The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-01
A Lively Bear Fight.
From the Williamsport (pa.) Gaz.tte.

A gentleman reached WllllamspOrt
on Friday evening last, from logging
camp" in Potter 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 APP.
pears that man named Elmaker and
his wife had made small clearing in
Jackson Township. They have com
Portable log cabin, a small barn, several
head Of cattle, and few pigs. About
9 o'clock on the evening of January 81,
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 find
ing an old bear and two cubs had at
tackled 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 swapping their teeth,
and uttering half.suppressed growls Of
delight at the prospect of a "good
square meal"
Mr. E'maker returned to the house,
informed his wife, and made prepare
tons 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 at
tack. The bears, made bold and Zero.
cious by hunger, did not seem inclined
to give up their prey. Rising upon his
launches, the old bear showed fight,
and the cubs crouched behind her,
snarling fiercely. Mr.. Emaker raised
his rifle and fired at the black monster,
thinking that if she were killed the
cubs could easily be dispatched or
driven off. But, owing to the excite
ment under which he was laboring, he
missed his aim and only broke the left
forepaw of the animal With fierce
growl of rage, caused by the painful
wound, the old bear rushed at her as
saiants, followed by the cubs They
stood their ground for few minues,
Mr.. Elmaker clubbing his rifle, while
his wife cut one of the cubs severely in
the shoulder with the axe. The rage Of
the animals became fearful, and the
great danger of facing them at once be-
came apparent. Retreating rapidly to
the house, they barred the door and
prepared to defend themselves. Mr..
Emaker succeeded in reloading his
rifle, and, firing through the window,
killed cub. The old bear now at
tempted 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 howls
of rage. Failing to get another shot at
them, the parties inside remained in a
state of siege. prepared to resist any
further attack. The animals loitered
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 disappeared in the forest. The
two dead bears were secured and
dressed-the old one weighed $50
pounds, and the cub 193 The Elmakers
have sufficiency 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 neighborhood
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 jaws
of the animal, but will recover. Mrs.
Elmaker says she is ready for the next
call.