The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-11
4 BIG BEAR HUNT.
An Old Hunters story.


On yesterday it was our pleasure to
see Charley Coulter, who lives near the
line between Greenbrier and Pocshon-
tas counties. Charley is a fine speci-
men OF the old time back -woodsmen, OF
the David Crockett and Simon Kenton
style. His hands and brSwny arm
not orlv bore ancient marks OF the
bear, tha. he had received in his
younger days, while thrustipg his
butcher-knile 10 the heart Of his
victim, but they bore tresher marks
marks from which the blood had
scarcely ceased TO ooze. In answer TO
the question Charley have you kill
ed any bears since ! saw you 2 "Yes
my old woman and me went over TO
the house raisin' and we happened to
hear some hunters whisper that the
bars had begun to come in after the
mast. and the woods on Spice run was
chock full OF them. Says ], odd woman,
somebody else can act corner-msn in my
place to-day, get your duds and less 60;
cause my old b ar gun has been a rustn'
all summer, and she's got 10 be rubbed
up and put in KILN ordel-war or no
war with Cooba, So we started and got
every thing ready that night, even to
grindin' the butcher-kniie. And the
next morning, BY 1 o'clock she called
me up to some hot coffee and buckwhest
cakes" (Here we lost small part OF
the story, because as we looked at the
old sixiooter's new jeans suit and buck
skin gloves, all made by that old wo-
man, and go neat and strong, we
thought how strong aud well made
must have been that coffee, away up
in the unsophisiicated mountains
where chiccory and extracts
never fall into bedevl the natural
aroma OF the dear, genseng.pur-
chased beversge.) But the old hunter
continued II know'd il there was
any bars in them woods, that I'd find
them in Fallen Timber Roughs That
is q place where there was big Har'
skin about 40 years ago, that smashed
down all the big timber, and 1t has
groAn up with underground and ivy,
thick as they can stand, excep on one
bench. crope kerfully around that
bench and peepin' through the ivy and
brush, saw black bunch OF some~
thin piled up agin the stump OF an
old pine. At first it only attracted my
attention like anything black would
under the circumstance. But the more
l looked at the thing, the more bar ]
could see in it. And then thought ]
could see that be had raked some leaves
and twigs OF ivy together, like he had
turned 10 Tor all winter. And then my
old gun began to get restless, and work.
ed down of OF my shoulder, sorter IN.
beknowanced to me; and when no.
ticed her she was just in the act OF taxi
in aim by herself. Just then ! saw,
or thought | saw, the bar, il it was
bar, turn its head. At this pint, my
ole gun got perfectly unmansgable, and
saw if didn't do somethin' pretty
quick, she was a goin into action with
out me; 60 shuck some dry leaves
which brought the bar to it's feet-
just so-just like you town folks may
have seed a pet cub do before now.
1--WE felt shat this remark was q little
sarcastic, as there were men in the au-
dieuce who had seen wild cubs) But
TO the story. Il thought Id let him
have a haphazzard shot anyhow. So
l fired, and he just vanished over the
bank. | went down and could find 20
bar. no blood, nor notbin' but bis
warm smokin' bed OF leaves and sticks. |
l peeped furder down the hill, and ssw
him stand about eighty yards of.
Thinks ], you're not much scared, or
else too bad hurt TO get any furder; but
III let you have 1t az in anyhow
fred; he fell; and by my lie when Id |
loaded agin aud looked up, thar stood |
the bsr in the very same place, sp-
pesrenty in as good health as ever
Well, Gays | old ieller, if there's any |
virtue 10 a good gun and big load, III /
bring you this time. fired, and pick
ed my way down; and Mr.. Wooddell, |
az shure az you're born'd man, there !
laid al three Of the bears as dead as
darnicxs; two in one pile apd the other |
right close By. And gentlemen, il that .
Amt the truth 1t never was tod IN
Charleston