Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-12-26
From the Lewisburg Chronicle
A Long Night with Wild Beasts.

On the 4th of November, 1855, ARyINE
CLARK, of Jersey Shore, was exploring the
sodste for new road to the settlement Of the
- Farming and Land Association, new col
ony near the site of the famous Ole Bull set
Element, III Potter county. When evening
drew on, he commenced rctracing his steps.
but lost his way, in dense forest at least
eight miles from settlement. An old man,
tired with walking, he sat down on log to
rest moment and contemplate his situation.
His attention was suddenly arrested by rust
ling in the bushes close by, and on looking
around, he saw huge bear coming towards
him To draw up his trusty rife and shoot,
was the work of a moment, Bruin gave a
fearful roar, which awoke the echoes of the
gloomy solitude, and then was still. Fearing
that he was only wounded, Clark hastily re-
loaded his gun with TWO balls, the last in his
pouch, and discharged them into the body of
the bear, when he cautiously approached and
found that he was dead. He describes the
bears roar, as he received his death wound,
as terrific, and calculated to make the stoutest
heart quail with fear.
A dark night was setting down on him-he
had no bullets-was far in the wilderness
without food or shelter He had no matches
to kindle fre-and, to add to his farther
QlScOmIOTt, cOHiIcuccQ running w nat
was to be done? To remain there, was ex-
ceedingly dangerous. He continued to grope
his way through rhe laurel, hoping to find a
path that might lead to hunters habitation,
but in vain. The howling of a pack of wolves
greeted his ear. He soon became exhausted,
and found that he would have to remain there
for the night. Coming to an aged hemlock,
he seated himself at its root Could he but
obtain fire, he would be comparatively safe
The effort was made by collecting some dry
materials, and, loading his gun with powder,
fired the charge into dry cotton handker-
chief 1t was failurel As the gun was
discharged, another bear, apparently within
twenty feet of him, gave hideous roar. that
made Clark's hair stand on end. Bruin was
terribly frightened by the discharge of the
gun. and hastily scampered off, much to the
relief of Clark.
| Here he remained, not daring to fall asleep
/ About two o'clock in the morning to add to
the horrors of his situation, the yell of pam
| ther was heard. The beast approached
came nearer, every few minutes uttering a
screech that froze the blood in his veins AS
last resort to defend himself from the at
tack of the savage animal, he reloaded his
! gun, putting in some three cent pieces and
steel pens, (for he had nothing else, which
he hoped might do some execution. The an
imal came so near that the glare of his eyes
| in the darkness resembled two balls of fire
| There Clark remained, without daring to
move-with the fiery eyes of the panther fixed
upon him. In this dreadful situation, expec-
ting every moment to be torn in pieces, he
remained till break of day. when he was re-
lieyed from danger by the animal disappear
ing Hungry, weary, and excited, he lef
| for the settlement, where he arrived about
noon, and related his thrilling adventure. A
party proceeded to the place where the bear
was shot, and brought in his carcass, which
proved to be a very large 1t was dressed
and forwarded to New York. 1t was several
days before Clark fairly recovered from the
fatigue, the fear, and excitement of that
night, which will never be removed from his
/ mind