Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-12
GAZETTE.
Extract from the Life and Adusnturss Of
DAVID CROCKETT.

"Sometime in the winter Of 1924 or '25, a
friend called to see me, 10 take bear hunt. |
was n the humor; so we cot our pack horses,
the Shakes. We arrived there safe, raised our
tent, stored away our provisions. aud commenced
hunting: for several DAYS we were quite success.
full; our game we brought to the tent, salted it.
and packed it away. We had several hunts. and
nothing occurred worth telling, save, that we
killed our game.
Z" 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 ba-
lance Of the dogs buo killed. in, and off they went
right up hollow. 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
a bend, and knew he would follow il; SO ran
across to head. The sun now down; twas
growing dark mighty fast, and twas cold; so
buttoned my jacket close around me. add run on.
hadn't gone far, before heard the dogs on the
track, aud they came tearing right down the
hollow. Presently heard the old bear rafting
through the cane, and the dogs coming on like
lightning after him. I dashed on; felt like
had wings; my dogs made such roaring CRY;
they rushed by me, and as they did, | harked
'em on; they all broke out, and the woods echo.
ed back, and back, to their voices. II seemed
to me they fairly flew, for 'twan't long before
they oyerhauled him, and could hear 'em f.ht-
ing not far before he. run on, but just before
[ got there. the old bear made break aud got
loose; but the dogs kept close up. and everv
once in while they stopped him. and had fight.
tried for my life TO git up. but just before I'D git
ihers, he'd break loose followed him this way
for two or three miles, through briars, cane. etc
and he deviiled me nightly. Once thought
had hin; I got up in about fifteen or twenty feet.
twas SO dark, couldn't tell the bear from dog,
and started to go to him; but found out there
was creek between u.s. How deep it was
didn't know; but it was dark and cold and too
late to turn back; 50 held my rife up aud walk
got loose and shot for it, right through the cane;
lowed on, knew was obliged to keep in hear.
ing of my dogs or git lost.
"Wel, kept on. and once in while,
could hear 'em fighting and bavlng, just before
me; then I'D run up, but before I'd git there. the
old bear would git loose. sometimes thought
bout giving up, and going back; but while Id
be thinking, they'd begin to fight again, ADD
I'D run on. l followed him this way, bout
as near as could guess, from four to five miles,
when the old bear couldn't stand it any longer,
and took tree, and tell you what, was nigh
ty glad Of it. -,
II went up, but at first it was so dark could
see nothing; however, after looking about, and
Citing the tree between me and star, could
see a very dark looking place. and raised up
old BetseY and she lishtened; down come the
old bear, but he wasn't much hurt, for OF all the
fights you ever did see, that beat all. | had six
dogs, and for nearly an hour they kept rolling and
tumbl,ng right at my feet. l couldn't see any
thing but one old white dos.l had; but every now
and then the bear made 'em sing out right under
me. had my knife drawn. to stick him when
ever he should seize me; bot after while. bear.
dogs and all rolled down precipice just before
me, and could hear them fighting like they
were in hole. loaded Betsey, laid down, and
felt about in the hole with her till got her agn
the bear al ii fired; but didn't kill him, for out
Of the hole he bounced; and he and the dogs
fought harder than ever. laid old Be,sey down,
and drew my knife; but the bear and the dogs
Just formed lump, rolling about; and presently
down they all went again into the hole.
MY uOSS uVW VeSdu w euS wv "'S"y W.
ten; they were getting tired; for it had been the
hardest fight ever saw. l found out how the
bear was laying, and looked for old Betsy to
shoot him again, but had laid her down some
where, and couldn't find her. got hold Of a
stick and began to punch him; he didn't seem to
mind it much, SO l thought git down into the
crack, and kill him with my knife.
81 considered some time bout this; il was ten
or eleven O'Clock, and a cold winter night
was something like thirty miles from any settle
ment; there vas no living soul near the. except
my friend, who was in the tent, and didn't
know where that was-I knew my bear was in
crack made BY the shakes, but how deep it was,
and whether could get out, if got in. were
things couldn't tell. was sitting down right
over the bear, thinking, and every once in while
some of my dogs would sing out, as if they want
ed help; 50 I got up, and let myself down in the
crack behind the bear. Where landed was as
deep as am high; felt mighty ticklish. and
wished was out; couldn't see thing in the
....il k,t I differentiated IN fhron oh with NJ. -