The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-09
From the oswego Times.l
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
A Young Nam i'm Boylston Kills
Three Hears with n Nail IIatchet.

FIGHT FOR LIFE.
A Young Nam i'm Boylston Kills
Three Hears with n Nail Hatchct.
The particulars of terrific struggle with
bears in the town eff Boylston, in this coun-
thrilling character.
UNARMED HUNTERS.
Iu appears that on Monday last, one week
ago to-day, n young man named John Bid
well, 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 gath
or spruce gum. They carried no weapons,
and their only tools were a common nail
hatchct and d dirk knife for the pupose OF
cutting the gum from the trees, and chisel
fastened to long pole. The latter was
carried by the father The Ratchet had a
handle about four lcot long and made OF
exceedingly tough wood, so that it might
even be struck against a tree and bent NAH
double without injuring it.
BEARS DEN.
Tins eauippcd, they were proceeding
throuph the woods about the ir work when
John saw bear track, and following it
with his eve saw about two rods ahead OF
him hole in the snow beside u big hemlock
log. He went to look into it, but just rs
he reached it slumped in the snow and fell
head foremost almost into the hole, his head
barely escaping the mouth of huge bear
that was just emerging with jaws extended.
rlGnrlNc THE DAM.
This was critical time for John, and
had he attempted to run as most men would
have done in such circumstances, he conld
scarcely have escaped alive. Bnt John
was the man for the emergency and the
thought of running never entered his head
He had barely time to draw back and ther
brought the bear blow On the nose with
his Ratchet which dropped her. In Il Sec
ond, however, the bear had sprung up agar
only matldcncd by the blow, but John was
in time for her and dealt her terrific blow
between the eyes with the edge of his hatch
ct, cutting, as afterwards proved. clear tc
the brain. The bear came for John tho
third time, but was met by another spower
full blow from the hatchct, which finished
her. and the bear died in the mouth of tho
hole.
THE SECOND BEAR.
1t required Il strong effort to pull thu
bear out, and John had scarcely accom-
plishcd it when Il cub, nearly full grown
appeared. Nothing daunted, John went n
him, and after brief struggle served hin
rs he hal served the dam. but had scarccl,
done with him when
BEAR NUMBER THREE
appeared, which proved to be the other cub
John struck ut him with the hatchct, bu
missed him. rhc bear sprang upon hin
and the hatchct could no longer be used
But with GOODNESS and pluck that never de
serted him, John proved himself mattel
for bruin in any shape lie drew the dirl
knife and drove it to the heart of his saw
age foe. who Immediately released his hol
and expired.
EXPECTING ANOTHER.
OF course, John fully realized before thi
time what he had struck and now prepare
awhile, and this member of the family no
appearing, he gave him up.
UNABLE TO GIVE AID.
During the entire fight the father stoo
near by but having no weapon and but on
arm he was unable to lend his son any aid
and feared that by interfering he might in
iurc him. The youngest brother, not likir
the look of things, had taken to tree, an
watched the savage encounter with not
little alarm.
THE GAME.
When the old bear was measured, he
length was found TO be six feet from til
nose to the stern. All three of them were
skinned, and the skins sold for $50.