The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-06-24
That bear weighed three hundred and fifty


pounds ..... r--.. .....-
On another occasion he had fred at lnrge
buck near the brow Of a precipicc some thir-
~ feet high, which hangs over one of the
pools i'm the Tallulah river On seeing the
back drop, he took il for granted that he
was about TO die, when he approached the
animal for the purpose of cutting his throat.
To his grent surprise, however,the buck sud-
denly sprung to his feet and made n tremen-
dous rush at the hunter with view ofthrow-
ing him off the ledge. But what was more
remarkable, the animal succeeded in its effort
though not until Vandever had obtained a fair
hold of the bucks anters, when the twain
performed n somerset into the Spoo below.
The buck made his escape, and Vandever
was not seriously injured in any particular.
About a month subsequent TO that time he
killed buck, which had a bullet wound in
the lower part of its neck, wherenpon he
concluded that he had finally trumphed over
the animal who had given him the unexpect-
ed duckng.
But the most remarkable escnpe which old
Vandever ever experienced happened on this
wise. He was encamped upon one of the
lolliest mountains in Union County. II was
near the twilight hour and he heard the howl
of a wolf With view of ascertaining the
direction whence il came, he climbed upon
fifty tons,) which stood on the very brow of
a steep hill side. While standing upon this
boulder he suddenly felt swinging sensation,
and to his astonishment he found that il was
about to make fearful plunge into the ravine
half mile below him. As fortune would
have it, the limb of an oak tree dropped over
the rock; and, as the rock started from its tot
lsh foundation, he seized the limb, land there
by saved his life. The dreadful crashing of
the boulder, rs it descended the mountain
side, came to the hunters ear while he was
suspended in the air, and by the time it had
reached the bottom he dropped himself on
The Uay spot which had been vacated by The
boulder. Vandever said that this was the
only time in his life when he had been really
frightened; and he also added, that for one
day after this escape he did not care fingers
snap for the finest game in the wilderness.
While on my visit TO Vandever's cabin, one
of his boys came home from fishing eXpe-
dtion, and on examining his fish was sur
prised TO find couple ofshad and three or
four bass or rock fish. They had been taken
in the Tallulah, just below the chasm, by
means ola wicker and at a point distant
informed that the Talluah abounded in trout,
but ] was not prepared to find salt water fish
in this remote mountain wilderness.
Since have introduced the above youthful
Vandevcr 10 my reader, will record single
one ofhis deeds, which ought to give him u
fortune, or at least an education. The Incl
dent occurred when he was in his twelfth
year. lie and younger brother had been
gathering berries on mountain side, and
were distant from home about two miles.
While carelessly tramping down the weeds
and bushes. the younger boy was bitten by a
rutllesnake on the calf ofhis leg In few
moments thereafter the unhappy child fell to
the ground in great pniu, and the pair were
ofcourse in unexpected tribulation. The ell
der boy having succeeded in killing the rattle
snake, conceived the idea, MS the only altern-
alive of carrying his little brother home upon
his back. And this deed did the noble fellow
accomplish. ..--
For two long miles did he carry his heavy
burden over rocks and down the water cour-
ses, and in an hour after he had reached his
fathers cabin the younger child was dead;
and the heroic boy in a state of insensiblity
from the fatigue and heat which he had expe-
rienced. He recovered, however,and is now
apparently in the enjoyment of good health,
though when fixed my admiring eyes upon
him it seemed TO me that he was far from
being strong, and it was evident that a shad-
ow rested upon his brow.