New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-27
4 NIGHT OF HORROR.

Potter County Pa, is TO a great extent hosIns
wilderness; yet the land good, and efforts are max
ing to have i cleared and settled. Mr.. Aryine Clark
an experienced woOdInan, il an agent for parties who
wish to take up lands in the wilderness and bring them
into market; and in the OF bis explorations hs
meets occasionally with adventures, Of which the
following regarded BY hin.as the most fshtfpl that
backwOods. The story related to the writer by
Mr. {. himself, and may be relied upon az being
couect
the route fOr new road 10 the settlement through
wild and gloomy wilderness. As the shades Of even
1g drew OD he commenced to retraee his steps, as he
suppoted, through lands of Wm. Silver, esq, Of Phil
sdephia; but he was disappointed and lost his way.
lie became alarmed, aud, as the dusky shades OF
night settled around, be found himself in a den,s
forest at least eight miles from the settlement Be
coming very tired from rapid walking he sat dows
upon lo4 TO rest and contemplate for a moment bis
situation. His attention suddenly arrested by 4
rustng in the bushes close by, and on hooking eau
tiousy around beheld huge bear coming toward him
To draw up his tIusy rifle and 10 shoot the beast WA
.be work OF q moment. Brun gave fierce and sw
full roar, which awOke the echoes Of gloomy solitude
and then was still Fearing that the beast was only
wounded, Clark hastily reiosded bis gun with only tvs
balls, the last in his pouch, and discharged them into
the body Of the monster, when he cautiously aP
preached and found that he was dead. he descnbts
the of the beast, be received his deathwound
terrific aDd calculated to make the stoutest heart
Guall with fear.
A dark and gloomy night was settling down on him
be had no bullets for his gun-was in the wilderness
without food and shelter surrounded by wild animals.
He had no matches to kndle a tire-bs situation was
desperate, aud, to aid to his further discomfort,
commenced raining. What was to be donel To ro-
man there without fire exceedingly dangerous
With these reflections he continued 20 grope bs way
through laurel hoping to find path that might leas
to hunters bsbitatioo but in vain. The night W"
dark Egypt, and the howsg OF pack OF wolves
greeted hs ear. Being an old man be soon becsms
exhausted. and found that be would have to remsio
tor the night.
Coming 10 an aged hemlock he seated himself at i.s
root fot the night. Could be but obtain Are, be
voud be comparatively safe. The effort was made
bv collecting some dry materials and loading bis gun
with powder he fired the charge into dry cotton
hsadkerchef. II was failure As the gun was dis-
charged, another bear, apparently within twenty fset
Of him, gave n bideous and awful roar that nads
Cisrk's lair stand on end Bruin was terribly frgst
eped BY the discharge of the gun, and hastily scsE~
pered much 10 the relief Of Clark, who DOW began -
fully realize the danger Of bis position.
Here ne renamed, not daring to fall as.eep. About
two O'Clock ID the morning, to add to The horror. Of
his situation, the veil of panther was heard. Tbs
beast spproached-came nearer every few mo
ute- uttered a screech that fr0Ee the blood IN hls
veins As last reeOr to defend himself from the AZ
tack OF the savage animal, be reloaded bis gun Pos'
tne in some thIee-cent piece and some eeci peo'
flor be had nothing else) which he hoped nhShl 40
some c1ecut.on The animal came 20 near that tue
Of fire Clark every moment expected to roc eve tho
fatal string. There he remained without darnS %
move. WITH the fiery eyes Of the panther hred upon
him In tbs dreadful stun on expecting every mo
ment to be torn in piecss he remained til break Of
dsy when be relieved from danger, and the AM
maj disappeared. Hungry and weary and excited.
be eft for the settlement, where he arrived abo1t
noon ana related bis thrilling adventure. A party
proceeded to the place where the bear shos ami
brougst IN bis carcass, which proved 10 be very
large one. II dressed and forwarded TO New
York. II was several days before Clark recovered
from The fatigue, the fear and the Excitement Of ths,
night, which vii never be removed from his mind
tPoLshaeepss Ese