Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-05-23
A ANIGuToF HORROR.


Potter county. Pa. is to a great ex-
tent, bowling Wilderness yet the land
is good, and efforts are being made to
have it cleared and settled. Mr.. Arvine
Clarke, an experienced woodman. is an
agent for the parties who wish to take up
lands in the wilderness, and bring them
into market; aud in the course Of his ex-
plorations he meets occasionally with
rare adventures, of which the following
is regarded by him as the most frightful
that has ever befallen him during his
long career in the backwoods. The sto-
nv was related TO the writer by Mr.. c.,
himself. aud may be relied upon as being
correct:
On the 4th of November last, Mr.. G.
was exploring the route for new road
to the settlement through a wild and
gloomy wilderness. As the shades Of
evening drew on he commenced to re-
trace his steps, as lie supposed, through
the lands of VIM. Silver. Esq. of Phila-
delphia. but he was disappointed. and
lost his way. He became alarmed, and
as the dusky shades Of mig ut settled
around, he found himselfin a dense for
est. at least eight miles from a settlement.
~
he sat down on a log to rest and contem-
plate for a moment, his situation. His
attention was suddenly arrested by rust
ling in the bushes close by, and on look
'ing cautiously around, beheld huge
t6ear coming toward him.
To draw up his trusty rifle and 10
>shoot the beast was the work of mo-
.ment. Bruin gave a fierce and awful
roar, which awoke the echoes OF gloomy
solitude and then all was still. Fearing
the beast WAS only wounded, Clark i'm
.rnedia4ely reloaded his gun with only
Two balls, the last in his pouch, and dis
charged them into the body of the mon-
ster. when lie cautiously approached and
found that he was dead. He described
the roar Of the beast when be received
has death wound as terrific, and calcu!a-
ted to make the stoutest heart quail with
fear.
A dark and gloomy night was setting
down upon him-he had no bullets for
his gun-was in the wilderness, without
food or shelter. surrounded by wild ani>
mails. He had no matches 10 klndle a
tre-his 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 EXCEED
ingly dangerous. With these reflections
he continued to grope his way through
laurel. hoping to find path which might
lead the way to a hunters ha5itaIion. but
in vain. The night was dark rs Egypt,
and the howliug Of packs OF wolves greet
ed his ear. Being an old man. he soon
became exhausted and found that he
Sould have to remain during the night
Coming to an aged hemlock. he seated
himself at the roots for the night. Could
he but obtain fire he would be compar'
atively safe. The effort was made by
collecting some dry material, and loading
his gun with powder, he fired the charge
into dry cotton handkerchief. 1t was a
failure AS the gun was discharged, an
other bear, apparently within twenty f g
of him, gave a hideous and awful roar
that made Giark's hair stand on end
Bruin was terribly frightened by the dis
ciarge, ,and hastily scampereda way 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 morn
ing. to add to the horror OF his situation.
the yell Of panther was heard. The
beast approached-came nearer every
minute-uttered screech that froze the
blood OF his veins. AS a last resort to
defend himself from the attack of the saw
age animal, he reloaded his gun, putting
in some three cent pieces and some steel
pens, for he had nothing else. which
he hoped might do some execution. The
animal came so near that the glare of his
eyes in the dark resembled two balls OF
FIRE. Clark every moment expected to
receive the fatal spring. There he re-
manned not daring to move, with the fiery
eyes Of the panther upon him.
In this dreadful situation expecting ev-
cry moment to be torn TO pieces he re-
mained till break of day. when he was
relieved from danger. and the animal dis
appeared. Hungry. weary and excited,
he left for the settlement, where he reach.
ed about noon, and related his thrilling
adventure. A party proceeded to the
place where the bear was shot, aud
brought in his carcas. which proved to be
a very large one. Il was dressed and
forwarded to New York. It was several
days, before Clark was relieved from the
fatigue, the fear and excitement of that
night, which will never be removed from
his mind -PoHghteeps'e Eagle.
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