This was an Indian.

He had come on the beast close up in a thick wood, and had mortally wounded it with his gun; it had then closed with him, knocking the gun out of his hand, so that he was forced to use his knife.

It charged him on all fours, but in the grapple, when it had failed to throw him down, it raised itself on its hind legs, clasping him across the shoulders with its fore-paws.
Apparently it had no intention of hugging, but merely sought to draw him within reach of his jaws.

He fought desperately against this, using the knife freely, and striving to keep its head back; and the flow of blood weakened the animal, so that it finally fell exhausted, before being able dangerously to injure him.

But it had bitten his left arm very severely, and its claws had made long gashes on his shoulders.
Black bears, like grislies, vary greatly in their modes of attack.
Sometimes they rush in and bite; and again they strike with their fore-paws.