Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-06
A SPORTING ADVENTURE.
nY \ BACKwooDsMAN.

have often seen accounts of s'hair breadth
'scapes'' in such cases, which very wise peo-
pie-who know nothing about it-in more civ
ilized places, have charged to the marvellous,
but which We of the woods, at least many of us,
know to be not only possible, but highly prob
able, and in some instances, by sad experience
in illustration of which, win endeavor to de-
scribe an adventure of my own. In 1887 re-
sided on the banks Of the Mississippi, &C. w.
as had done from my infancy. I was then,
about 10 years ago, stout and athletic, and pas
sionatcly fond of wild scenery and sporting
adventures The month of October had ar
rivcd-the great season for partridge and deer
shooting and in accordance with my almost
daily custom, 1 sailed out with my fowling
piece-one barrel charged with bail, and the
other with small shot. had succeeded in
bagging some small wares, and in passing
creek observed raceoon busily employed turn
ing over the stones in search of frog, worms,
&c. Without giving the matter much thought
l succeeded in removing s'Ursa Ainor'' to an
other, if not better world and being rather
corpulent to carry through the woods, hung
him upon sappling, intending to send for
him the next day; and as the part of the eoun-
try in which I was did not afford large game,
l charged the second barrel with shot also.
had proceeded perhaps mile, and was cross
ing the outskirts OF a Tamarack swamp,
through succession ofnarow and rocky glens,
with high and PERCEPTIONS sides, and had sprung
from rather high rock into rift Of no$ more
than three feet.wide, when perceived the
eyes of an immense buck glaring at me, at not
over ten feet distance. y glance showed me
| that he had no means Of escape except over
| myself; and aware of the desperation Eof this
| otherwise timid creature, under such circum-
| stances and at this particular season. 1 formed
my resolution in an instant. cooked both
| locks, placed my fingers on the triggers, and
resolved to wait his spring, as did not think
my charge would injure him except at the very
| muzzle; 1 then knelt upon one knee and
watched his eye. AL this took place in very
few seconds.
AT length the launches and ears were drawn
| back, and with tremendous snort lie bounded
in the air, with the evident intention Of de-
scending upon me; quick as lightning both
barrels were discharged full iato his breast,
and l received a shock as if from a pile en-
| ginc, which deprived me of all sensation. a
| bout three hours afterwards, was brought TO
a state of partial sensibility by something lick
| ing my face, and something growing and
scratching my clothes but being very faint
did not look up until enormous paws tore flesh
with them; then, indeed, I did lock up, when,
what was my horror, 70 see 4 huge bear, cooliy
| licking the blood froLl niy iace1ated breast.
Weakness, more than seif-Possession, kept me
tearing and scratching iny legs and feet. The
desperation Of the case aroused me to sudden
energy, and, my right arm being broken,
slowly stretched my left hand TO nay back for
my hunters knife, resolved, if such can be
| called resolution, to save my life If possible.
1 had got it drawn from the sheath, and Els
watching favorable opportunity TO plunge IT
into the brute's throat, when, with frightfai
roar, ii fell across my body, apparently in the
very agonies of death. A fearful struggle en-
sued, which soon put q stop to my feeble ex-
| ertions. When L next became conscious,
was seated leaning against rock, and a stall
wart Indian youth, who had been my conpan-
ion in many hard days hunt, was bIsily en-
gagged in binding up my wounds, with leaves,
and strips torn from his oign seanty garments.
Not being able to take me home that night, no
made a fire and nursed me rs mother would
| q child, and the next day carried me by easy
stages to my parents.
1t appeared that he had called for me, but
being told that was only gone few minutes,
thought that lie would make up to me-he ac-
cidentaliy came to where had shot and hung
up the raccoou, but found that some bears had
broken the sapl:ng aud eaten their cousin
He then struck their trails, and followed .heln
to where he saw the old enc apparently deyour-
ing something, he did not know what. He
fired, and being aware of their tenacity of life,
waited to reload his rife ere he veniurcd to
advance-a sad job for me, as fy. its dying
struggles have been MANNED for life. 1t is
worthy of remark that the deer had been SO
close upon me when 1 fred, that his chest was
singed, and that the barrels Of the gun were
found nearly eight inches deep in the wound
formed by their own discharge, while and
the stock had been driven upwards ct tilrfy
feet by the force CT his spring.
Such are some ofthe perils of the back
woods sportsman, and which with many 9TH
ers, equally romantic, is an so'er true tale, as
/ and many others tnoT oy hard experience.
i No franking. privilege exists in Englana.--