The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-05

Fighting Bears in Ulster County,
Thrilling Adventures with Brnin-.-
Three Days On Hunt-..A Iond-so-
Hand Struggle for Lifc.--Thc Settle
mentS Alarmed.
Correspondence New York World
ELLENvILLE, ULSTER COUNTY, n. Y, Jnnll-
ary 29.--One would naturally suppose that
the wild animals which once were wont to
prowl unmolested about our hills and noun
tains would, with the advance of civilization,
greatly decrease. Such, in fact, has been the
case in the surrounding counties, and in our
own apparently until the present year. Now,
however, our mountains seem infested with
wild "varmint," principally bears. Du-
ring the past year rllmors have reached
the larger villages of the county of
the deprcdations Of these animals in
the mountainous regions, destroying
sheep, swine, and cattle. Numbers have
been killed by the hardy hunters, and the
tales of their dangerous struggles and COLI
ficts with Bruin have been listened to with
fear and awe by our more timid inhabitants.
Several accounts Of these daring exploits
have reached our country newspapers, and
thence been copied into neighboring jour-
nails. Many of these stories have of course
been greatly exaggerated, but in the main
they are well-founded, and in many instances
too true. The fact of Ulster county being
now literally infested with bears is we'll
established; and such being the case, it is
not strange that adventures with them should
be numerous. The Poughkecpsie Eagle
makes the following statement regarding
them: .
Never before in the history of Ulster county
have the hunters in the mountains witnessed
such wild sport as this winter. Huge black
.,ears and their cubs are everywhere. They
crawl stealthily about farnl-houses and hunt
ers' cabins, and in the vicinity of PhGnicia
children are no longer allowed to frequent
neighboring houses after nightfall for fear of
being oyertaken and embraced by the var
minis.
While this statement may not he strictly
true, it represents in the main the state of
affairs in some parts Of the county, and
shows the pitch which the stories have
reached in going so short a distance from
home. ..as
Fifteen bears have been killed within sixty
days in the neighborhood Of PhGnicia alone,
and still the number Of the beasts seems not
diminished. They prowl about everywhere,
stealing poultry, attacking hogs, cattle, &c,
aud will often follow horse and wagon fol
miles.
OuS vi bIlC luOuutstlH u GeTTf
&c encounter with bear near stream called
the Hollow-Tree branch on Thursday the
18th instant. He eornered the animal, when
1t at once showed fight. The hunter was
armed with long knife and rifle. After
firing one bullet into the bear they both
clinched, and severe and for a time doubt
full struggle ensued. The hunters arms and
breast were badly torn, and his face and
hands frightfully scratched. Suddenly he
let go his hold with his right hand, and
drawing his knife from his belt, sunk it into
bruins breast. The animal then loosencd
its hold and fell, but soon arose again and
eprang for the hunter, who then dubbed
him to death with the butt-end of his rife,
breaking the stock to pieces. Although the
hunter suffered greatly from loss of blood he
managed to drag the bear to house near by.
It weighed $50 pounds.
On the following day three hunters-H
De Wall, an old hunter; Matthew Wood.
ward, and German known us Dutcl
Fred-started from Chichesteryille for q
grand bear hunt in the mountains round
about. They had proceeded but short dis
lance from the settlement when they sud
denly came upon the trail Of three bears
For two hours the hunters clambered through
bushes, around precipices, and over logs and
rockS, anLu success crowned their efforts
They had run the bears into hole. They
tried every way possible to drive them out Of
their quarters, but without success. The
old hunter drawled out, '"Wall, boys, them
ar hairy cusses hey got to be smoked ont, /
cariatel" Dry brush was at once obtained
and placed In the mouth Of the entrance and
set on fire. Dense volumes Of smoke soon
penetrated the interior, dnd ia short time
had the desired effect. All stood eagerly
Watching for the result, when suddenly
Dutch Fred exclaimed: .tGone away gone
sway! Dere ish yon utf de babies vas comhd
outtO Sure enough, the black nose of a cub
made Its appearance at the entrance, followed
quickly by another. Both cubs were des.
patched as soon o. they made their exit, and