The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-06-05
A Young Man Ellis Three Bears with .
Nail Hatchet.

The particulars of terrific struggle
with bears in the town of Boylston, in this
county, have just reached us, and are of D
most thrilling character.
1t appears that on Monday last, one
week ago to-day, a young man named
John Bidwell, aged 10 years, with his
father, one.armed man, and his brother,
mere lad, went into the woods about
four miles east of Smart's mills, in Boyls-
ton, to gather spruce gum. They carried
no wearoHs, ana their only tools were a
common nail Ratchet and dirk knife for
the purpose of cutting the gum from the
trees, and chisel fastened to long pole
The latter was carried by the father. The
Ratchet had handle about four feet long
and made of exceedingly tough wood, so
and bent half double without injuring it.
Thus equipped they were proceeding
through the woods about their work when
with his eye saw about two rods ahead of
him hole in the snow beside big hem
lock log. He went to look into it, but
Just as he reached it slumped In the snow
and fell head foremost into the hole, his
head barely escaping the mouth of huge
bear that was just emerging with his jaws
distended.
This was critical time for John, and
had he attempted to run, as most men
would have done in such circumstances,
he would scarcely have escaped alive. But
John was the man for the emergency and
the thought of running never entered his
head. He had barely time to draw back,
and then brought the bear a blow on the
nose with his Ratchet which dropped her.
In a second, however, the bear had sprung
up again only maddened by the blow, but
John was in time for her and dealt her a
terrible blow between the eyes with the
edge of his Ratchet, cutting, as afterward
proved, clear to the brain. The bear came
for John third time, but was met by
another powerful blow from the Ratchet,
which finished her, and the bear died in
the mouth of the hole.
1t required strong effort to pull the
bear out, and John had scarcely accom-
plished it when cub, nearly full grown,
appeared. Nothing daunted, John went
at him, and after brief struggle served
him as he had served the dam, but had
scarcely done with him when bear num-
Der three appeared, which proved to be
the other cub. John struck at him with
the Ratchet, but missed him. The bear
sprang upon him, and the hatchet could
no longer be used. But with GOODNESS and
pluck that never deserted him, John
proved himself a match for bruin in any
shape. He drew the dirk knife and drove
it to the heart of his savage foe, which i'm
mediately released its hold and expired.
OF course John fully realized before this
time what he had struck, and now pre-
pared himself for the other old bear, but
after waiting awhile, and this member of
the family not appearing, he gave him up.
During the entire fight the father stood
near by, but having no weapon, and but
one arm, he was unable to lend his son
any aid, and feared that by interfering he
might injure him. The younger brother,
not liking the looks of things, had taken
to tree and watched the savage encoun-
ter with not little alarm.
When the old bear was measured her
length was found to be six feet from the
nose to the stern. All three of them were
skinned, and the skins sold for twenty
dollars.-Osuego IN. ~ Times, May 5.