Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-16

mere was ABOUT dozen OF US, VINO
stood up to it'-all the Delawares and
ShawnanOes, with Gary and the noun
tain men.
"We kept firing at the bears as they
ran along the ledges in their zig-zag de-
scent, but our rifles were out of order,
oul fingers were numbed with cold, and
our nerves weakened with hunger. Our
bullets drew blood from the hideous
brutes, vet not a shot proved deadly
1t only stung them into fiercer rage.
at was fearful moment when the
last shot was fired, and still not an ene-
my the less. We flung away the guns,
and. clutching the hatchets and hunting
knives, silently awaited our grizzly foes.
''We had taken our stand close to the
rock. 1t was our design to have the
first blow, as the animals, for the most
part, came stern foremost down the
cliff. In this we were disappointed. On
reaching the ledge some ten feet from
the platform, the foremost bear halted,
and seeing our position, hesitated to de-
scend. The next moment, his compan-
ions, maddened with wounds, came
tumbling down upon the same ledge,
and with fierce growls. the FIVE huge
bodies were precipitated into our midst.
Then came the desperate struggle.
which ] cannot describe,-the shouts oI
the hunters, the wilder yells of our In.
dian allies, the hoarse worrying of the
bears, the ringing of the tomahawks
from skulls like flint, the deep dull 'thud
of the stabbing-knife, and now and then
groan, as the crescent claw tore uI
the clinging muscle. o God it was
fearful scene
cover the platform bears and men
went rolling and struggling. in the wild
battle of life and death. Through the
trees, and into the deep drift, staining
the snow with their mingled blood
Here, two or three men were engaged
with a single foe-there, some brave
hunter stood battling alone, severa
were sprawling upon the ground. Every
moment the bears were lessening the
number of their assailants
81 had been struck down at the com.
mencement of the struggle. On regain,
ing my feet, saw the animal that had
felled me hugsing the PROSTATE body Of
man.
''It was Code. 1 leaned over the bear
cluiching its shaggy skin. l did this tc
steady myself l was weak and dizzy
so were we all. 1 stuck with all my
force, stabbing the animal in the ribs.
Letting go the Frenchman, the beal
turned suddenly, and reared upon me-
I endeavoied to avoi / the encounter, but
ran backward, Tending him off with my
knife.
"All at once came against snow.
drift, and fell over on my back. Mex
moment, the heavy body was precirita'
ted upon me, the sharp claws pierced
deep into my shoulder-I inhaled the
monsters fetid breath; and striking wild,
ly with my right arm, still free, we roll
ed over and over in the snow.
81 was blinded by the dry drift.
felt myself growing weaker and weaker
it was the loss of blood. 1 shouted-a
despairing shoui-but it could not have
been heard at ten PAGES distance. Their
there was strange kissing sound in my
ears-a bright light flashed across my
eyes; burning object passed over my
face. scorching the skin there was a
smell as of singing hair; l could heal
voices, mixed with the roars of my ad.
versary; and all at once the claws were
drawn out of my flesh, The weight wa:
lifted from my breast, and 1 was alone
Il rose to my feet, and rubbing the
snow out of my eyes. looked around.
could see no one. l was in a deep hol.
low made by our struggles, but 1 was
alone
"The snow all around me was dyed Ia
a crimson; but wha, had become Of nv
terrible antagonist? Who had rescued
me frcm his deadly embrace?
81 staggered forward to the open
ground. Here new scene met my
gaze: strange looking man was run
ming across the platform, with a huge
firebrand-the bole of a burning pine
tree--which he waved in the air. He
was chasing one of the bears, that, growl-
ing with rage and pain, was making eve'
ry effort to reach the cliffs. Two others
were already halfway up, and evident
ly clambering with great difficulty, as
the blood dripped back from their wound
ed fianks.
"The bear that was pursued soon took
to the rocks, and urged.by the red brand
scorching his shaggy hams, was soon
beyond the reach of his pursuer. The
latter now made towards the fourth, that
was still battling with two or three weak
antagonists. This one was routed in a
twinkling, and with yells of terror fol
lowed his comrades up the bluff. The
strange man looked around for the fifth.
1t had disappeared. PROSTATE, wound
ed men were strewed over the ground.
but the bear was nowhere to be seen.
He had doubtless escaped through the
snow.