The commonwealth. (Wilmington, Del.) 1858-18??, 1858-08-14
A BOYS ENCOUNTER WITH A
BEAR.

Mr.. d. McPhail gives the following par
ticulars of an encounter with bear, whicl
took place in the township of Fullarton
on Wednesday, the 18th ult On tb,
morning of the day mentioned, Mr.. Jamei
Foster, farmer, on lot No. A, West Mitch.
ell road, heard hog making considerable
uoise, and sent his son George, lad Of
some fifteen years Of age, TO sec what wa.
the matter, when, on running to the scene
of trouble, tho lad saw what he supposed
to be large black dog belonging to Mr.
McPhaili ION who's land The cotabat was
being waged,) tearing at the neck Of 4 hog
belonging to Mr.. McPhail, and with the
intention ofreleasing bis pigship, threw a
stick at The ruthless iggtessot, When, to hi,
CONSERVATION, huge bear, instead Of the
supposed dog, rclinquished his hold upon
the hog and made for bimsclf. Being to.
tally unarmed, and no assistance within a
quarter Of mile, lie at once made for n
small iron-wood tree of about Eve inches
diameter. Having got up the tree, what
was his terror when he saw tho huge bear
pursuing him hastily up the branches Of
the sapling. Having recovered his breath,
he screamed for help, and in order to re.
tard the progress of his assailaut, began to
shake the sapling, but Bruin had clutched
the branches with an iron grip, and evi,
IDENTIFY calculated upon dainty riiorsel
for breakfast, aud continued to raise paw
ufter paw on the branches, till be ap-
preached so near as I'd be almdst within
reach. The poor lad screamed Justify.
and endsavored to break off some of the
branches by kicking them down with bis
bare feet. In this he partially succeeded,
when the bear made vigorous stretch Of
her muscles and seized the lad BY the foot.
sinking one Of her fangs under the great
toe on the right foot, aud slightly scratch.
inc the side Of the foot with her other nip.
per teeth.
at this juncture the shaking to and fro
of the sapling with their tnittd weight
upon it, caused 1t to bend ovet Until the
top nearly approached the gfound when,
providentiallyi the monster lost his hold,
and young Foster, brayely clinging to bis
grasp, with mistaken nerve, was elevated
by the rising of the capling. Bruip, how.
ever, did not lose her determination to
feast upon Ills Body; aHd agaiH spfatg
into the tree, but was evidently too much
fatigued to Use on so slender a ladder
AT this stage Of the contest the lads faith.
er reached the spot and saw the huge
monster standing on her hind legs, her
body extended up the tree, growing force
ly, tue lad nearly exhausted, clinging to
the tree, only few feet up, with the blood
streaming from hi9 lacerstod foot. On
with club in hand, showed bold front,
though out Of breath with running. His
eldest son now arrived from another part
Of the farm, wbeu they succeeded in res
cuing George from his retreat. Mean
while several 9th persons arrived on the
spot, and lad was dispatched fct Messts.
William and Walter Malcodi, wh6 were
soon on the spot, with dog of more than
usual size and courage, which Immediate
y seized ths beat by the root Of the ear,
and in the struggle Brought bin to the
ground. Bruin now got hold on the
shoulder of the dog and nipped him so tight
as to make him r. liuquish his hold. But
the courage of bruin gave way, and she
made an attempt to tree, when !" Keeper"
again seized her by the thigh and brought
her back. She now made for large elm,
and assembled some forty five feet, and
perched in a crotch to scan her assailants.
A man was then despatched for two Of our
Nimrods, who, by joint attack both in
front and rear, brought her bearship 10 the
ground by well directed fire. Srd9od
(Cdraela) Beacon.