Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-05-29
FIGHT WITH A BEAR.
A Uncommonly Lively Bear
Story from Oswego County
New York. a1i9q .ao IL ZEi.g
From the oswego Times; May ST.

The particulars of terrific struggle
with bears in the town of Boylston, in
this county, have just reached us, and
are of a thrilling character. 1t appears
that on Monday laSt, "a man named John
Bidwell, aged nineteen years, with his
father, a one armed man, and his broth
er, a mere lad, went into the woods,
about four miles east of Smart's mills,
in Boylston, to gather spruce gum.
They carried no weapons, and their on
lily tools were a common nail hatchet
and dirk knife, for the purpose of cut
ting the.gum from the trees, and CHS
Ell fastened to a long pole. The latter
was carried by the father. The Ratchet
had handle about four feet long and
made of exceedingly tough wood, so
that it might even be struck against a
tree and bent Neutrality-suspicious. iniur-
ing it. ,osq u 10 49,. - .l.,-.J. .ii.i. -
THUS equipped they were proceeding
through the woods about their work,
when John saw a bear track and follow
ing it with his eye, saw about two rods
ahead Of him a hole in the snow besides
q bighemlock log. He went to look in
to it,and fell headforemost into the hole
his head barely escaping the mouth Of
"a hugh bear that was just emerging
with his jaws distended. This was a
critical moment for John, and had he
attempted to run, as most men would
have in such circumstances could scarce
ly 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,t brought the bear a blow
on the nose es.with his hatcher, which
dropped her. in asecond however, the
bear had sprang up again, only madden
ed by the blow, ,but John was on time
for her, and dealt her n terrible blow
between the eyes with the edge of the
hatcbet, cutting as afterward proved
clear to the brain. The bear came for
John third time,i but was met by an.
other powerful blow from the hatchet,
which finished her, and the bear was
dead in the mouth of the hole. 1t re-
duired strong effort to pull the bear
out, and John had scarcely accomplish
ed it when a cub, nearly full grown ap-
peared. Nothing daunted, John ~eRt
at him, and, after brief struggle, serv-
ed him as he had served the dam, but
had scarcely done with him when the
bear No. appeared, which proved to
be the other cub. John struck at him
with the hatches, but missed him. The
bear sprang upon him and the hatchet
could no longer be used. Bnt with cool
ness 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, who Immediately released his hold
and expired. OF course, John fully re-
lized before this time whathe had struck
and now prepared himself for the bear
but after waiting awhile, and this mein-
ber of thefamily not appearing ,he gave
him up. During the entire fight the
father stood by, but having no weapon
and but one arm, he was unable to lend
his son any aid, and feared that by in
terfering he might injure him. The
younger brother,not liking the looks of
things, had taken to tree, and watched
the savage encounter with not little
alarm. When the old bear was meas
ured her length was found to be six
feet from nose to the stern. All three
of them were skinned, and the skins sold
for $40, -.. ,,r,s.a. f.,o-f o..