Burkham and Stout would go down the river in a skiff. It was a very cold, drizzly evening in winter. While Burkham was directing the skiff, Stout watched on the banks for signs of game. At the root of a large tree that had been washed down the river and lodged against the bank Stout saw a large bear. Taking careful aim, he fired but the bullet merely grazed the head of the bear which looked all around and, seeing the men in the skiff, made a lunge for them. Before Stout could reload his gun, the beast had reached the skiff and was climbing in. Stout, a powerful man physically, struck the bear a terrific blow with the barrel of his rifle but instead of killing the bear, the wooden stock of his gun broke and the barrel fell to the bottom of the stream. The blow, however, kept the bear from entering the skiff.

Jumping into the water on the side opposite that of the bear, Stout pulled his bowie knife and, standing in the water shoulder deep, reached over the skiff and struck at the bear with such force that the knife missed the mark. His wrist struck the sharp edge of the skiff and his arm was temporarily paralyzed, the knife dropping into the water. Paying no attention to Burkham who was in the skiff with nothing but a paddle, the beast climbed over the boat after Stout. It was then up to Stout to do some very rapid thinking, so while the bear was climbing over the skiff, he dived under it, staying under the water as long as he could, swimming under it, swimming upstream. In this manner