Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-04-12
A Night of Horror.

Potter County, Pa, is to great extent q
bowling wilderness yet the land is good, and
efforts are making to have it cleared and set
tied. Mr.. Arvinc Clark, all experienced wood
man, is 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 frightful that has ever befaen him du,
ring his long career in the backwoods The
story was related to the writer by Mr.. c. him
self, and may be relied upon US being cor
rect -
On the 4th Of November last, Mr.. c. was
exploring the route for new road to the set
tlement through wild and gloomy wilderness.
As the shades of evening drew on, he conmenc-
ed to retrace his steps, as he supposed, through
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 u
dense forest, at least eight miles from the set
tlement. Becoming very tired from rapid walk
ing, he sat down upon a log to rest and COLI
template for moment his situation. His at
tention was suddenly arrested by rustng in
the bushes close by, and on looking cautiously
around 6cheld huge bear coming toward him.
To draw up his trusty rife and to shoot the
beast was the work OF moment Bruin gave
fierce and awful roar, which awoke the echoes
of a gloomy solitude and then was still Fear
ing that the beast was only wounded, Clark
hastily reloaded his gun with only two balls,
the last in his pouch, and discharged them in
to the body of the monster when he cautious
ly approached and found that he was dead
He describes the roar of the beast, as he re-
ceived his death-wound as terrific and calcu.
lated to make the stoute.t heart quail with
fear.
a dark and gloomy night was settling 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 kindle fire--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 dam
gerous. With these reflections he continued
to grope his way through laurel, hoping to find
path that might lead to a hunters habitation,
but in vain. The night was dark as Egypt,
and the bowling of pack of wolves greeted
his ear. Being an old man he soon became ex-
hauSed, and found that he would have to re-
main for the night.
Coming to an aged hemlock he seated him
self at its root for the night Could he but
obtain fire, he would be comparatively safe.
The effort was made by collecting some dry
materials, and, loading his gun with powder,
he fired the charge into a dry cotton handker-
chief 1t was a failure As the gun was dis
charged, another bear, apparently within twen-
ty feet Of him, gave a hideous and awful roar
- hat, IL, Ill In;, 4
was terribly frightened by the discharge Of the
gun. and hastily scampercd, much to the relief
of Clark, who now began to fully realize the
danger Of his position.
Here he remained, not daring to fall asleep
About two o'clock in the morning, to add to
the horrors Of his situation, the yell of pan
ther was heard. The beast pproached-came
nearer every few minuteS-uttcred a screcch
that frOZc the blood in his veins As a last
resort to defend himself from the attack of the
savage animal, he reloaded his gun, putting in
some thrcc-cent 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 his eyes in the darkness re-
sembled two balls of fire Clark every mo-
ment expected to receive the fatal spring
There he remained without daring to move.
with the fiery eyes of the panther fixed upon
him In this dreadful situation, expecting
every moment to be torn in pieces, he remain
ed till break Of day, when he was relieved from
danger, and the animal disappeared. Hungry
and weary and excited, he left for the settle
mcnt where he arrived about noon and rela-
ted his thrilling adventure. A party proceed
ed to the place where the bear was shot, and
brought in his carcass, which proved to lie u
very large one 1t was dressed and forward
ed to New-York. 1t was several days before
Clark recovered from the fatigue, the fear and
the excitement of that night, which will never
be removed from his mind-PO0gAkeePsic ( v.
" Eagle.