Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-09-26
A TRAGIC BEAR FIGHT


The following terrible encounter with bear
occurred in Lower Canada the particulars are
translated by the Montreal Pilot of the 25th,
from the Canadian
"A most painful occurrence has spread panic
in the parish of st. Raymond. man has been
torn to pieces by bear. The bear killed and
carried off, over night COW, belonging to man
of the name of Michael Cantin. On the morrow an
experienced hunter in that region, named James
Cantin, whose aim for forty years had brought
down bears, moose, and other large game Oh the
forest without number, prepared means to put an
end to this ferocous brute. 1t was shutdown be-
fore these were completed, and he had no time to
90 for his son to assist him IN the hunt. The
bear came according to custom, to feed upon the
prcy he had sccreted and the inhabitants OF the
Village heard the firing OF gun. Fifteen minu-
ties later another gun was heard, the report sound
ing as if near the woods; and, as the night was
closing, Il third report was heard coming within
the forest then all was was silent.
The people gathered together to meet the hum
ter on his way home, and hear from his own lips
the story of his encounter with the bear. But
the night has begun. and he does not come. The
hopes of his friends to fear, and they resolve
TO liz to his assistance. They start with lanterns,
and proceed to the edge of the forest, where the
cries and discharge of firearms remain unan-
swerel. They enter the wood and scour it in all
directions, without seeing or hearing anything.
Then they return homcward, sad and dspirted,
to resume search at dawn the next day.
More than forty persons, who had been sum-
moned in the course of the night, met ut day break
on the morrow at the spot whence the report OF
the hunters first shot proceeded. n bloody track
led them on through the forest, and many who
were. following it came to the bear, which they
fonad lying dead in u clump of bushes near Il
swamp. But no hunter was to be found. They
continued on their way, still keeping to the traces
of blood on the ground, which extended beyond
the spot where lay the animal, until in the middle
of Il dense thickct they stumbled on to the UNI
fortunate Cantin. The soil trampled and torn
up the trunks Of the trees hard by, the leaves
on the bushes, and the face Of the earth CORY with
the blood that had been shed and the mutilated
limbs of the deceased everything told OF long
and desperate conflict waged hand to hand be-
tween the unfortunate hunter and terrible adver-
sary.
From all that could be gathered on the subject,
it is surmised that the horrible tragedy took place
in the following manner Cantln'S first shot, mad
wounded the bear severely, and driven him to
the woods. The hunter followed pursuit, and
fired second time, but from the rear as In the
first instance. Then it is supposed, that the bear
finding that he was being followed up closely,
and urged on by fear and rage, plunged deeper
| into the forest, where at length he laid down to
recruit his strength, or perhaps to die after the
custom Of his species, the members OF which
usually seek some retired spot to breathe their
last. Accordingly, the monster selected the
dcnscst thickct to be found in the woods.
| Animated by the noble ambition Of the hunter
who thinks he is sure of his game, and is DESTROYS
of adding another to his numerous exploits Cantin
persevercd in the chase, Notwithstanding the in
creasing darkness around him. Still, it must have
| been sufficiently light for him to distinguish the
cory track Of the bear but it is highly probable
that he stumbled suddenly upon him in his secure
retreat and then in his rage the animal regained
his strength for while and rising, confronted his
pursuer before he could escape. Still Cantin must
have had time to fire third shot but so hurricdly
that his aim could not have told effectually, the
ball being found in the neck. Then he undoubted-
| " dubbed his gun and beat the animal on his
head until the weapon fell shattered from his
| grasp to the ground, where it was discovered by
| his friends. The man and the brute must have
closed then in the last fearful conflict which ter
minated so fatally. But disarmed, without a
knife, and having nothing but his stout arm to OPP
pose the fury Of the bear, the brave fellows
courage could not save him from the tragic end
he met with.
When bear engages in fight, he rises and,
| sitting on his launches, strikes his paws like a
monkey, but uses his claws in addition like q cat
while his enormous muscles indicate a strength
| that is almost inconceivable His claws, project
ed with a terrible power, tear and carry away ev-
erything they fall upon. From these poor Cantin
received several terrific blows before he succumb-
ed, the marks of which made the blood run cold
IN those who looked upon his corpse. His hands
were torn by the claws, and partly devoured by
the animals teeth. The hair of his head and the
seal hung iii pieces about his face, and his right
thigh was mangled into mincc-meat. lie must
have been still contcnding against the bear, when
the brute, with Il fearful instinct, directing his
blows against the mans face, fixed his murderous
claws in his face, for, by blow Of his right paw,
he literally stripped off the hunters left check
One Of the claws had penetrated immediately be-
meath the left eye and tore away the cartilage Of
the nose, without however, injuring the eye itself.
| This terrific blow doubt!cssy threw Cantin to the
ground, when the bear left him and retreated to
die IL few rods from the scene of conflict
! That wound was not mortal, and Cantin sur
vvcd it several hours. The blood which deluged
his knees showed that he had sat down to let it
flow. Itmay be that at that very moment he heard,
without being able to reply to them, the cries of
the party who sailed in quest of him at mig hit
Exhausted at length, by the hcmorrhage, he laid
himself down gently on his right side, perhaps to
make his face and limbs less painful. Possessing
his consciousness still, he consecrated his last
ments to God in prayer. He was found with
clasped hands, and holding his blue bonnet
Honest and strictly pious, the last thoughts of
that unfortunate man, were worthy his whole life.
| lie leaves disconsolate widow and four children
| to lament his untimely and awful end"