Demoine courier., 1856-04-10
A Night Of Horror---Bears, Pan
theirs, sc.

Potier County, fen0., 10 10 q great ex
tent, a hohling wilderness. yet the land
is good, and efforts ere making TO have i.
cleared and settled.
Aryine Clark. inexperienced woods
man, is an agen, for parties who wish 10
take up lands in the wilderness and bring
ihom into market; and in the course Of
his explorations he moots occasionally
with rare adven,ures.-of which the fol
lowing is regarded by him as The mosl
frigh'!ul that has ever befallen him du
ring his long career in the backwoods.-
The story was related TO the writer by
Mr.. Clark himself, and may be relied
upon as being correct.
On the 4ih Of November last, Mr..
Clark was exploring the route for a new
road to the settlement, through 0 wild
and gloomy wilderness.
As the shades OF the evening drew on,
he commenced to retrace his staps, as he
supposed. through lands of Wm. Silver,
Of Philadelphia; but he was d%isoppoin..
ed and lost his way. lie became alar.
med, and as the dusky shades Of night
settled around, he found himself IN a
dense forest at least eight miles from the
settlement. Becoming very tired from
rapid walking, he sa, down upon a log
to rest and contemplate for a moment his
situation. His attention was suddenly
arrested by a rus,eling in the bushes
close by. and on looking cautiously a.
round, he bebe!d a huge bear coming 10.
wards him. To draw up his trus,y ri
file and shoe, the beast. was the work OF
an instant. Bum gave a fearful aud
awful roar, which awoke the echoes OF
the gloomy solitude, aud then all was
siill. Fearing that the beas, was only
wounded. Clark hastily reloaded his gun
with two balls, the last in his pouch, and
discharged them into the body OF the
monster, when he cautiously approached
and found that he was dead. He de-
soribes the roar of the beast, SIS he re
ceived his death. as terrific. aud c~a!cnla
ted 10 make the stouiest heart quail and
fear.
A dark and gloomy nigh, was settling
down on him-he had no bullets for his
gun-was far in the wilderness without
food or shelter surrounded by wild ami
mails. lie had no matches TO Sindle a
fre-his situation was desperate, and 10
add to his further discomfort il common
ced raining. w ha, was to be done!-
Foreman there without fire was ex . q.
ingiy dangerous. With these redec-
tions he continued to grope his way
through the laurel, hoping to find a path
that might lead to a hulier's habi,ation,
but in vain. The night was as dark as
Egypt. and the bowling OF a pack of
wolves greeted his ear. Being an old
man, he soon became exhausted, and
found lha, be would have 10 remain for
The night.
Coming to an aged hemlock he seated
himself at its roots for the night, Gould
he bnt obtain a fire he would be compar
aiively safe. The effor. was nude by
collecting some dry materials. and load
ing his gun with powder he fred The
charge into a dry cotton handkerchief
As the gun was discharged, another bear
apparently within twenty feet Of him,
gave a hideous and awful roar that made
Clark's hair stand on end. Bruin was
terribly frightened by the discharge Of
The gun and hastily scampered off, much
10 the relief of Clark, who now began
10 fairly realize the danger OF his silua.
ston.
Here he remained, not daring 10 fall
asleep. About two o'clock in The morn
ing, tn add to The horrors Of his situa.
lion. the yell Of a panther was heard
The beast approached came nearer. ev.
cry few minutes uttered a scrsech thai
froze the blood in his vents! As a last
resort 10 defend himaelf from the attack
of the savage animal, he reloaded his gun,
putting in some three cent pieces and
steel pens (for he he had nothing else,)
which he hoped might do some execu-
lion. Ths animal came so neat that the
glare OF his eyes in the darkness resem-
bled two balls Of FIRE! Clark every mo-
ment expected I o receive the fatal
spring. There he remained wilhou, da-
ring TO move, with the. fiery eyes o!
the panther fixed upon him! In this
dreadful situation. expecting every mo-
ment TO be torn in pieces, he remained
ill break of day, when he was relieved
from danger and The animal disappeared.
Hungry. weary and excited, be Lett for
the settlement, where he arrived about
noon, and related his !hrilling ad venture.
A party proceeded to the place where the
bear was shot, aud brought 10 the car
cass which proved 10 be q very large
one. !. was dressed ant forwarded to
New York. Il WAS several days before
Clark recovered from the fatigue, the
fright and The excitement of that night
which will never Be removed from his
mind Poughhe,psie .Eagte: .