Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-04-10
A Night of Horror.


an agent for parties who wish to take up lands
in the wilderness, and bring them into market ;
and in the course of his explorations, he meets
occasionally with rare adventures of which the
following is regarded by him as the most fright
ful that has ever befallen him during his long
career in the baekwoods The story was related
to the writer by Mr. c. himself. and may be re-
he'd upon as being correct:
On the 4th of November last, Mr.. C. was ex-
ploring the route for new road to the settle
ment, through wild and gloomy wilderness
AS the shades of evening drew on, he common
ced to retrace his steps as he supposed, through
the lands of VIM. Silver ESQ of Philadelphia !;
but he was disappointed and lost his way. He
became alarmed, and, as the dusky shades of
night settled around, he found himself in dense
forest at least eight miles from the settlement.
becoming very tired from rapid walking, he sat
down upon log. to rest and contemplate for a
moment his situation His attention was sud
denly arrested by rustEng in the bushes close
by, and on looking cautiously around, beheld a
huge bear coming toward him. To draw up his
trasty rifle and to shoot the beast was the work
OF a moment.-Bruin gaze a fierce and awful
roar, which awoke the echoes of gloomy soi-
tude, and then was still. Fearing that the beast
was emily wounded Clark hastily reloaded his
gun with only two balls the last in his pouch,
ana discharged them into the body of the mons
ter, when he cautiously approached and found
az
beast, as he received his death wound as terri
he and calculated to make the stoutest heart
quail with fear
dark and gloomy night waslsctting down
on him-he had no bullets for his gun-was in
the wilderness without food and shelter, sur
rounded by wild animals He had no matches
to klndie a tire-hs situation was deSperate
and. to add to his further discomfort, it com
menced raining. What was to be done To
remain there without fire was exceedingly
dangerous. With these reflections, he contin-
ued to grope his way through laurel, hoping to
md path that might lead to a hunters habi.
tation, but in vain The night was dark as
Egypt, ana the bowling of pack of wolves
| greeted his ear. Being an old man, he soon be-
came exhausted, and found that he would have
| TO remain for the night
Coming TO an aged hemlock he seated himself
/ at IFS root for the night. Could he but obtain !,
hre, he would be comparatively safe. The eff
fort was made by collecting some dry materials
and, Loading his gun with powder, he fired the
charge into dry cotton handkerchief. 1t was
a failure As the gun was discharged another
bear apparently within twenty feet of him, gave
| q hdeouS and awful roar, that made Clark
( hair stand on end Iiruin was terribly fright
encd by the discharge of the gun. and hastily
scampered away, much to the relief of Clark
who now began TO fully realize the danger of his
position.
About two O'Clock in the morning, to add to tho
horrors of his situation, the yell of panther
was heard. The beast approached-ca nearer
| every few minutes-uttered a screech that frozf
the blood in his veins As last resort to defend
himself from the attack of the savage animal i,
| reloaded his gun, putting in some three cen
pieces and some steel pens, (for he had nothing
elsc) which he hoped might do some execution
The animal came so near that the glare of hi,
eyes III the darkness, rcsembied two balls of fire
/ Clark every moment expected to receive tho
| fatal spring. There he remained without darinc
/ to move, with the fiery eyes Of the panther fixet
/ upon him In this dreadful situation expectine
! every moment to be torn in pieces, he remained
! TIL break of day, when lie was relieved from
| danger and the animal disappeared. Hungry
ana weary and excited, he left for the settlement
/ where he arrived about noon, and related hi,
thrilling adventure. A party proceeded to the
place where the bear was shot, and brought il
his carcass, which proved to be a very large one
1t was dressed and forwarded to New York, Ii
was several days before Clark recovered from
the fatigue, the fear and excitement of that
night, which will never be removed from his
mind. -Fo"g1heepsie Eegte.
Destructive Fire at Galena. 100000 Loss
From the Galena Advertiser, April L.
At three o'clock Yesterday morning orr city
was visited by the most disastrous confederation
VIII long he remembered with sorrow, not ONLY
by those who have suffered the loss Of their pro.
perty, but by all who witnessed its terrible ef
+ feet and can feel for TIE misfortunes of others
! Men whom we have watched for wears toilino
with caTetulncss IN the prosecution Of the:i
business. saw the fruit of all their labor syyeUt
away a. by single breath, and they are lef
again to commence the world anew with the ac
: cumu!ated load Of Encouragement upon them
While we compassionate them, we appeal IL
/ their sturdy courage to sustain and arm them
anew tor the struggle of,life. Life is Il warfare
with difficulties, and he who meets them most
manfullv is the greatest hero. To our llpowl.
edge, this is the fourth or fifth time some of the
sufferers by this fire have been burnt out within
a few years. Most of the sufferers were among
I CIR most worthy. industrious and onterprising
citizens, As will be seen by reference to the
! list heoW.
/ The fire was first discovered in the stable on
commerce street, near Washington, owned by
NJ. O. Walker Of Chicago. in a few minutes Ii
was all in a blaze. The portion of the block in
+ which it was situated, north of tie De Soto
House, was Of the most combusfible materials
and III very short space Of time it was in a
single sheet of lame, defying all hopes of vic
/ tory b. human effort. All the buildings in that
block north of J. 4 Packard & Co.'S store
bounded by Main, y Washington and Commerce
streets, like one mighty candle lit up the whole
(
crossed Washington street in northward drcc.
ton, and burnt all the wooden buildings south
/ of l.. s. Fet's old brick store, now occupied By
j. Coatsworth * Son. 1t crossed Main street
westward, and burnt all that fine brick block OF
/ heavy stores and offices north of Dr. Werich's
new building and south Of Bergman & Co.'S
! Cabinet Warerooms, with the exception of the
building on the north corner of Main and Wash
ington Streets. 1t then crossed Bunch street
and burnt the residence of d. A. Barrows the
next dwelling southwark, and lastly in that
direction, the Catholic Church, where It was
finally subdued.
+ Such was the fury Of the tempest Of fire, that
/ large cinders were carrieda mile or more fron
i the scene OF the immediate confagration. SO Il,
/ TO endanger buildings at that distance. We
hear OF several buildings that caught fire on tho
J Hill, bat which were extinguished
WAsHINGToS, April 3.
/ SENATE.-The Senate to-day passed bill fol
the relief of widows and orphans of officers and
seamen OF the sloop-of-war Abany.
Also, joint resolution declaring the manner II
which pension laws for the benefit Of the Chero
kee Indians shall be executed.
Mr. Collamer-kansas affairs being under