July, according to a story brought to light here yesterday.

The bear was raging and had evidently been without food for many days. In the endeavor to put him out of his misery, Merritt shot the bear with a 38-calibre revolver, but his first shot was diverted by the bucking of the mule which Merritt was riding. Thereupon the bear charged into a pile of stones and in the ensuing excitement wrenched the milk can from his head and charged Merritt.

The mule which Merritt was riding immediately got out of control and for the next few minutes Merritt and his mule and his dog and the bear created quite a commotion in the canyon where the event was staged. Finally, Merritt quieted his mount so that he could put two more bullets into the bear.

The bear then climbed a nearby tree and Merritt with a well-placed bullet, broke his neck. Merritt is 77 years of age, and has lived at Sunnyside on the west side of the Huachucas for the past 35 years where he is engaged in the cattle business. The milk can was left on the top of Miller Peak by a group of forest fire-fighters early this summer. The presumption is that something edible was left in the bottom of the can, the bear came along and in the endeavor to reach the food in the bottom of the can, became entrapped. That he was practically starved is evidenced by the fact that when skinned out his stomach was entirely empty. (Bisbee Review)