American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-05-24
a. NIGHT OF HORROR.

Z Potter copply,.Pp, isto a great ex-
tent a ahpwling wilderness; ye; thp land
is good, aud effuLls ale making To have
il tcleaied and settled AIR Alvin Clark
experienced woodsmah is an agent
for paIties Who wish u take up lands in
The wilderness aud bring Them into the
market aud in thcec0utse OF hisexph,-
{ raiions he meets occasionally y with rare
{ adysntures-- of which the 1foilowng is
REGARDED by hip /, as tho most sfrigb,ful,
tbatha ever befalep, him during his
{ long career, IN the back woods. The
slury was related to eotrespo ndpnv
Of tho Pnughkeepsie Eagle, by Mr.. G.
4 himself and may be relied upon as be .
!. ing currect. Sa4 s'ts 'sN- 81"
4 Onthe fourth Of November last, Mr.
! G. was expioringthe route f0r new
road to the settlement, through a wild
and gloomy Wilderness. AS The shades
of evening drew on, The comaanced 10
/ re,race his steps as he supposed. throigli
lands of William Silver Esq Of Rhiia-
delphia; but he was Disappointed, aud
lost his way. He became ALARMED, aud
) as-tbe dusky shades of night settled, lie,
/ fuupd llmseifin dense forest at least,
eIght miles from the settlements Be-
coming very tired from rapid walking,
be sat dpwp upon ailog Ia rest. aud con-
template for u moment bis situation
Ii His attention was suddenly arrested
/. by rnstling in the bushes close by,
and cautiously hooking around, he be-
held a large bsarcoming tnward him
/ To draw up his rife and shoot the beast
was the work toi a mumrut Bruin
gave a ieariui aud awful soar, which IL
&, woke the echoes fthe gloomy solitude,r
aud then all was still. Gearing that
the heas was only wounded, Clark has
.tily reloaded his gun with Two balls the
Flast in his pouch, aud discharged hem,
into the body Of The monster, when he
cautiously approached and found that
he was dead He Describes the roar uf
the beast when he receiyed his dearb
wound, az te,,ilic, and calculated to
make The @tbuiest heart quail with foar.
I "A dark ADD gloomy night waa set,liig
down on him he hud nu.buil,is for his
@n", was far In The wilderness without
i""d or sh>t'v', surrounded by ,,id am
'u'nts Il" bod i,n matches - k3utl, 81.
fire---hi, situaljou, "as d,spei ATE, aud
brsIdr 81 add lD his lugfher dIocotnf,rt,
IL commenced raining What was To
6. he done To remain there without
fir was exceedingly dangerous With
these reflections no continued To grope
his way through laurel, hoping To hnd
a path that might lead To hunters hab-
| iration, bat in vain. The night was as
dark as Egypt, and the bowling of
puck OF wolves greeted his ear. Being
at old mau soon became exhausted. and
iiuund that he would have to remain for
the night, r.
| Coming to an aged hemlock; he seat.
ed bimsef at its root for tie night
Gould h9 obtain a fire he ", md be- com.
paIaiiyely safe. The eff5,t vas made
by collecting some materials; aud load.
ing bis gun with powder, he fired ihe
charge ntn dry cotton handkcrchicf
1t was a failure! As the Gun was dis
ehaged another beat appare nifty viii.
ia tw''niy feet at him gaze hidsaus anl
awful roar thi,t made Ciark's hair Stand
: On epd Bruill wasiertibly frightened
by tl,ed,selatgegof the gun aud hastily
scanpered oil, much tp the relief of
Z Cla'k who Now bggpn 90 fairly realize
ttih'' daugrr of his situation.
Here he remained not daring To- fall
asleep. Abuul rwoo'clockin The nom.
ting. to add Ia The burrols nf his situa.
ton, the yell Of a panther was hca,d.--
The beast approached came nearer
4 aud every few moments uttered scrccch
that frpze the t.iood 10 his veins .
As a last resort, to dcfIDd himself
from the attack Of the savage animal,
he rcloaded his gun, putting in some
three cemi pieces aud some steel puns
Z Qor he had nothing cjse) Which he h0.
ped might do some execution. The an.
Iimal came so neat hat The glare ef his
! eyes in the darkness rcsemblrI Iwo
ballsof fire Clsik expected eveiy no.
J meni to receive the fatal ~ ibu. There.
! he remained. Withonl dailup 10 u.ovc.
With the foy eyes ofthr faDtirr fixed
uppn bin! ~ dis dicadiul situation.
expecting every momepi 10 be- torn in
pieces. he remaiped till break of day,
~lrep hr "os feieved f,om dapgcr, aud
The animal disappeared.
Hungry and weary end excited, he
lefi for Tho setilemon,, where he arrived
lahoGt noon. ard related bis thrilling adj.
veDt1fe. parry proceeded to the place
whe,c tlir bear was shof ard bruoplif
III hiscmcass. whicbproveI to be W.
V, large Que. IL WAS dressed and for.
warded TO New York. II was several
! days before Clark recovered from the
in'igpe, the fear, and tho excitement
of that might which will never be reno.
yod from his mind.
.A.--.---4--------- -oeu.4. .4s--4-s--1
/ A Srtt'c,. - say Harry, did sonask