Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-29

A Singular Story.


We have to record very singular deliver
ance of girl, about three years old, to her
parents, after being carried off by black
bear, and search of thirty six hours through
the forest by the excited parents. The facts,
as near as we can gather thcm are as follows
Mr.. Henry Flynn lives 40 miles east Of
this place, at or near the logging camps Of
Mr.. Ludington, and we believe has charge of
one Of the camps. He started enc morning to
take horse to pasture, about two miles dis
tant from the house, and as he was ready to
start his little girl appeared and seemed very
anxious to 90 with her father, who, in order
to please the child, put her upon the horses
back and let her ride short distance, per-
haps forty rods from the house, where he put
her down and told her to run home. He
noticed that the child was standing where he
left her, and on looking back after going a
little further saw her playing in the sand.--
He soon passed out of sight, and was gone
about an hour, expecting of course that the
child would return to the house after playing
a few moments.
On returning home he made inquiry about
the child Of her mother, who said she had not
seen the child, and supposed he had taken her
along with him. On going to the spot where he
left her, he saw huge bear tracks in the sand,
and at once came to the conclusion that the
child had been carried off by the bear.
The family Immediately gave search through
the forest, which was grown ap almost to
jungle, rendering their search very slow
All day these anxious parents searched for
some traces of their child, nor did they stop
when darkness came on, but remained in the
woods, calling the child by her name, and
with aching hearts would listen with an al
most breathless fear to catch some sounds by
which they could discover their lost darling.
Morning came and their search was fruitless.
A couple of gentlemen, looking land, came
to the house, and being informed of the cir
cumstance, Immediately set out to help find
the child. No doubt existed as to the fate Of
the little one by all, and if they could only
find where the bear had despatched its victim
they might then go home with the assurance
that they were never to see their child again
but until some trace of her was found there
was hope
The gentlemen alluded to had wandered
about, and, as they were passing swampy
spot, where the underground was very thick,
they either called the child, or else were talk
ing loud, when one of them heard the child's
voice. He then called the child by name,
and told her to come out Of the bushes She
replied that the bear would not let her. The
men then crept through the brush, and when
near the spot where the child and bear were,
they heard splash in the water which the
child said was the bear. On going to her
they found her standing upon log, extend-
ing about half way across the river. The
bear had undertaken to cross the river ON
log, and, being closely pursued, left the child
and swan away. She had received some
scratches about her face, arms, and legs, and
her clothes were nearly torn from her, but
the bear had not bitten her, only the marks.s
of his teeth being found on her back, where,
in taking hold of her clothes to carry her, he
had taken the flesh too.
The little one says the bear would put her
down occasionally to rest, and would put his
nose up to her face, when she would slap him,
and then the bear would hang his head by her
side and purr and rub against her like cat.
The men asked her if she was cold in the
night, and she told them that the old bear lay
down beside her and put his arms" around
her and kept her warm, though she did not
like his long hair She was taken hone to
her parents, who could hardly express their
joy at her safety.
The bear has been seen lurking about in
the vicinity, il is supposed for the purpose OF
yet carrying of the child. The SUPERSTITION
Is, that II IL female bear, and, having lost
her cubs, came seross the child and adopted
il. Steps are being taken 10 capture the bear.