Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-22
4aiIp Qniun& Amtritan



Mr.. D. MePhail gives the following particulars
Of an encounter with bear. which took place in
the township Of Eu0arton, on Wednesday, the l4ih
July. Ga the morning Of the day mentioned Mr.,
james Foster, farmer on lot No. A. West Mitchell
Tosd, heard hog making considerable noise, snd
sent bis son George, lad Of some fifteen years of
age to see what vas the matter, when, on reach
ing the scene Of trouble, the lad ssH what he
supposed 10 be large black dog bepgiBg to Mr.
McPhsil, and with the intention Of releasing his
pigshiD, threw a stick at the ruthless aggressor
Wbsn 70 his CONSERVATION, huge bear, instead Of
the supposed dog, relinquished his hold upon the
hog and made for himself. Being totally unaTmed,
and no assistance within quarter Of mile, he o.
once made for an airon-H oed tree Of about I'VE
inches diameter; having got up the tree, what was
his terror when be saw the hinge bear pursuing MN
hastily up the branches Of the sapling. haVi1g
recovered his breath he screamed for help ana, In
order 70 retard the progress of his assatant began
to shake the saplinE; bat bruin hao clutenea the
branches with an iron grip ana eVlaentiy caleuiat-
ed upon dainty mOrsel Tor bfeakiasts and con.
tinued TO raise paw after paw On the bfancnes, TAI
he approached near as to be almost within reach
The poor lad screamed Justify, and endeavOred to
bresk of some Of the branches by kicking them
down with his bare feet In this he partially sue
ceeded, when the bear made vigorous stretch Ct
her muscles and seized the lad by the foot sinking
Of her fsngs under the bail of The great Toe Of
the right foot, and slightly scratching the side Of
the foot with her other nipper teeth. at this juno
ture the shaking 70 and fro Of the sap1ing, with
their united weight upon it. caused it to bend over
until the TOP nearly approached the ground when
proTidentally the monster lost her hold and young
Foster, bravely cingng to his grasp with mistaken
nerve was elevated by the risirg of the sapling.
Btdin however, did not lose her determination to
feast upon his body and again sprang to the tree,
but was evidently too much fatgued TO rise on 60
slender ladder At this stage Of the contest, the
bows father reached the spot, and saw the huge
monster standing on her hind legs her body extern
ded M the tree, growing fereey, the lad nearly
exhausted cliBging to the tree, only few ieet up
with the blood stresming from his acerated foot. On
snnrosoeip to therescue Of his son. the Infatuated
beast turned upon him; but he, with club in hand
showed bold front, although out Of breath with
running His eldest son now arrived from another
part of the farm, when they succeeded in rescuinG
George from his retreat, Meanwhile several othel
perstns arrived on the spot, and lad was dis
patched for Messrs William and Walter Naloom
who we're soon on the spot with dog Of more thar
usual size and courage, which Immediately seizeC
the bear by the root Of the ear and in the stTugg
brought her to the ground, Bruin now got hold OF
the shoulder Of the dog, and nipped him 90 tight
to make him relinquish his bold. But the courage
of brun geve way, and she made an attempt TO tree
when s'Keeper" again seized her By the thigh snC
brought her back She now made for large elm
and assembled some forty hve-feet, and psrohed in
crotch to scan her assailants. A was then dis
patched for two of our Nimrods, who, by Joint at
tack both in front and rear brought her bearship
the ground by Well-directed fire -Stragord Beacon