Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-30


And we doubt that the Southern peo-
pie will agree to be taught" their
duty as Christians by such men, as
the San Francisco clergyman proposed.
-RichmOpd Dispatch.
From the OswegO Times, May 9Th.
A Fight for Life.
On Monday last, one week ago to-
day, John BidweU, aged nineteen
years, with his father, a one armed
man, and his brother, 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 only tools We're q
common nail-hatchet, and dirk-knife
for the purpose of cutting the gum
from the trees, and a chisel fastened to
a long pole. The latter was carried by
the father. The hatchet had handle
about four feet long, and made of ex-
ceedingly tough wood, SO that it might
even be struck against tree and bent
half double without in juring it.
Thus equipped, they were proceed
ing through the woods about their
work, when John saw n bear tr; cI,
and, following it with his eye, saw
about two rods ahead of him a hole in
the snow beside big hemlock log.
He went to look into it, but just as he
reached it stumped into the snow and
fell head-foremost almost into the hole,
his head barely escaping the mouth of
a huge bear that was just emerging
with his jaws distended.
He had barely time to draw back,
and then brought the bear blow on
the nose with his hatchet, which
dropped her. In second, however,
the bear had sprung up again, only
maddened by the blow, but John was
in time for her, and dealt her terrible
blow between the eyes with the edge
of his hatchet, cutting, as afterward
proved, clear tc the brain. The bear
came for John third time. but was
met by another powerful blow from
the hatchet. which finished her, and
the bear died in the mouth of the hole
It required a strong effort to pull
the bear out, and John had scarcely
accomplished it when a cub. nearly
full grown, appeared. Nothing daunted,
struggle served him as he had served
the dam, but had scarcely done with
him when bear No. 3 appeared, which
proved to be the other cub. John
struck at him with the hatchet, but
missed him. The bear sprang upon
him, and the hatchet could no longer
be used. Then John drew the dirk
knife and drove it to the heart CT his
savage foe, who Immediately released
his hold and expired.
During the entire fight the father
stood near by, but having no weapon
1,n l,1n 70
his son any aid, and feared that by in
terfering he might iniure him. The
Younger brother, not liking the looks
of things, had taken to tree and
watched the savage encounter with not
a little alarm The old bear measured
six feet, All three of them were
The Democratic and Liberal Repub
lican Committee, of Ohio, have de
cided to hold their State Convention
in Columbus, on the 9th of August.
The Duke OF Norfolk, who is Pre-
mier Duke and hereditary Earl Mar
shal of England, Roman Catholic
aged 26, is to marry Mile. Mon
talembert, daughter oi the illustriou:
| Count.
The Prince of Wales has begun tt
| cconomize He is said to have savet
e50O out Of his last yearly allowance
though it is whispered that he foun'
| the sum in pair of cast-of1 trouser:
| he had forgotten all about.
Texas, too, wants her canal, and :
bin has been i. troduced into the Sen
ate for the construction of one from
the eastern boundary of the State ol
Sabine Lake to the western boundar.
on the Rio GraHtle.
A Brooklyn lady complains in thu
columns of a local paper that she don
object to a good looking gentleman
| gazing square in her face, but that i
does make her mad when she look
back to see him staring back too.
Narrow-gauge railways are becon
ing more popular every day in th
West. But it is in California that til
boldest experiment is to be tried. Th
little giant there is coming into compe
tition with its larger brother, and tn
California Central Narrow -Gaug
Railroad Company are constructin
their track nearly parallel with til
Central Pacific. The opening celebrs
ton of the completion of the road t
Benicia took place only the other day
amid great reioicings.
The situation of affairs in France
becoming critical. A crisis seem
gradually approaching, when will b
decided, possibly in blood, whethe
the country will remain republic, c
, extend the sceptre to one of the man
: candidates now plotting for it. Thel
may be quiet during Thiers' suprem:
cy, but his withdrawal, forced {
otherwise, from public life, will in a
| probability be the signal for revolt
| ton. Peace in France rests apparen
3 ly on a slender basis.
The Enfield Times says: We lea,
| IDttt MISS hcucCCtl 4htloobs Lluiel'
: lady, residing at a widow Vick's, ne
, Battleboro', paid visit to relati
S of hers on the first of this week, al
l has not been heard from since. 1t W
n about Il mile from where she lived
e her relatives, and she went on foot.
S There are various speculations as
her whereabouts some think she "
!, murdered, as it was generally suppos
81 that che had 1arOQ S11r1 of nOnf
and that she carried it with her.