The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-03-07
NO. 45.
A Lively Bear Fight.


The Williamsport (Peun.) Gazette
tells the following: 'A gentleman reach
ed Williamsport from logging camp
in Potter County, where he has been for
five weeks vast, who relates the particu-
lars of an exciting encounter with an old
bear and two cubs. 1t appears that a
man named Jonas Elmaker and his wife,
had made small clearing in Jackson
township. They have a comfortable log
cabin, small barn, several head of cat
tie and few pigs. About nine O clock
in the evening, Mr.. Elmaker heard great
commotion among his cattle and pigs at
the barn. On rushing out to ascertain
the cause of alarm, imagine his surprise
on finding that an old bear aud two cubs had
attacked yearling calf The cattle were
snorting and believing at fearful rate,
while the pigs were squealing as Justify
as if they expected to be dispatched every
minute The bear had thrown the calf
down and was preparing to drag it out of
the yard. The cubs were running around
snappiug their teeth and uttering half
suppressed growls of delight at the pros
pect Of good square meal. .....,
Mr.. Elmaker returned to the house, in-
formed his wife, and made preparations
to attack the bears. He seized his rifle,
while his wife armed herself with long
handled double bitted axe Thus armed
they advanced to the attack. The bears,
bold and ferocious by hunger, did not seem
inclined to give up their prey Rising
upon her launches the old bear showed
fight, and the cubs crouched behind her,
snarling fercely Mr.. Elmaker raised
his rife and fred at the black monster,
thinking that if she were killed the cubs
could easily be dispatched or driven off.
But owing to the excitement under which
he was larboring, he missed his aim and
only broke the left fore paw of the ami
NAL. With fierce growl of rage, caus-
ed by the painful wound, the old bear
rushed at her assailants, followed by the
cubs. They stood their ground for few
minutes, Mr.. Elmaker clubbing his rife,
while his wife cut one of the cubs severe
ly in the shoulder with the axe. The
rage of the animals became fearful, and
the great danger of facing them at once
became apparent. Retreatiug rapidly to
the house, they barred the door and pre-
pared to defend themselves. Mr.. Elmaker
succeeded in reloading his rifle, and fir
ing through the window, killed a cub
The old bear now attempted to climb the
log house, but owing to her broken paw
was unable to do so. Another shot from the
rife wounded her severely in the head,
when she set up the most hideous howls
of rage. Failing to get another shot at
them, the parties inside remained in a
state of siege, prepared to resist any fur
ther attack The animals loitered round
until midnight, when they retired and all
became still On making search in the
morning the old bear was found dead about
six hundred yards from the house, and
the cub lay where it fell in the early part
of the engagement. The other had dis
appeared in the forest The two dead
bears were secured and dressed-the old
one weighed $50 pounds, and the cub
1913. The Elmakers have sufhciency of
bear meat to last them for the balance of
the season. The skins will be brought
to Williamsport soon and offered for sale.
The affair caused much talk in the neigh
borhood for several days. 1t is seldom
that bears are so bold, but their bravery
on this occasion was caused, no doubt, by
the cravings of hunger. The calf was
badly lacerated by the teeth and claws of
the animal, but will recover. Mrs. Ell
maker says she is ready for the next raid q"
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