The Republican journal., 1873-02-20
Desperate Fight Between Two Men and
Correspondence Of the y. Y. World

INOHt-I0Autuce OF the y, \. or4d.J
BLOOMING Grow, Pa, Jan %.
A few days since Burt Hazen and an
other man named Shafer, two well-known
hunters of This section, discovered the
tracks of several bears near this place.
SigDS OF bear at this season of the wear
beng most unusual occurrence they de-
termined to follow them up and if posi-
bic capture or Kill the animals Taking
their rifles, Skater and Hazen started on
the trail, and before they had followed it
great way they came up to one of the
bears When it discovered the hunters it
started briskly away, but was hit by a bali
from one of the rifles This only added
10 the speed OF its flight and it was soon
out OF sight, going towards the High
Knob, north of the Blooming Grove Park.
Besides tue track left in the snow by its
feet, Il trail of blood also marked the
course the bear took, showing that the
ball had taken effect somewhere upon il.
Ihe wounded bear kept in the trail Of its
companions. and the hunters were conf
dent Of coming upon them all in their
winter quarters. The tracks led to the
south side of the knob where they enter
ed a dense laurel thicket Iiazer and
Shater made their way INTO this and final
" came to where a large tree had fallen,
the roots OF which had torn out a large
quantity Of earth, by huge rock forming
a deep cavern. The month of this was
closed hy laWels and bou@hs broken off
and evidently placed by the bears them
selves Into this cavern all the tracks led,
except that Of the wounded bear. This
passed on along the foot Of the mountain.
leaving It's bloody trail.
In i
bears were brought to bav they set about
to find what means to get them out in order
that they might oct a shot. They conld tell
from the tracks that there were at least four
Of the animals in the cavern. two old ones
ana two cubs. The hunters were anxious
that but one of the bears should come ont
at once. as they would have more than
their hands tuil in any other event. They
finally decided to build n fire at the mouth
ol the cave and smoke ont the inmates
being ready to shoot the instant one M
ppared. One of the men crcpt cautiously
up 10 the cavern, and started a fire as far
inside rs he dare venture. and then re-
trpatrd They both stood ready to shoot
IN short time movement was seen
among the aurels, and the head of huoe
.hr bear appeared. Her actions so sur
priscd the hunters. however. that neither
ut them fired She coollv anproachod the
fire they had built and trampled If ont
with her feet and with an angry AR ra-
treated into the lair. The fire was rebuilt
ana again the bear a0peared and smotb-
erred il with her paws SEEING thar tho
singular intelligence of the brute wouId
toll their attempt at smoking the bears
out. the men determined to rebuild the
tirn and If tho hao,. al-,;,, oa,,o ,,,4 =
smother it risk shooting her in the verv
mouth Of the den. The fire was started
again, and as before the old bear came
out, this time growing aud snarling and
trampling the burning boughs in a terrible
fury Before she had finished, however.
a ball from Skaters rifle went CRASHING
INTO her brain. Raising on her launches
and breaking through the TANGLED laurels
she rushed out Of the cave with her laws
wide open. but fell dead before she had
taken half dozen PAGES in the clearing
the hunters had made in the tbicket before
commencing their operations.
This lucky shot embo]dend and on
conraeed Hazen and Shafter TO continno
their line of attack. After drawinc The
crept araln to the month of the den and
was about lighting another fire. when the
mate of the bear lust killed rushed ont
and raising upon his hind feet made d.
rectlv tor Hazen. who had sprung to his
feet when he heard the approach of the
bear from within. but not in time to re-
treat Hazen stood between Skater and
the bear, and the latter did not dare to
fire for fear of shooting his companion.
Besides they had not calculated on such