Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-02-05

a Thrilling Bear Story.

~ correspondence VI tuc lICWISDuTS ITl,
writing from Nicholas county, Va, gives
an incident of the most exciting nature
which occurred there on the 9th Instant
VIM. G. Barnett went on hunting expe-
dition, carrying dog with him. After
being out short time, he shot large bear,
breaking his back and rendering his hind
cr limbs useless. lie then advanced on
the. animal-knifc 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 Nc
sooner had Mr. b. mounted the log in
reach ofthc bear, when lie was trippcd up.
falling PROSTATE, his head down the hill
his legs resting on the log. The bear then
drew him up, and commenced gnawing and
biting at an increased rate. Mr.. b. know
ing his dangerous situation, felt that some
thing for the better must be did. Raising
himself partially up, in sitting posture,
bis right arm still grasping his knife, with
which he aimed ut the head of the bear sew
eral effective blows; one, however, miss
ing his mark, inflicted deep horizontal
cash in his right leg, above the knee. So
soon as the bear, eager for revenge, dis
covered his mistake, he caught the wound
in his jaws, tearing it horribly. Finally,
MIR. b. succeeded in discngaging himself,
while the bear, very nigh exhausted, re-
treated several yards down the mountain
steep, where, from the effects of the shot
and cuts, it instantly expired Mr. b.,
feeling his almost helpless condition,
and fast growing weak from the loss of
blood, resolved, in his weak state to prove
more than conqucror, 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 fourmics
from any neighboring house, almost dying
beyond the reach of human aid reflect
ing thus, Il happy thought occurred to his
mind, which was, to rcnd from the bosom
Of his new linen, a strip containing the but
tons, which he crimsoncd on his own blood
bound it around the neck of the dog, and
cndcavored, through gentle means, to per.
suadc him to leave him, and so home to
give the alarm. The dog advanced few
PAGES, aud returned to his master, licking
his wounds, and houling most pitcousy.-
Mr.. b. then took piece of his 9 hunting
shirt" attached it to the neck Of the dog
also, and proceeded to strike him, which
he had refraincd from doing, until he found
it strictly necessary to save his life This
the second time, he was successful. Mr.
b., fearing his dog would not go directly
home, dragged himself up the M, untain, in
order to gain the summit, where, should
the dog fail, he might be heard haloo 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, Il Mr.. John Buffman traced the dog
up mountain stream, whence he had
come. Arriving at the top, he distinctly
heard Barnett halloo-procured the assist
ance 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 survive"
"PIAIN Truth. "A writer in the
Charleston Mercury of the 18th inst, over
the signature of :" Plain TRUTH" with a
grand flourish of trumpets about Senator
Hammond's political record previous to his
election to the United States Senate, com-
meuces Il series of articles, in which our
Senator is not only to be "read out " of
the State Rights Party % but to be bran
dcd as a dcScrterdnd traitor to itS Interests.
After more than column of prefaratory
remarks, the Mcrcurys correspondent thus
announces the purposes Of his future ar.
ticlcs:
<" 1t is to the Beech Island and Barn
well speeches OF the Senator that ] shall
address myself: and, if am capable of
doing the work, their falaccs shall be ex-
posed, their hcresies retuted; their policy
of submission laid bare, and their preten-
tons to statesmanship shown to be false
and groundess. shall also endcavor to
divcst these papers of their witchery, by
demonstrating that they possess no novelty
OF originality of thought. and that the views
contained in them are entitled to no respect
or federation in South Carolina or the
South. While, however, shall not shrink
from the possibility of uttering the truth,
as | have conceived itand felt it, in regard
to them, in my contemplated review, L
shall nothing extenu ate, nor set down
aught in malice"
There is faction in South Carolina,
who's motto is to "rule or RUM" whose
members regard themselves as the only
true exponents of the State; as those only
who have right to speak for her; as the
peculiar custodians of her honor, and of her
ancient renown for cbivalry. We fear that
Plain Truth has already given unmista-