Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-03-24
DIP. THOMPSON. EDITOR & PROPRlFToP.
Hltsrel!nncums.
For the Freeman,
The Bear Hug.

| Nv lQSdI mug
Every incident connected with the early set.
llfment of nur Slnte seems To possess charm,
with most people, that is not noticed in other
matters: propose, therefore, to relate an oc'
cnrence thar took place in the south part OF
Washington County, in early days.
| In the fall of 1904 soon after the great snow
storm Of that year, large Bear was found to be
making sad havoc IN the cornield Of M. G., one
ni the carly settlers, which was situated about
mile and u bali sram any other settlement. Mr..
G., who was living alone in his Temporary hsbl.
ta'l"n, and bad planted h,s corn upon newly
burnt land. according lhe custom If The times,
was called upon by an old acquaintance, from
ne'gAaorlpg lnwp, whn, p-i .Ntt6sTfpd q day
or two vrhhitn. ana y ~ q 20 Would be
. favorable time to watch the "od Bear" that
night seemed to prevail on their minds, Tho
old gun was put i'll order with powder and ball,
and when darkness approached IL suitable place
was selected, near where the Rear would enter,
and Mr.. G. with his gun, and his comrade with
an uxe, awaited the approach Of the enemy.
Suon the ristl ng oi the corn was heard, and
Brnin could be family observed, making prepa
ra,ions for his evening meal. The old gun was
leyeied with US much certainty as the darkness
would allow, and pulled off. The sound rolled
back and forth, from hill to hill, in the stiffness
Of the night, as though nature had turned from
her course
They both repaired to the spot, where Bruin
lay kicking and roauiog-apparently near his
last Mr.. G.. thinking to end his pain little
sooner than the natural way, prepared to knock
him On the head with the axe but Bruln No
sooner saw the motion. than he arose, bodily, in
full strengthening received only small
skin wound-knocked the axe away, closed in
with regular hug and they were soon rolling
on the ground.
Mr. G. called to his comrade to hunt up the
axe and relieve hlm from h is perilous situation.
The blow was no sooner aimed at Brlin than he
let 60 his hold, knocked the axe aside, and down
now found by Mr.. G., and another blow aimed
with no better success. Thus they to k their
turns alternately, till they had been in BRUINS
embrace three times each.
Things wore now getting desperate. Blood
was flowing apace, and Bruin hal the advantage
Of the dark The last time Mr.. G.'s comrade
was down, he yelled so piteously as to make the
idea certain that he was being done for in ear.
nest, and Mr.. G. did not stop to grasp about in
the dark tor the axe, but cncheh in himself
without any weapon, and happened TO thrust one
hand into Bruins mouth. Druwing his jaw,
apart over his knee his hands being bteu
through and through, ne told his comrade to gel
the axe, and with the edge sever the back bone
y the head Of the axe having previously beer
used, for tear of I'M uring The hide. the blow
was well aimed. but Bfnln lodged little, and
the axe went into the trunk of the body-sever
ing two rlhs--when he struggled so hard as II
get away, aud started for the woods.
Mr.. G., who was very badly BITTEN and muct
exhaused with loss OF blood, and his clothes
nearly all torn off, felt the necessity Of repair.
ing to quarters, but his comrade, who was sec
. ond best as to wounds and loss of blood, wa
u anxious 10 keep up the bhttle, and actually fol
Q lowed to The woods, and threw his axe over th'
y, fence after Bruln-who turned and put his paw
" On the fence and growled " good nighlt"-
> They then turned In to their shanty, and dressed
e their wounds as best they cuuld-Mr. G. no
: being able to feed himself for more than tw
e weeks.
II The next morning Mr. G. sent his visitor t
- the nearest settlement, and two neighbors re
II pared to the place Of conflict. who, after admin
~ lstering to the necesslrs of the wounded a
well as circumstances would permit, set off Il
pursuit Of the enemy.
V They tracked him by bl 'od the most of tn
=, way, sometimes on patches of snow and some
tunes on the leaves, till nearly night, when the
-. came up with him, about three miles from tn
battle field. He was not so vigorous as the nigf
" b f,re-ouc hind leg being disabled and HI
blood nearly gonebut very tenacious OF lif'
" Three balls brought him down. so that The AK
could be used to advantage, and he was capture
e and brought IN after dark, to the no small Joy {
10 Mr.. G. and his conrade, and also of the csptor
~ R.