Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-11-10

them the rights Of burial. They adj.
vanced and fired ut first from 80 re.
spectacle 4 distance that they all miss
ed. The pursuer then courageously
proceeded in front Of his companions,
and taking = close aim, pierced the
monsters skull immediately below
the eye. The bear, however, merely
lifted his head, and advanced upon
them, holding still in his mouth the
victim whom he was devouriny; but
seeing him soon stagger, the three
rushed on him with sabre and bayonet
and soon despatched him. They col
lected and bestowed decent sepulcher
upon the mangled limbs of their com.
rades, while the skin Of the animal.
Is feet long, became the prize of the
sailor who had fired the successful
shot.
The history Of the whale fishers re-
cords number of remarkable escapes
from the bear. A Dutch Captain, Jongr
KEGS, in 1868, undertook with tive ca.
noes TO attack one, and with a lance
gave him such 4 dreadful wound in the
belly, that his immediate death seemed
inevitable. Anxious, therefore, not to
injure the skin, KEGS merely followed
the animal close till he should drop
down dead. The bear, however,h having
climbed little rock, made a spring
from the distance of "a feet upon the
Captain, who. taken by surprise. lost
hold Of the lance, and fell beneath the
assailant. who, placing both paws on
his breast, opened two rows OF ire
mendous teeth, and paused for mo-
ment, as it to show him all the horrors
OF his situation. At this critical in
slant sailor rushed forward with only
ascoop,succecded in alarming the mon
ster, who made of. leaving the captain
without slightest injury.
In 1873. Captain Cook Of the Arch
angel, when near the coast Of Spitz-
bergen, found himself suddenly be-
tween the paws of bear. He in
stantly called on the surgeon who ac-
companied him, to fire, which the lat
ter did with such admirable promp-
titude and precision, that he shot the
beast through the head and delivered
the Captain. MIR. Hawkins Of the
Everthrope. in July, 1919, having pur-
sued and twice struck q large bear,
had raised his lance for a third blow,
when the animal sprung forward, seiz-
ed him by the thigh, and threw him
over his head into the water. FOrtu-
Dately. It used this advantage only to
effect its own escape. Capt. Scoresby
mentions boats crew, which attacked
bar in the Spitzbergen sea; but the
animal having succeeded in climbing
the sides OF the boat, all the sailors
threw themselves for safety into the
water. where they hung by the gun
vale. The victor entered triumphant
ly and took possession Of the barge.
where he sat quietly till it was shot
by another party. The same writer
mentions the ingenious continuance of
sailor. who being pursued by one of
these creatures, threw down success
lively his hat, handkerchief, and every
other article in his possession, when
the brute, pausing at each, gave the
sailor always a certain advantage and
enabled him finally to regain the yes
sci.
| Though the voracity Of the bear is
such. that he has been known to feed
on his own species, yet maternal ten.
derness ~ as conspicuous in the female
~ IN other inhabitants Of the frozen
regions.
There is no excrtion which she will
not make for the supply Of her proge.
! ny. a she bear with her two cubs,
being pursued by some sailors across
a field Of ice, and finding that neither
BY example, nor by a peculiar voice
and action, she could urge them TO the
requisite speed, applied her paws and
pitched them alternately forward
The little creatures themselves, as she
came up, threw themselves before her
TO receive the impulse. and thus she
and they all Effected their escape.
Bears are by no means devoid Of
intelligence. Their schemes for en-
trapping seals and Other animals on
which they feed, often display consi-
derable ingenuity. The manner IN
which the Polar bear surprises his vic
\ tim, ~ thus described by Capt Lyon:
On seeing his intended prey, he gets
into the water, and swims toa leeward
position. from whence. by frequent
short dives, he silently makes his ap.
prOaches. and so srrsnges his distance.
that at the last dive, he comes o. the
spot where the sesl - lying II the
poor animal attempt 10 escape BY roll.
ing into the water. he falls into the
paws Of the bear If, on the contrary,
he lies still. his destroyer makes
7 powerful spring. kills him on the zee.
aud devoufs hlm az his leisure. Some
sailors, endeasOIing TO catch . bear.
placed the moose Of rope under the
snow. bsited with a piece Of whales
flesh lie bear, how ever. coatrtxed