St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-07-02
Mistellanv.
A TRUE BEAR STORY.

winch traHSplreu III anu ABOUT ELL
cottville some thirty or forty years
ago. OF the score of those we could
count but few years since, only three
or four remain-sere and withered
leaves, still clingiug to a sapless
bough, that few more autumn blasts
will pluck off and mingle with those
that have gone before! But to our
story:
Some forty years ago, on the site
now occupied by the old Temperance
House Of which cold uncle Huntley" 1"
was for so many years mine host"
stood simple, unhewn log-cabin--
the first building erected in our village
occupied by Doctor Trowbridge
and his estimable lady, with whom
boarded two brothers, Spencer and
Jonathan Pitcher, who were as fine
specimens of opcn-hearted, frank and
fearless back-woodsmen as ever
swung an axe. 1t was a fine morn
ing in the forepart of April, although
there was nearly foot of SHOW on the
ground-for Winter was even more
prone then than now to linger in the
lap of Spring and the "gude wife"
of the cabin wished Spencer and Jona-
than to go out and "bring down a
deer" as fresh meat in those days
was almost as great q luxury as
"clam soups" are now, and consisted
almost entirely of wild game, such as
deer, rabbits and partridges. The old
rifie-for they had but one-was ac-
cordingly taken down from its pegs
on the wall-brushed up, loaded, and
our young hunters set out. Climbing
the hill on the north of the village
that forms the western barrier or the
gulf road" they had proceeded but
short distance when they very uneX-
pectcdly saw, but short distance in ad-
vance of them, seven fine deer. Instant
ly the rifle was brought to Jonathan's
shoulder and snap went the lock, but
it was only fash in the pan" Cap
locks were then unknown, and only
the old-fashioned flints We're used.
Re-priming, Jonathan snapped again,
but with no better success. The sun
had warmed the old hemlocks, and
the moisture that dropped from their
branches had rendered the powder
flint if not fire proof By this time the
deer were off, and again pricking
fresh powder into the barrel, the
young men followed on in hopes of
again overtaking them. Not long
had they travelled thus before Jona-
than, who was little in advance of
his brother, observed, not more than
six rods ahead Of him, black object
partly concealed behind the trunk Of
q fallen tree. He was at loss at
first to determine "the nature of the
beast" but a conviction that it was at
least "game" again brought the rifle
to his shoulder Another fash as
fruitless as the first, and a hinge black
bear reared himself upon his launches,
and casting a defiant look upon the
destroyers of his repose, commenced
retreat. Jonathan told his brother
to follow on after his bearship, who,
finding himself SO closely pursued,
would probably seek refuge in tree,
in which event ample time would be
had for withdrawing the damp charge
and reloading, when they could bring
down Bruin at their leisure. Spencer
hesitated, when Jonathan, we'll know
ing that no time was to be lost,
quickly handed the rifle to his brother,
and telling him to follow on, com.
menced the pursuit. The bear had
shaped his course" down the hill to-
wards the gulf; and with herculean
leaps, internal yells, and whirling his
black tarpaulin over his head Jona-
than pursued. The race was long
one sometimes Bruin had the best
Of it-sometimes Jonathan. On, on
they went over stumps, logs and
brush-heaps-dodging here and there
a tree. but turning aside for no obsta
Gle that could be surmounted.
At last deep rayine was reached,
when almost simultaneously rushed
down pursuer and pursued. The bear
finding himself oyertaken, wheeled
around, and with mouth agape and
eyes glariDg like balls Of fire, made .