Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-10-20
A Back Hold With a Bear.

"A hhCA AhOhu Will II DeATs
Armed with one of Maynard's patent shoot
ers a brace cf reliable "Colts," and my favor
ite old Arkansas blade bundled myself and
outfit, into car of the B. and o. r. r., and
the third night arranged my "shake down"
o dry leaves and juniper branches in my
wigwam, constituted in the most aboriginal
fashio ;, at the foot of spur from one of the
Allegheny Mountains in Bedford County,
Pa.
My first days hunt was productive of two
deer and a sufficient supply of small game to
last me aweek. More than that did not care
to shoot, for never practised shooting birds
and the smaller animals for the mere sport of
killing them,
The second day was stormy, and did not
leave my wigwam. But the third morning
was clear ard cold and promised myself a
| day of glorious fun. ] was out with the sun,
and instead of keeping in the valley as had
done the first day, took to an open ridge
that ran off in northeast direction, and did
not rise so much as to render the ascent very
laborious The snow. however, which lay
on the ground to the depth perhaps eight IN
ches, retarded my progress, and after two
hours or so, began to weay me and bring out
perspiration. had started out with heavy
Raglan overcoat on, but got too hot for
such an incumbrance, and so hanging it in
the forks of a sapling to be resumed on my
return, went on much lighter and easier
AS proceeded up along the ridge, the un-
dergrowth became more dense, with OCCASION
al thickets of laurel and juniper SO tangled
that forcing Il passage through them was both
tedious and laborous. The ground too, be-
care uneven, broken into sharp ridges and
deep ravines, with numerous rocks piled up
in fantastic shapes as if the gcrius of disor-
der had been trying her hand at perfection.
If any one were to enquire why persist
cd in pursuing such chase, should answer
i expected to find game, and did rather
uuex pcctedly for as turned quite abruptly
round sharp angle of rocks, | met, face to-
face, not twelve feet distant, a monstrous
black bear. He had heard my approach, and
was coming forward On his hind feet to well
cone me to his home.
In a second discharged my rifle, but in
stead of sending the bullet through his brain
as 7 ought to have done, struck him in the
abdomen, which only made him little un-
comfortable, and terribly furious. There was
no time for second shot before my shaggy
friend had his arms around me and not to
be behind bear in paternal expression, |
had secured good grip upon the roots of his
long rough tongue. Even bear can be gag
gcd, and the old fellow coughcd convulsively,
evincing a good deal of disgust at my treat
ment. He hugged much less energetically
than his bearish nature inclined him to do,
but he would not let go; nor either would |.
So we thrust, and pushed, and staggered a.
bout until away we both went over n ledge,
down into ravne choked up with brars,
brambles and fragments of rock.
Somehow We got separated in the tumble,
and there we stood, within ten feet of each
other, meditating-the bear probably anoth-
CT attack, retreat, if possible. Before
either Of us had made up our minds, my dog,
pure breed, imported bull terrier, which,
during our scuille above had set there quite
astonisheG, never having seen bear before,
now came tearing down the ledge yelping
like mad, having probably made up her mind
that it was not all in fun. A small dog al
most Invariably attacks bear in the rear,
but Fdo, true to her instinct, went at bruins
head, and fastened to his muzz!e. A cuff of
one of the bears paws sent the dog flying ST.
teen fees through the air, landing her on the
top of q Juniper thicket.
This rough treatment stirred up all Fido's
bull blood, and never saw such wild rage
exhibited by any brute, as she showed as she
leaped from her perch and vent at the bear
again. This time she fastened to his tongue,
settling her teeth through and through it,
The bear cuifcd and paved the dog severely,
but verify believe that if he had literally
knocked the dog to pieces, her head would
still have held on. found that must lend
Fido hand or lose her, and knife in hand |
went at the old fellow got into his arms
and this time he hugged fully up to my ideas
of bear hugsng, and stabbed and sashcd
and cut rs well as was able but for several
minutes it was matter of uncertainty wheth-
or the hunter would get bear or the bear
hunter. Fdo aid her part through beauti-
fully and so distracted bruins attention that
at last got my knife in between his ribs
and found his heart. Then soon had him
quiet.
Fido and both got some scratches, but
nothing serious, for the following da we
were out again. But during the balance of
my campaign | never hung up my pistols on
a bush and left them behind.-PAila. Ece.
bulletin.