The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-01-28
GBt 9ailg yonrnat
A Mississippi Sporting Adventure.
BY A BACKwoODsMAN.


| have often seen accounts of "hair-breadtl
Escapes" in such cases, which very wise peo
Iple-who know nothing about it--in more
civilized places, have charged to the marvellous
but which we, of the woods-at least many
Of us-know to be not only possible, but high
lily probable, and IN some instances, by sad ex
lperience. In illustration of which, [ will en-
ldeavor to describe an adventure of my own
In 1897 resided on the banks of the Missis.
Isippi, &C. W. as had done from my infancy
| was then, about twenty years ago, stout and
Iathletic, and passionately fond of wild scene
Try and sporting adventures. The month OF
October had arrived-the great season for pat
ridge and deer shooting; and in accordance
with my almost eaily custom, | sailed out
with my fowling- piece-one barrel containing
Ia ball, and the other small shot. L had sue
ceeded in bagging some small wares, and in
passing creek observed raccoon busily en-
ployed turning over the stones in search Of
frogs, worms, &c. Without giving the matter
much thought, | succeeeed in removing "Ursa
Minor to another, if not better world and
being rather corpulent to carry through the
woods, l hung hun upon a saplln, intending to
send for him next day; and as the part of the
country which was in did not very often af-
ford large game, I charged the second barrel
with shot also.
l had proceeded perhaps mile, and was
crossing the outskirts of Tamarack swamp,
through succession Of narrow and rocky
glens, with high and precipitous sides, and had
sprung from rather high rock into a rift Of
not more than three feet wide, when per-
ceived the eyes of an immense buck glaring at
me at not over ten feet distance. \ glance
showed me that he had no means Of escape ex-
cept over myself; and aware of the desperation
of this otherwise timid creature, under such
circumstances, and at this particular season, L
formed my resolution in an instant. I cooked
both locks, placed my fingers on the triggers,
and resolved to wait his spring as did not
think my charges would injure him except at
the very muzzle. knelt upon one knee and
watched his eye. All this took place in a very
few seconds.
At length the launches and ears were drawn
back, and with a tremendous snort he bound
ed in the air, with the evident intention ofde-
scending upon me. Quick as lightning both
barrels were discharged full into his breast,
and | received shock as iffrom pile engine,
which deprived me ofall sensation. About three
hours after, as near as | could judge by COM
pairing dates afterwards, l was brought to
state Of partial sensibility by something lick
ing my face, and something growing and
my clothes; but being very faint
lid not look up till enormous paws tore flesh
with them. Then, indeed, [ did look up-I
when what was my horror to see huge bear,
2oolly licking the blood from my lacerated
breast Weakness more than possession
Kept me still moment, while two halfgrown
tubs were tearing and scratching my legs and
eet. The desperation of the case aroused me
% sudden energy, and | slowly stretched my
eft hand (my right arm was broken) to my
back for my hunters knife resolved, if such
;an be called resolution to save my life if pos I
'ible. | had got it drawn from the sheath, and |
vas watching a favorable opportunity to |
plunge it into the brute's throat when, with a |
rightful roar, it fell across my body, apparent
Y in the very agonies of death. A fearful
struggle ensued, which soon put stop to my /
eebie exertions. a 70. f-.Es s5
When next came to my senses was seat
d, leaning against rock; and stalwart In
llama youth, who had been my companion in
many hard days hunt, was busily employed
binding up my wounds with leaves, and strips
orn from his own scanty garments. Not be-
ng able to take me home that night, he made
fire, and nursed me as a mother would
hid, and next day carried me by easy stages
o my parents.
1t appeared that he had called on me, but being
old that 1 was only gone few minutes,
hought he would make up to me. He acci-
lentally came to where l had shot and hung
Up the raccoon; but found that some bears had
'roken the sapling, and eaten their cousin. He
hen struck their trail, and followed them to
where he saw the old one apparently devour-
ng something, he did not know what He
ired, and being aware Of their tenacity of life
waited to reload his rife, ere he yentured to
dvance-a sad job for me, as by its, dying
truggles have been MANNED for llfe 1t is
worthy of remark that the deer had been so
lose upon me, when | fired, that his chest was
inged, and that the barrels of the gun were
ound nearly eight inches deep in the wound
ormed by their own discharge, while l and
he stock had been driven upward Of thirty
eet by the force Of his spring.
Such are some of the perils of the back
woods sportsman, and which, with many 9th
rs equally romantic, is an "owtr true tae,'
S and many others know by hard expert
nee.
a 0rFAn Arkansas candidate for Congress set
orth his qualifications for office in the follow
ng language:
"Gentlemen: if I am elected to this office,
rifl represent nv constituents as the sea rem +