Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-20
n,eree,ire AnecaO,es Of he white Be

The following anecdotes was related to me
by a naval officer, at one time engaged in
the search for the late Sir John Franklin,
and will serve to throw some light upon the
powers Of the white OF Polar Bear, (HrsHs
SaaritimBs1 Accustomed to see those crea.
lures Gagged and cramped in the Geological
Gardens, with only a small pond to swim in,
we can form no idea of the swittness with
which they move either on land or in the
water. The great breadth, length and fiat
ness Of their paws afford a large surface
whereby to apply their immense muscular
power in progression, and is admirably
adapted to the yielding surface OF the snow,
or to the safe passage over newly. formed
ice; were it not for this provision, the un-
wieldy weight of their bodies would be an
insurmountsble obstacle in pursuing their
pray.
From the deck Of one of the Arctic ships,
O white bear was seen cautiously approach
ing from the southwark over the uneven
surface of land ice, stopping from time to
time and raising his black tipped muzzle to
sniff the air. The bears sense of smelling
is highly developed, the bones and MEM
branes upon which the nerve of smell is
spread being unusually large in proportion
TO his other organs of sense, aud hence we
find him trusting more to it than to sight.
This is the cause of the peculiar attitude
they assume when doubtful of objects before
them. The head is thrown back, the nos
trils dilsted, the breath forcibly drawn in,
and the body swsyed from side TO side.
One of the officers snatched no his rifle
and started alone to shoot the animal. In
order TO avoid being seen, he made a circuit
to obtain the shelter of some elevated por-
tons of ice, and by so doing was a consid-
cradle distance from the ships before ne
came within rifle shot. Many officers had
h.. Nksa Na-ao $500 nAA. 1AnI AA1 Nu~A sc
them, seeing their comrade gle.handed,
FASTENED TO join him. Before they were
many yards on their way, he fred. The
white bear turned and dasned toward him at
full gellop. There was no time to reload,
aud nothing left but to run for his life.
Away he went over the floe-ice at a terrific
pace, the bear after bin, greatly Infatuated
at the slight wound he had received in the
skin of the back. The sight from the ship
was one Of great anxiety, although the
officer was one of the best runners in the
vessel. The bear gained rapidly upon him.
His two messmates, who had gone forth to
make q diversion, also ran as fast as they
could, with the hope Of coming within rifle
shot before the victim should be overpow-
cred. The suspense of the next few minutes
was intense, and ordinations of run, run
for your life" and God help poor p"
were heard from many lips. 'Not the
shadow Of a hope, unless Mr.. G. can
pick the animal off at a few hundred yards
with his rife" said an old quartermaster.
Every eye is steadily fixed upon the chase,
till at last the bear Is within a few yards of
P. Now he is close, his ponderous
paw is raised in the air. Crack went Mr..
C-s rife, and the brute was arrested in
his course for a moment, aud the lower jaw
of the animal or rather the front part of it,
isseen hanging down. The ball had taken
effect, and at all events would prevent the
use Of his teeth still, a blow from the fore
paw would prove sufficient 60 destroy life il
aimed at the head, and this is the point they
attack in the seals, drawing the head back
ward and breaking the neck. The bear now
turned in his agony, and, seeing his Other
antagonist, rushed toward him. A deer
breath was drawn by all the spectators, the
relief was so great when the animal turned
away from bis breathless enemy. His ne "
asseilant was armed with a double barreleC
fowling- piece loaded with ball. The dis
ta1ce grows less between them, and no re
port as yet reaches the ear. About twenty.
five yards aud still no report. Can his gun
have missed fire; no; he is now cOolly drop.
ping on one knee, and taking deliberate
aim. All there is the fash and now the re-
port the creature is down and has rolled
over. Look, be is up again, but only raised
uptn his lore leg. Now the officer Is going
close 10 him ali there is another report
and the bear lies full length upon the foe
ice, Incapable of further mischief. And now
the three hunters meet over the body OF
their victim. "Ah, man ~ said p 81
felt my heart knock against my ribs as If il
would beat a hole there for began to think
it was all over with me, when | could heal
the bears snort, close at my heels. But for
that shot of yours, O., | should be in 9
poor case 10y this time" From that period
an order was given that no one should leave
the ships unarmed OF alone. 60.
The Polar Bear is capable of getting a
living even when blind, as the following an
ecdOte will prove: A travelling party had
encamped for rest. The men were all Of
them slowed away in their blanket bags,
beneath the wolf skin coYerlet in their small
tent. Suddenly a shock was given to theii
fimsy house, and presently down it CAM
upon them with a great crash. In q homer
they scrambled from beneath the coverings
andbeheld a large white bear, quietly pok
ing his nose among the articles upon thu
sledRe. Not a moment was to be lost al
old bombardier of marine artillery diVeC
beneath the fallen tent and brought out
loaded gun, and placing it close TO the bear
head, stretched him Iifeless upon the ice
The party was much astonisbed at the AMI
mails standing inofensiyeto be shot at. o.
examination he was found 10 be total,
blind, from cataract in both eyes, and mus
for some time past have procured a iVini
by scent alone. q
"A sSilor who belonged to the crew Of
ship employed in the whale fishery, ono
undertook TO attack a large Polar Bear whic
he saw on the ice at a distance. 1t was /
vain that his companions tried to peHsuad
him to give up his design. He laid hold Of
whale lance, and approached the bear; ii
bear was, however, as brave as the sailo
and stood waiting for the attack. tt
sailor seeing him so bold and powerful q
apimal, grew faint. hearted, and, after stanC
ing for sometime motionless, took TO h
heels. The bear pursued him with moi
-strous strides, when the sailor dropped IL
wbAletlancei his cap, and then his glove
one after another, TO prevent the bear froi
following him. "Bruin" examined the lane
tore the cap in pieces, and tossed the GLOW,
over and over; but, not being satisfied vii
his spoil, he still pursued the sailor, who
he would, without doubt, have tornin piece
had not the rest of the crew, seeing II
danger OF their companion, sailed forth
rescue him. The sffighted sailor ran I
ward ais comrades, who opened 10 him
passage, and then prepared TO attack Il
bear. The bear was, however as prude
&c be bad proved himself to be brave; Il
amer surveying the force of his enemies,
ehcSeSo N nOnoi1ole ictfoat. lue Nalla
sailor, who had fed before his oourageo
enemy, never stopped for a moment 10 |
flight until be reached the boat p~referri
to be Laughed at for a coward, rather III
remain 10 encounter q beaT. Let the YOU
remember that fool, hardness Is not n
courage. u e
The Polar Bear Of average length, VIII
full grown, appears to vary from six TO sew
feet there are, however, instances on reeO
Of Q much greater magnitude; for examI
the specimen IN the British huseu
brought home by Sir j. Ross from one of
Northern expeditions, measured seven f
eight inches, and It's weight after losing,
is calculated, thirty pounds Of blood, v
eleven hundred and thirty. one pounds; q
49, adividual is described by Capt
Measuring eight feet seven incl
4 lis weight being sixteen hundl