The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-12-20
correspondence q The Vernon, Family Gazette.
GREAT DEAR HUNT.
Nonrn Trrrrnnr. d.. 1p. is

NoRTn TmTToRp, Dec. 1g, 1881.
For several seasons past, the inhabitants
of this Bow" aud vicinity, la North Thct-
ford, have suffered in their sheep nocEs from
the dcprodations Of some midnight maraudrr
whose hiding place was unknown.
On Saturday last, Esquire Bartlett Of this
place, we'll known ~ a marksman Of the very
hrst rank aud hunter of uncommon success
left his homo for a aioN hunt" ia company
with Mr. Fitch OF Lyme, n, II. They had
been out short time, aud were a mile or 10
apart, when Mr Is. was attracted by the loud
aud quick bark OF his Hound, ~tfrvtis.y. -
dog Of great mottlc, az viii loo shown. He
found him at the mouth OF large den undor
an old upturnod root, Surprising he had
driven a hedgehog into this den, and fearing
lest his head would be filled with quilts, he
reached in and drew his dog out by the tail.
lie was in the act Of putting his own head to
the hole, when 10 monstur, hideous, black,
aud shaggy head. rose up, aud in his very
fsae displayed a terrible double row of teeth
and uttered q hoarse cultural groWI. Our
hcro had not "a moment 10 calculate. Ho was
within reach Of a huge bear, and might ia an
instant be Folded, alas too closely in his cm-
brace, ar torn IN shruds Ivy his claws aud
glittering ivory" Yet he lost not his wont.
cd GOODNESS and stcadiucss of nerve; for,
jumping back n few feet. he showed the true
courage and presence OF uind of n practical
hunter, by lodging a full charge Of buck shot
in the throat of the animal, giving him adcalh
wound, and instantly reversing ends OF his
gun, expecting an attack from the Wounded
boast Old Bruin, howevcr. had already re-
cciVed too sure proof Of his bravery and
proves TO venture IL, and sprang from his
don,showing an evident desire TO part friends
with such hunter and such dog. But the
desire was 10y no means mutual, for Grouse
instantly pursued him, not stopping even 20
smell the blood that fast oozcd from the man
gled neck Of the bear Our hero, Mr. b.,
went for bis companion, aud in his company
followed the animal several miles, until night
when they LEFT him to recover from his flint
ness from loss Of blood, while they returned
home 20 relate their adventures TO their as
tonished families. During the night frequent
screams or groans, rs Of u man in distress,
were heard from the. hill opposite North
Thetiord, on which they LEFT the pursuit
Next day tho pursuit was at an early hour
resumed Ivy our hero and his dog Grouse
| Several other men aud dogs went out n part
[ OF the day, but no one was so earnest and
constant in the chase a. Mr. B., MIR i. and
I Grouse They needed not the snow under
foot, nor the snow and sleet over head, but
with the earnestncss OF true hunters they pur-
sued their game down into Thetford and back
TO the same hill again; the animal seeking
! the darkest aud toughest places for his route.
! They left him near whore they leil him the
night before, and returned home with pro
verbal hunters luck.
Before light on the morning Of the third
day, Mr. B. and Grouse were tho trail Of
1the bear and followed him all day on or n.
round pine HILL" Other men and other
dogs, some ON foot and some ia seighs, to-day
went up the cross roads in order 10 cut old
Bruins corners, and thus get shot at the ami.
NAL.
. nat night the bear slept, il he slept at all,
on Pine HILL Al an early hour on the fourth
day our porseyerine hero and his dog rcsum-
cd the chase They pursued the bear TO Co
burns Hill, aud thnnce swept round through
"Brushwood," aud down the brook to Fairlee
! Pond. lie was within about half n mile Of
his game, now exhausted from loss of blood
aud constant pursuit, audwas sure Of securing
! IL within an hour or two, when one MIR -,
! living near, stepped in before him and came
up 10 tho hear Just as he was ready to tie
down and give himself up a rightiul prisoner
of war TO his trun captor,, Esquire b. The
bear had already stopped because he could 90
I M 1tsrthef, Mr. - stood within few feet
of him, and the hear for the very good Tca=
son that hc was already dying, held his head
still, whilo Mr. -, with teondegJut dtrteeiig
and Goodness, presented the muzzlc his rife
within few inches or his head, and with as
touishiug accuracy Of aim lodged ball init
lie then took the bear as his own, unmindfdf
of the 'lawftit scalr chat Bartlett Ind fixed up
on him. aud secured the bounty for himself.
I After much ado. he consented TO give up the
marked carcass oil the bear, but Siitl stuck
closely 70 The iIl-gotten So bounty, and the
honor Of .'killing bear"
"a A ehrd was horn n Norihsnrrton lar