The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., September 22, 1906, page 1
"Klickitat Intelligence"

     Wm. Coate of Trout Lake, who was in town Saturday last, attended the county convention, received a telegram to the effect that Billy Fritz, a resident of that section, went bear hunting and when about three and a half miles above the lake, treed a big, black bear. Being dusk he was not able to locate Bruin so as to down him and in order to keep him treed until morning, built a fire beneath the tree and lay down near by to sleep. He had not counted on the fire spreading, but while he slept it reached the tree and burned up to a large limb, which weakened until it fell. Unfortunately Fritz chanced to be lying near enough so that it struck him, killing him instantly. A companion of Fritz's had warned him about sleeping under the tree, which was afire before he went to sleep. He again warned him five minutes before the accident. Not alone the limb of the tree, but the bear as well, fell on the unfortunate man. The bear showed fight and had it not been for the dogs Fritz's companion would never have succeeded in getting rid of the angry Bruin. The limb fell across Fritz's head and he lived an hour afterward.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer