Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-06-12


being seen on Dog River in Berlin recalls
bear story we heard last winter. Some
tbirty-fve or forty years since, one day in
early winter, word was brought to Benz. Ar
buckle of Berlin, then young man at work
near this village, that tie track of bear
had been seen near Jones Brook, just above
where o. ID. Jones now resides. MIR. Ar
buckle at once shouldered his rifle and went
for that bear. Striking the trail, he found
it led off into Moretown, and following 1t
that day he supposed himself at dark not far
from his game, and rested on his arms ready
for the next days battle. But the morning
came with no hear at hand, and another day
of fruitless following resulted. Bruin by
this time became sensible that the hunters
were on his track, and now began to resort
to system of turnings, doubles and shifts
that would do credit to a politician.
Striking spruce or hemlock ridge, where
the thick, interlacing boughs held the snow
and kept it from the ground, bruin would
circle the bill entirely and then leave in a
half opposite direction from the course he
had been pursuing At other times pro
ceeding straight across the knoll, he would
double and take his back tracks, and at a favor
able place make desperate leap down the
hill, and then take . new departure to
throw the dogs and men from the trail.
Striking the hard wood timber where foot
prints were easily discovered, his bearship
took no backward OF sideway tracks. lie
knew that there he should leave
Foot prints on the sH01rs of time,
That the hunter tripping DER the slecty main,
y forlorn and two-legged brother,
seeing, should take heart again.
But the bears strategy had to succumb to
Mr.. Arbuckle's perseverance. After another
days pursuit, just at nightfall, in Duxbury,
under shelving ledge on the west side Of
Cancels Hump it was discovered that the
bear was holed, and the hunters Tcjoiced as
greatly as the old - coons ever did in the
hard cider campaign Of 1910, or when the
- Undertook fox " was holed. 1t was too
late to dislodge their game that night, and
the pursuers now set to work to hold their
prize till morning. Logs were cut, and the
entrance to the cave thoroughly blockaded.
Next morning with a slight reinforcement
the party proceeded TO unearth, or unrOck,
their victim. Various expedients were re-
sorted 20 to drive or lure the animal from
his den. But bruin had had enough of run;
he preferred the retirement of private life
Finally it was determined TO carry the en-
trenchment by storm. Mr.. Arbuckle Of
course was assigned the advance, and he
crawled into the den with his rifle at half
cock. One Smith, a brawny blacksmith
with a heavy axe, was to support the advance
detail and one or two other men took the
part Of reserve forces in convenient proximity
to " climable " tree. The dog had been
left out Of the calculation, but eager for the
fray he now rushed past Arbuckle and went
for the shaggy enemy. The bear being thus
brought to close quarters, made rush for
the outlet Arbuckle caught the CLEAN of
his eyes as he came up to the opening and
fred, the ball striking the bear in the fore
head, stunning and for the moment laying
him prone While Arbuckle was hastily
to reload, Smith, the support
caught sight Of the bears head and was now
seen and heard from standing few feet
back with distended eyeballs and uplifted
axe, Justify bawling, "a bear 5ear a
LIVE BEAR - but without the power TO strike
a blow Ere the second ball was driven
home bruin had crawlcd back into the hole,
and it took long time to disIodge him.
They badgered him with the dogs, made
sallies into his cave, firing at him whenever
they could catch the CLEAN Of his eye, till at
length the noise of the dog tapping blood
assured them b-uin was dead. Ropes and
hooks were lowered INTO the den, and the I
bear dragged out. 1t proved to be a very
argo animal, and the robe is to-day. OF was /
asst winter, one Of the incest ones in this I
section. and it has been in use ever since it T
vas taken from the bears back. If any one +
las better tr4e bear story, they will please T
onward it to this office, and take the cham /
,ionship Of Vermont bear hunters Sunless /
Japtain Curtis corps Of cadets enter the +
. lists aud claim the cup from their proved I
1rowcss in other directions