Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-08-22
MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1888.
ADVENTURES OF COL. DAv. CROCKETT

original ideas which it may present,
and likewise, as it will serve TO illus
trate the character of Colonel Crockett
in new light. | shall give it, as far
as my recollection serves me, in the
Colonel's own language.
"Well, as have told you, it has been
custom with me ever since moved
10 this country, to spend part of eve.
ry winter in bear hunting, unless | was
engaged in public life. | generally
take tent, pack horses, friend long
with me, and go down to the Shakes,
where | camp out and hunt, till | get
tired, or till get as much meat as |
want. do this, because there is
great deal of game there; and besides,
never see any body but the friend |
carry, and | like to hunt in wilder
ness, where nobody can disturb me. |
could tell you of a thousand frolics I've
had in these same Shakes, but perhaps
the following one will amuse you:
"Sometime in the winter of 1924 or
'25, friend called to see me to take
bear hunt. Twas in the humor, so we
got our pack horses, fixed up our tent
and provisions, and set out for the
Shakes. We arrived there safe, rails.
ed our provisions, and commenced hunt
ing: for several days we were quite
successful; our game We brought to the
tent, sailed it, and packed it away
We had several hunts, and nothing &C.
Cured worth telling, save, that we kill
ed our game.
But one evening as we were coming
along, our pack horses loaded with
bear meat, and our dogs trotting lazily
after us, old Whirlwind held up his
head and looked about; then rubbed his
nose agin bush, and opened. ! knew
from the way he sung out, twas an old
he bear. The balance of the dogs buck
ed in, and off they went right up hol.
low. ! gave>up the horses to my friend
to carry 'em TO the tent, which was
now about half mile distant, and set
out after the dogs.
The hollow up which the bear had
gone made bend, and knew he would
follow it; so | ran across to head him.
The sun was now down; twas growing
dark mighty fast, and twas cold; so
buttoned my jacket close around me,
and run on; hadn't gone far, before
heard the dogs tack, and they came
tearing right down the hollow. Pre-
sently | heard the old bear rafting
through the cane, and the dogs coming
on like lightning after him. | dashed
on; felt like | had wings; my dogs made
such a roaring cry; they rushed by
me, and as they did harked them on;
they all broke out, and the woods echo
ed back, and back, to their voices. 1t
seemed to me they fairly flew, for
't'wan't long before they overhauled
him, and could hear 'em fighting not
fur before me. | run on, but just be-
fore | got there, the old bear made a
break and got loose; but the dogs kept
close up, and every once in while
they stopped him and had fight. |
tried for my life to git up, but just be-
fore I'd git there he'd break loose. i
followed him this way for two or three
miles, through briars, cane, etc., and
he devilled me nightly. Once | tho't
had him; got up in about fifteen or
twenty feet, twas SO dark, | couldn't
tell the bear from dog, and started
TO 90 to him; but found out there was
creek between us. How dcepit was
| didn't. know; but it was dark, and
cold, and too late to turn back; so
held my rifle up and walked right In
Before | got across, the old bear got
loose and shot for it, right through the
cane; was nightly tired, but | scram
bled out and followed on, knew | was
obliged to keep in hearing OF the dogs
or git lost.
Well, kept on, and once in while
! could hear 'em fighting an bayln!
Just before me; then I'd run up, but be
fore I'd git there the old bear would 81
loose. | sometimes thought bout CIV
ing up and going back; but while l.
be thinking, they'd begin to fight again
and I'd run on. ] followed him thi
way, bout near as could guess, frol
four to five miles, when the old bea
couldn't stand it any longer, and took
tree, and | tell you what, | was might
glad of it.
Invent up, but at first it was so dar
could see nothing; however, aftt
looking about, and Citing between n
and a star, could see very dark lool
ing place, and ] raised up old Bets
and she lightened; down came the o