Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-22
ALIVELY BEAR FIGHT.

A Bear and Her two Cubs Attach q
Pennsylvania Fa rmer's CattIe-GaI-
liant Conduct of the Farmer and His
Wife.
The WilliamspOrt (Penn.) Gazette in
late issue tells the following:
ga gentleman reached Williamsport on
Friday evening last, from logging camp
in Porter county, where he has been for five
weeks past, who relates the particulars of
an exciting encounter with an old bear and
two cubs. 1t appears that man named
Jonas Elmaker and his wife had made a
small clearing in Jackson Township. They
have comfortable log-cabin, small barn,
About nine o'clock on the even
heard a great commotion among his cattle
and his pigs at the barn. On rushing out
to ascertain the cause of alarm, imagine his
surprise on finding that an old bear and two
cubs had attacked a yeariing calf. The cat
tie were snorting and believing at fearful
rate, while the pigs were squealing as lusti
ly 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
swapping their teeth, and uttering haIf-sup
pressed growls of delight at the prospect of
good, square meal
"Mr. Elmaker returned to the house, in
formed his wife, and made preparations to
attack the bears. He seized his rife, while
his wife armed herself with long-handled
double bitted AK. Thus armed they ad-
vanced to the attack. The bear, made bold
and ferocious by hunger, did not seem in
-. N1O.v.
her launches the old bear showed fight,
and the cubs crouched behind her, snarling
fiercely. Mr.. Elmaker raised bis rifle and
fired at the black monster, thinking that If
she were killed the cubs could easily be dis
patched or driven off. But owing to the
excitement under which he was laboring, he
missed his aim and only broke the left fore
paw of the animal. With fierce growl Of
rage, caused 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 severely
on the shoulder with the ak. The rage of
the animals became fearful, and the great
danger of facing them at once became ap-
parent. Retreating rapidly to the house,
they barred the door and prepared to de-
I6Ilu GLGulSGlheSs MI GllildhCI SUCSCcuCu
in reloading his rifle, and firing through the
window, killing cub. The old bear now
attempted to climb the Lighthouse, but owing
to her broken paw was unable to do so.
Another shot from the rifle wounded her
severely in the head, when she set up the
most hideous bowls of rage. Failing to get
another shot at them, the parties inside re-
manned in a state of siege, prepared to re-
sist any further attack. The animals lott
cred and all became still. On making a
search in the morning the old bear was
found dead about six hundred yards from
the house and the cub lay where it feel in
the early part of the engagement. The
other disappeared in the forest. The two
dead bears were skinned and dressed-the
old one weighed three hundred and eighty
pounds, and the cub one hundred and nine
tv-three. The Elmakers have a sufficiency
of bear meat to last them the balance Of the
season. The skins will be brought to Viii
Transport soon and offered for sale. The
affair caused much talk in the neighborhood
for several days. 1t is seldom that bears
are so killed, bat their bravery on this oc-
casien was caused, no doubt, by the crav-
ings of hunger. The calf was badly larcer
ated by the teeth and claws of the animal,
but will recover. Mrs. Elmaker says she is
ready for the next raid"