Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-11-08
MISCELLANY.
TRAoRDINARY FIGHT WITH
HEAR.


employed on the western lakes, communicates
the following account of fight with bear,
which he and his crew engaged in during the
latter part Of August. lie writes under date
OF August 80;
"On Monday last, the 2jth inst, while laying
at anchor with the schooner Adriatic, at the
head Of that beautiful land-ocked harbOr, Petit
Bay de Noqne, an arm of Green Bay, prnlect'
ing from its northern extremity some fifteen
miles into the land toward Lake Superior, my
attention was called by one of the crew to
large black animal on White Fish Point, which,
on examination with glass, proved to be
very large black bear just taking to the water,
with the intention, apparently, Of swimming to
the opposite shore of the bay, which at this
point is over mile wide, the distance being
divided by two or three small islands. im-
mediately ordered the boat made ready, which
took some little time, as spar with sail attach
ed had to be unshipped Before this could be
done the bear had reached nearly half the dis
lance from the point to the first island, and it
became necessary TO use Dispatch in order to
prevent his gaining a footing uponit; for, with
the weapons we had, II would have been mad
ness to attack such formidable monster on
land. The boat was manned with four oars and
clumsy paddle, made of an irch pine board,
which was used TO steer with instead of a rud-
der or fifth oar, of which we were minus The
wind was blowing very strongly from the north
ward, being about abeam for the bear, and d.
Iectly ahead OF us. 10 our haste we took no
weapons but an old dull axe and a common
rsad-knife-indeed we had no other, unless
we had taken some handspikes and one or two
more knives similar 10 the one we took, but
which were not jus; al hand.
The bear was something like quarter of a
mile from US when we started. The men were
all good oarsmen and we soon overhaued Bru-
in Just before reaching him two Of the oars
were unshipped, one being taken in place Of
ihe paddle to steer with, by Mr.. Payne, who
managed the boat very adroitly, in the sinuous
chase which followed. One of the crew taking
the ak, and myself the knife, we stationed our
selves forward, ready for the attack. The bear
swan from us as we approached, and Wetlnore,
who had the ak, aimed blow at his head, IN
tending 10 cleave his skull, but struck a little
400 soon, iniiicting deep wound 10 the neck,
at the same time cutting of the tip of his ear,
but did not touch the spine or any important
blood-vessel, and the wound had no other i'm
mediate effect than to enrage him. He turned
toward the boat moment, showed set oftusks
that would have done honor 10 wild boar, and
gave deep growl, more like that of lion
than anything ever heard. lie did not attack
the boat at this time, bot struck out with all
his might for the nearest island. He was a
powerful swimmer, and the two oarsmen had
no light task to head him off. As we came up
with him again he eluded the second blow aim
ed at him with the ak, and it was lost overheard
which len US with no weapon but the knife
As we came up with him the third time, gave
him two ihrusis in the neck with the knife, one
on each side Of the spine, sending the blade 10
up to the hllt.
lie now turned upon MS and attacked the
boat, growing with terrific herceness. As he
came up, gave him several thrusis with he
KNIFE, avoiding the passes he made with lis
powerful jaws one conclusion of which no doubt
aa'e broken or taken OH my ann. Striking
ine DOW, the blade OF the knife bent nearly dou-
ole' rendering 1t useless for the time. then
seized the pine paddle and gave him blow
upon the skull that shivered the paddle in pie
ces' Out winch seemed to have no effect what
ever upon the bear. lie now got one paw up
on the gunwale OF the boat and seized it with
MS teeth. AT this critical moment the oars
were brought into reqnlsillon by the mate and
crew. and several wel-dIrecied blows from them
coming down upon him al once, forced him tn
FeIinquish his hold upon lhe boat. Had he
succeeded IN getting into the boat, we must
nave re'reated into the element he had left, or
Jared worse lie now sought safety again in
night toward the island which we had consid-
eraoiy neared during the fight We immedi-
aieIy pursued again, and improved the tmo
to siraighien my knife blade, and as we came
up gave him another thrust in the neck, and
Then selzed him by the long hair upon his rump.
ihe velocity OF the boat brought his head I'M
DER II as was IN the bow, and the men urging
The boat forward, could very easily hold him
IN THIS position, notwithstanding his powerful
struggles, he having no footing upon the bot
tom. While struggling he struck the side of