The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1872-02-22
lively Rear Fight.
The WlIIiamsport Go.eitc says :

y" r''''y evening last, from n "lol
sing camp in Potter county. where b
has been for five weeks past, who r,
lales ..c particulars of an oxci,,p
encounter with an old bear and tw
cubs. II appears that a man name,
Jonah Elmsker, and bis wife, ba,
made u small clearing in Jackso,
township. They have confortabl
log cabin, = small barn, several heat
OF cattle and few pigs. About min,
O'Clock on tho evening cfJapuary 81 :,
Mr Elmakor heard q great comnotior
among bis cattle srd pigs at The barn
on rushing out to ascertain the caus,
OF alarm, imagine his surprise on Gnd
ing that an old bear and two cabs ha
attacked a yearing calf Tho ca,tl,
were snorting and believing vt fear
ful rate, whilst the pigs were squcain.
as Justify as if they expected TO b,
despatched every minute. The bear
had thrown the calf down and wa.
preparing to drag it out Of the yard
The cubs were running around snap.
ping their teeth and utteriug halfsnp
pressed growls Of delight at the pros.
pee, of good spare meal"
Mr. Elmakor returned TO the house
at once, informed his wife, and made
preparations 10 attack The bears. III
seized his rife, whilst his wife armed
herself with long handled double Bit
ted axe. Thus armed they advanced
to the attack The bears, made bold
aud fcrocious 10y hunger did not seem
inc incd to give up their prey Rising
upon her launches the old bear show.
ed fight and the cubs croucl cu 5,hind
her snorling fcrccly. Mr.. Eimaker
raised his rifle and fired at the b!lrk
monster, thinking tina, it she wore
killed tao cubs conld easily be de-
spatched or driven of, but owing to
tho eS,itcmcnt under which ho was
labcri1". he iai,scd his aim and only
broke the Icf, fore paw of tho animal
With fierce crowl Of rage, caused bv
the painful wound, The OIL bear ru,hcl
at her assaiants, followed by the cubs.
They stood their ground for n icw
minutes, Mr.. Elmaker clubbing his
rife, whilst hia wife cut one of tho cubs
severely in The shoulder with tho axe.
The rage OF tho animals became fearful.
and tho great danger OF ilcing them
at once became apparent. Rctreating
rapidly to tho house, they Larrcd the
door and prepared to doienl them
selves. Mr. ElmaaCr succeeded it,
rcIoading his rinc, aud firing through
the window, }. ! cub. The old
b ar now attempted to climb the log
house, but owiag to her broken PAW
vas unabl to - so. Another shot
from tho riuc wounded her severely ~
the head, when she set up tho most
hideous howls of rage Failing 10 get
another shot at them, the parties inside
remained in state Of siege, prepared
to resist any further attack. The ami
mails lotsrsd around until midnight,
when they retired and all becamq still
Ga making search in the morning the
old beer was found dead about six
hundred yards from the house, aud
the cub laid where l. fol- IN tho early
part Of tho engagement. Tho other
had disappeared in the forest,
The two dead bears were secured aud
dressed. The oil one weighed $50
pounds, and the cub 1913. The FL
makers have q sulliciency Of bear meat
10 last them for tho balance of the
season. The skins wi, he brought to
Wi Wil,iamsport soon and offered for sale.
The affair cagsel much talk in the
ueishborhool for several days. It i
seldom that bears ere 50 bold, but their
bravery on this occasion was caused
no doubt, by the cravings Of hunger
The calf was badly laceratei by the
teeth and claws Of ths amin Il, bat will
recover. Mrs. Elmaker says she is
ready for the next raid.