The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-01-13

A correspondent of the Lewisburg Era
writing from Nicholas county, Va, gives
an incident of a most exciting nature which
occurred on the 9th inst. WIN. G. Bar.
nett went on hunting expedition, car,
rying dog with him. After being ou1
a short time he shot large bear, break.
ing his back and rendering his hinder
limbs useless. He then advanced on the
animal-knife in hand-to dispatch him
The letter says:
The spot where the bear was shot, is
on the mountain side, Immediately above
the decayed trunk of fallen tree. No
sooner had Mr.. b., mounted the log in
reach of the bear. when he was tripped
upfaillng PROSTATE his head down the hill,
his legs resting on the log. The bear
then drew him up and commenced gnaw-
ing and biting at an increased rate. Mr..
b., knowing his dangerous situation, felt
that something for the better must be
did. Raising himself partially up, in a
sitting posture, his right arm still grasp
ing his knife, with which he aimed at the
head of the bear several effective blows !;
one however, missing his mark, inflicted
a deep horizontal cash in his right leg,
above the knee. SO soon as the bear,
eager for revenge, discovered this mis-
take, caught the wound in his jaws, tear
ing it horribly. Finally, Mr.. b., succeed
ed in disengaging himself, while the bear,
very nigh exhausted, retreated several
yards down the mountain steep, where,
from the effects of the shots and cuts, it
instantly expired. Mr. b., feeling his al
most helpless condition, and fast grow
ing weak from loss of bl cd, resolved, in
his weak state to prove more than con-
queror, reloaded his gun the fourth time,
dragged himself down the hill, and shot
his antagonist the second time, the bear,
being some moments dead No further
danger being possible from this source,
Mr.. Barnett was made to reflect upon his
situatiOn-a distance of four miles from
any neighboring house almost dying
beyond the reach of human aid; reflect
ing thus, happy thought occurred to his
mind, which was, 10 rend from the bo-
som of his new linen. strip containing
the buttons, which he crimsoned in his
own blood, bound il around the neck Of
the dog, and endeavored, through gentle
means, to persuade him to leave him, and
go home to give the alarm The dog
advanced few PAGES, and returned to
his master, licking his wounds and howl
ing most piteously. Mr.. B., then took
piece off bis hunting shirt" attachedi it
to the neck of the dog, also and proceed
ed to strike him, which he had refrained
from doing, until he found it strictly
necessary to save his life, This, the
second time, he was successful, Mr.. B.,
fearing bis dog would not go directly
home, dragged himself up the mountain
in order to gain the summit, where, should
the dog fail, he might be heard halloo
more plainly The dog, however, was
faithful, gave the alarm, but would not
return, on account of the company going
contrary direction from his master. In
the mean time, John Buffman traced
the dog up mountain stream, whence he
had come. Arriving at the top, he dis
tinctly heard Barnett halloo-procured
the assistance of his friends, made haste
to the spot, and conveyed Mr.. b., to his
home, almost insensible. Last accounts
he was very i'll, and not expected to sur
vive.
DR.. Plamey on Poetisisg.--Rey. DR..
Plumer recently delivered an address at
the opening Of Female Seminary at
Wheeling, Va, in which he made the
subjoined sensible remarks. 1t deserves
the consideration of very considerable
portion of the poetizers whose effusions
are forwarded to newspaper editors, es-
pecially the closing sentences. Turning.
to the Principal Of the Seminary, DR..
Plumer said:
II hope, sir, you'll not teach poetry
here-I mean what some people call the
science Of composing poetry. If it will
come Of these youths let it come, but
don't force it, feel, about the writings
of poetry, something like the Methodist
preacher who was giving charge at
class meeting about some regulations
While in the midst of his charge, one old
lady let slip shout. Now, says he,
bretheren and since the subject of shout
ing has come up, I'll give you my views
on the subject. Never shout from
sense Of duty. If you feel that you cant
hold in, why then shout. but not other
| wise. i hope, then, that no one here
will ever write poetry from sense Of
duty. Poetry is despicable unless it is
first class. Poor poetry is about the
meanest Of all mean things. As the
Latin satirist has said, "Neither gods
nor men can endure it."
~" Are those apples fit for q hog 70
eat I" asked snob of q hucks.er.
Try them and see" was the rather
caustic reply.