Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-01-31
Grafton.
EXCITING BEAR HuNT.-SAFE RETURN
OF THE HuNTsMEN n

or HE iilNlaMEN
On the 18th inst. Mr.. Stephen Farr,
Of Windham, while chopping in his
woods, in the west part Of the town,
heard for long time, his dog barking
in peculiar manner and at length star
ted, determined to ascertain the cause.
He found him by windsall oftrees over
a mass of rocks, barking furiously but
careful to keep at safe distance. Farr
discovered that the dog was shy of his
customer, and, being man never known
to run for one wild animal, determined
to satisfy his curiosity by looking
over the occupant of the burrow. He
at once procured long pole, placed
himself at the top OF the windfall, thrust
the pole with great force to the bottom
of the burrow and ordered the animal
(supposing it to be hedgehog to leave.
A loud and frightful growl at once gree
ted his ear. "None of thai" cried Farr.
"Show yourself" and piled his pole to
the stranger with renewed vigor.
I Not fancying such treatment, huge
black bear rushed out from under him
and beat hasty retreat into the woods
On the following day the Windham Ran
gers toiled unsuccessfully from morn till
night, for sight at the bear. They
however found his trail in various places
showing that he was still in the vicinity.
An invitation was then extended to the
Londonderry Sportsman and the North
West Fur Co. to join in the chase. The
invitation was cheerfully accepted, and
on Wednesday morning a respectable
delegation from each company appeared
on the Windhan Bear grounds.
A footprint was soon discovered in the
snow by the President of the North
West Fur Co. Its enormous size and
unlikeness to the track of any other
live animal was satisfactory proof that
it was the fresh track of the object of
their pursuit The President was sinsi
bly, affected by the sight of the track.
He called the men around it, and, adj
dressed them in very feeling and i'm
pressive manner. Boys" said he, 'look
there, that is the foot print of the plan
tigrade quadruped whose lifeiess carcass
we are this day to bear from this field.
As we enter the romantic village of
Windham, children will drop their play
things. Aged ladies raise their specta-
cles, the sound of the hammer and the
hum of business will cease, and /, the
bear, and you shall at once become the
objects of interest. Our skill and cour-
age will be known and appreciated while
bears continue to be terror and dread
to this quiet and industrious people.
But comrades, be calm, great achieve
ments are the results of courage control
led by prudence and sound judgement.
Those marks correctly indicate the I'M
paralleled length OF the beasts claws,
at least three inches. Think of bis
tusks of proportionate length and you
will not be at loss in imagine the fate
of one of our number, up to his armpits
in the snow and overtaken by this fero-
cious monster. Listen then to one word
of advice before proceeding to your noble
but dangerous work. As you see the
bear approaching, stand firmly upon the
top of the snow, fire, then run as never
man ran before. Now boys for the bear"
At the conclusion of the Presidents
pertinent remarks, the party divided
into small companies and wandered over
the hills as best they could. No further
excitement, except as one after another
nearly disappeared in the snow, those
more fortunate would shout "The bear is
coming then wiekedly laugh to witness
the hasty efforts of their alarmed COM
panions to gain foothold on the crust.
Night found the party again at the
track above mentioned. The, roll was
called, every man responded. No one
had seen the bear, or even another foot
print. The dogs had remained with
the men and manifest neither fear nor
excitement.
The President congratulated the men
upon their safe return, and complimented
them for their bravery, when each left
for home with the hope of finding in
readiness warm supper, which his days
toll had prepared him hugely to en-
joy. X.
PUTNEY.-The festival of the ladies
of the Congregational Society of Putney,