Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-10
ANUNpOMMON arc HEAR sroRy


We have TO record a very singular deliy-
eranee Of girl about three years old to itg
parents, after being carried of by black
bear and search of about thirty-six hours
through the forest by the excited parents.
The facts, as near as we can gather them,
are substantially as follows
Mr.. Henry Flynn lives about forty miles
east of this place, at or near the lodging
camps of Hr. Ludington, and, we believe,
has charge eOf one of the camps. He started
one morning to take a horse to pasture.
about two miles distant from the house, and
as he was ready TO start, his little Girl ap-
peared 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, perhaps forty rods
from the house, but in plain view Of it,
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 aoOn passed out
OF sight, anG was gone about an hour, ex-
pecting, of course, that the child would
return TO the house after playing few
moments. I'd
Ga returning home he made INQUIRY
abont the child of its 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
come to the conclusion that the child had
been carried of by the bear. b..
The family Immediately made search
through the forest, which was grown up
to almost jungle, rendering their search
very slow. All day these anxious parents
searched for some trace 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 almost breathless fear,
to catch some sound by which they could
discover their lost darling Morning came
aud their search was fruitless.
A couple OF gentlemen looking al land
came to the house, and, being informed of
the circumstance, Immediately set ont 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
dispatched his victim, they might thenigo
home with the assurance that they were
never to see their child. again, but until
some trace Of her was found, there was
hope ..'. .... "a
The gentlemen alluded to had wandered
about and as they were passing a sWampy
spot where the underground was thick,
they either called the child, or else was
talking loud, when one ofthem 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, Bhich the child said
was the bear. Ga going to her they
found her standing upon log extending
about half way across the river
The bear had undertaken to cross the
river on the log, and being closely pursued,
left the child and swan away She had
received some scratches upon her face, arms
and legs, and her clothes were almost torn
from her body, but the bear bad not bitten
her to hurt her, only the marks of histeeth |
being found on her back, where 10 taking |
hold of her clothes to carry her he had Ia
ken the flesh also. ... ... B. /
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 /
hio head by her side and purr and rob /
igainst her like cat The men asked her
i she was cold in the night, and she told
hem the old bear lay down beside her and
put his farms" around her and hugged her
o him and kept her warm, though she did
rot like his long hair q. She was taken !
home 10 her parents, who could hardly
express their JOY at her safety.
The bear has been seen lurking about in
he vicinity, il is supposed for the purpose
# yet carrying off the child The suppo.
ition is that il Isl female bear, and having
ost her cubs, came across the child and
dopted it. Steps are being taken 10 cap.
nre the bear i..