Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-07

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The old Missourians had nc difficulty in nam
ing the enemy, for an examination of his tracks,
and ais manner Of feeding, indicate bear. and
one of the largest dimensions at that. Help
was consequently sent to the Dutchman's house
in the form Of bear dog, Of notable character,
and three good hunters, armed with rifle guns
good for bear eye at every shot, G
Punctually as the hour itself, returned Ursa
Major, who, finding nothing movable or immo-
veable,around the house that he could eat, and
remembering the expcriancc of the hot cmbers,
broke down the door of the smoke-house, q
,nume by which the provision house is usually
styled out West and South, and fell to eating
the shoulders and middlings therein stored. In
terrupted in this by the attack of the large cur,
he merely interu,tted his labors for moment
dsemboweled the animal at single blow. ran
the three hunters back into the house, and finish
ed three hundred pounds of bacon, as report
goes, before he retired
Marvellous were the tales that ran through
the country next morning, and great was the
gathering of men and dogs to pursue and cap
tnre bear of which such prodigies were re-
corded ~ 0t "et
There was no difficulty in following the trail
until it struck the river; but the most careful
examination could not detect it upon the furth-
er bank, nor did the united skill Of the settle
ment ever succeeded in solving this mystery
All the islands above and below the spot where
he took water were carefully searched with
hounds; the shores of the river for many miles
were exploded in the same critical style; but
after week hunt, the big bear fever cooled
down, and everybody acknowledged himself
whipped. ...
Our favored Dutchman having suffered so
much by the animal, was compensated by the
liberality of the settlers, until, one bring a
COW, another a calf, another load of bacon
&c, he became handsome imitator Of job
whose wealth far exceeded his earlier losses
But all prosperity is llusive, and bis troubles
were not yet at an end. Ursa Major, in the
most singular spirit of election, again took ad
vantage of the darkness of night, and passing
scornfully by all other farms, with their wealth
of cattle, honey and bacon, betook himself
again to the poor foreigners killed his COW
and calf, broke open his snoke-house, and des
troyed every ounce of meat that had been Sc
kindly presented to him. Going still further
he took upon himself to carry out Native Amer
icanism in its extravigances, by attacking th'
family itself, tearing down the chimney ono,
more, mounting the ridge-pole of the house
playing the mischief with the shingles, ant
believing as if legion of fonds were in hi
occasional employ.
1t became plain now to the minds of thos
superstitious people, that they were haunted b,
u being not of this world, who would neye
suffer them to rest while at that place. An oil,
tale of an Indian massacre that had long beIor'
occurred upon the premises, gave them foun.
dation for suspicious, and some petty otlenc
against the laws, committed ere they left tn
vicinity of Antwerp, supplied material for thu
rest and, therefore it was not surprising tina
by sunrise next morning the whole family wer
on the road, lodged down with their entir
worldly effects, directing their steps toward
the nearest steamboat landing, at the highes
degree of Dutch speed.
But the honor of the settlement was now a
stake, and their departure under these circum
stances could not be permitted. The family
therefore, was logged in new house at tn
general expense, and a score of the best hunter
took solemn oath, over u jug of liquor, not t
stop the hunt until that bear was captured, q
their own lives forfeited. Every ything was the
arranged as before; another cow and calf pre-
vided, the aoke-house replenished with mca
some bee-gums set upon the stand; and, t
complete the deception, an old mare that ha
come to the country before the time of Danit
Boone was turned in the yard as bait.
For more than week there was nothing t
reward the patience of that band of hunter
who, with strong dogs well muzzed, big knivt
well whetted and faithful guns well loaded
took turns watching in the cabin vacated by IL
Deitcher's family.
At last, however, t'le signal was given in tn;
hideous growl, declared by every one of that e
: perienced company to exceed anything of dept
or terror they had ever heard.
: As usual, Ursa Major had come from I'll
Il river, passed the barns of several wealthy Sc
7 tiers, and made his call upon the foreigner.
!. His first labors were bestowed upon the mar
whom he killed in twinkling The next suf
rers were the COW and calf, and he got fair
. to work on the honey, when the hunters salli
- forth, saluted him with a volley as we'll aim
u as in dark, rainy night was practicable, al
>, :, then loosened the dogs upon him.
II But if they had expected this enemy to ru
W they were much mistaken in his pluck.
~ dashed at once at the mon, regardless of I
y noise and teeth of the dogs, seized the forem,
y by the leg, and killed him almost Instant
" While the rest of the party, Mortified at I'll
fe event, stood back, afraid to strike or shoot
fs fear of injuring their comrade, two of the
who were the sons Of the dead man, sprang
'a with their knives, and sank the blades at f
d. length in the monsters side. But this ser,
Ae only to increase his fury and his strength,
er he seized them, one in each paw, and drew tn
no to his breast in the tremendous hug before VIII
> human bones are but stubbe. Dropping tn
H. crushed bodies, he next dashed into the hou
n where the main body Of the hunters had j
er finished loading their pieces, and then ensue
le- fight that no parallel in all my knowled
M Neither man nor beast shrank until every kr
ni- had been sheathed in the carcass of the be
ci- bullets like rain had been poured upon h
.,a4 and the pack of dogs killed almost.t to an ia
le- vidual, iAm, ~ srN a sf4 ,lg