Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-18

n REAR ADyESTURlESep1n
Danssr looks sts.g TO tears deiuded rss> sass.
But courage op the heights and sleeps Of fate, ss.t
Dares snatehspe glorious purpose from the edge
OF peril and while sck'ning caution shrnks, y
Or self-hetrayed, falls headlong down the steep,
Calm resolution, unappalled, can walk
The giddy brink secure"
Daowx's BARBARossA.
The early settlers Of Onondags county were
as hardy, resolute and determined set of men
as ever opened the way to new country, or
cleared the lofty trees from an unbroken forest.
Amid the vi csstudes by which they were sur
rounded, it is no wise wonderful that they also,
in . considerable degree, possessed spirit Of
bold and reckless adventure, and were not un-
frequently the champions of daring fsats and
extraordinary exploits. 1t often became neces-
sary, in those stirring times, that these sturdy
men should resort to hunting and fishing to exc
out the sometimes scanty and oftentimes prsca-
rous subsistence of their families. These sea-
sons became also seasons of relaxation from the
more monotonous and fatiguing, though less OK
citing, labors of their ewly-occupied farms
their hunting and fishing excursions Injured them
to all the hardships of border life, made them
perfectly fearless of danger, and intimately IA
mliar with the most thrilling incidents of peril.
Courage, fortitude, intrepidity and generosity
were the sterling virtues that sprang up sponta-
neously with their laborious and adventurous
lives. Their mode of life fostered and kept ac-
tive magnanimity Of spirit, freedom of
thought, promptness of action, and lauda-
bic contempt for the effeminate, enfeebling deli
cacies Of high life, while it promoted single
minded, open handed, warm hearted, free-willed
hospitality to their neighbor and the stranger.
The story am about to relate, in its hardi-
hood and daring will nearly if not quite, equal
the famous one told of the brave Putnam and
the wolf, to which, in some respects, it is simi-
lar. =:
In the high limestone ledge on the west bank
of the Skanesteles Greek, about one mile below
the village of Elbridge, there is somewhat re-
markable cavern. It is about twenty feet long
by ten feet broad, is oval-shaped, and about
eight feet high in the center. In former year,
it was considered q rare curiosity, Gt really il
such) and was visited by thousands of persons
travelling to the westward " over the "Old
South Road" "The cave " was we'll defined
Landmark, and universally known fifty and six.
ty years ago in the remotest settlements Of ives.
tern Nes York" the Genesee country" Of
those days. Returning travellers reported its
fame far and wide over the whole of New Eng
land. 1t had undoubtedly long been occupied
as den for wild beasts, for the rocks near the
center bore evident marks of constant wear and
the rock at the mouth, kind of thseshold, waa
quite smooth and somewhat polished. Undoubt-
ly many fierce cub of bear and wolf had been
whelped in this retired hiding place, and after
being fully nurtured, roamed as free As air over
the vast wilderness by which he was surround
ed, and when hunted by the rude savage, skulk-
ed away into this den without fear of furthe
molestation.
1t was first scovered under the following
circumstances.
In the year 1898, R F., not th'
R F. of steamboat memory, though h,
was man of as great courage and perseverance,
if not possessing as great powers Of invention
and s., not the VS. whit
was the year following appointed FIRST Judge o
Onondaga Common Pleas, but scion Of as no
, BILE stock. The former was an old man, tn
latter, youth of seventeen. They started GU
on fine November morning, with the intent q
+; passing down the Skaneateles Greek, for tn
+ purpose of spearing few salmon, fish at tha
Q time very abundant in all the streams of an,
t magnitude in the country. There had bean
t light fall of snow the night before, and tn
e ground was little frozen, making the wa
= somewhat slippery and sheir passage among til
8 thick evergreens that lined the shores Of tn
e creek, the more difficult, because of the sno
that had lodged in the branches. They had su'
/; ceeded in taking several fine fish, and had lai
them out upon the bank, as was customary, IL
h tending to take them up on their return. The
c had passed down below the present village
IS Elbridge. two miles or more, and concludin
they had secured plenty of salmon for the pre-
ent, resolved to retrace their steps, and gath'
y up their spoils as they passed along towar'
home. They had knocked off their spear-head
d and while walking along, tugging and sweatir
70 under their precious burdens, their attentie
l. was suddenly attracted by slight noise, app
It rently directly overhead. On looking up thu
is discovered huge bear, sitting upon large pr
d ecting rock, more than sixty feet above then
r and looking down with the most dignifed cor
!. posure, calmly surveying their movements.
1t "Now," said the old man, "we will ha'
y that fellow" Upon this, ho again attached
% spear-head to its shaft, and with the most e
,e thusiastic eagerness, scrambled up the bank
hot pursuit, directing his youthful companion
s- follow, who did so, not without some misgivin
er and trepidation. With considerable labor, by
nd circuitous route, the two gained the top Of II
bank, when the bear, upon the approach of h
nd intrudars, most prseipitatey retreated into tt
dcn,no doubt thinking himself secure from fu