Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-04-18
Written for the Newsdealer.
BEAR STORY.
OLD PUT ourDoNE !

those who have every means of knowing
all which they relate, and on whose mar
rative must implicitly rely-should have
been given to the public, in my opinion,
near the time when the transaction took
place, as it would then have possessed
much more freshness and interest, than
can belong to it now. But the feat which
was accomplished is 50 remarkable
equalling, if not excelling, anything of
the kind of which | ever read or heard
though it took place some twelve years
ago last December, think it should be
made known to larger circle than hap
pencd to hear of the occurrence at the
time. r.. s....... .....
Besides the daring Shown by some
members Of the hunting party,-under
the circumstances, exceeding, in my judge
ment, even that manifested by Old Put,
when he entered the cave for the wolff
there are some amusing incidents connect
ed with the story, which, especially to
those acquainted with the persons con-
cerned will occasion, as they often have,
a most hearty laugh.
10 enable those not acquainted with
the persons who made up the hunting
party, the better to understand and ap-
preciate the particulars of the story, |
will give some description of them.
The party consisted of four youngerly
men, all residing in a remote part of the
town of Stowe, formerly Mansfield, and
which is more commonly called Nebraska,
The young man who was the most con.
spicuous actor in the DRAMA was about
twenty seven years of age, Of dark com
plcxion, smallish black eyes, with a pro
fusion of black whiskers about his small
but pointed face. His stature rather
short and thick set, with side-to-tim'
sort of gait. His name--Byron Russell
The young man who, perhaps, was mex
in the exhibition Of his daring, was abou
twenty two years of age of sandy com
plexicn, short and square in stature,
face got up on the same principle, an'
be walked by tipping, as it were, from
one foot to the other. His name-Elol
Warren. A third one of the party, wa
about the same age, of light complexion
and slight stature and nothing especiall.
noticeable in his appearance or bearing
name, Charles Russell.
The fourth member of the party, who's
name was John Fairbanks, was abou
thirty years of age, stammering stut
tering mulatto, of brawny form, immens
lips, and sandy curling hair; with
slouching wadling gait, much like an eI
ephant and who could never begin to vi
ter sentence without choking and rollin
his eyes, till one would think he wa
about to 60 into fit; but at length, th
word would come out, with great explc
sive force, bringing with it such saliv
and Spite as happened to be loose
EoOn certain day in the month of d.
ccmber, l849, the party which Ihave de
cribed, took it into their heads to 60 be;
hunting on Mansfield Mountain; signs
bears having been more than once seen
the vicinity the autumn previous. Beacl
nuts were remarkably plenty that fal
and at the time named, the snow was fu
one foot deep. They took rations for tv
days, and, Byron, armed with a narro
AK Elon with an old smooth bore rife
Charles with a little three dollar gu
and John with an old Springfield, and I
dog but young cowardly hound belon
ing to John, then started in q westerl
direction, which, continued, would ha'
lied them to Underhill. hnH aa2IA D'i'a
John had been in the woods d GOO
deal that fall hunting for spruce gum f
market, and thought himself we'll qual
fed to pilot the party the first day. ""F-
follow me- said John "and I'll IL
r.
cad youinto the w-w--oods and ou--
again" He led them on from one spru
ridge to another, through the whole da
seeing no signs Of BEARS but makil
great gum discoveries until, much to b
surprise, at night they came out at t
dwelling Of Horace Harris, having travel