Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-31

ferocity, and that Il would be nm exploit TO
boast Of Il he could be secured alive. Capt.
Marston was one OF those men who never
doubt but they can accomplish anything
they undertake, and no at once proceeded
TO business.
II might puzzle those not accustomed to
handling bears, how they were to got the an
imal down the mountain TO tho settlement.
But II was no problem 10 tho settlers. Thoy
cut n heavy pole. This pole they placed
across the bears neck and the weight Of
half dozen men on each end pinioned him
to the ground while two sets of ropes were
fastened to him. Ono set was to DO used in
dragging him forward. The other set was
TO hold him back, so he could not rush on
his captors and destroy them.
Having arranged everything to their lk-
ing. tho boar was oosened from the tree
and the party started forward. The bear
was surly and furious. lie growled and
raved, but ten men could drag him along,
nevertheless. II he attempted to rush for
ward OH his tormentors, those behind would
pull him back. Then he would howl and
rave at them in return, only TO be suddenly
dragged forward again. All his fury was
unavailing lle resisted bravely, but, Gu
cumberod with the trap, he was no match
for his captors, and they dragged him along
with but little mercy. After three hours
hard labor they dragged him out of the
woods within half mile Of Capt. Marston's
house. Here they stopped for rest and con-
graduation, believing the prize secure.
At that time no such affair could be car
ried out without the use of rum. So u mes
senger had been dispatched with intelligence
of their success, and instructions to come
back and meet them with n supply of rum.
The messenger met them here with the full
quantity ordered. They were so greatly
olated over their success with the bear that
they had to drink toasts and congratulations
all round. Every one of course must take
II good drink, for that was tho fashion then.
The bear had become very much exhaust
cd by its rough treatment, SO some ono pro-
posed to give the bear treat. 1t was only
necessary to propose the thing, to have il
carried into effect. They contrivod 10 place a
dish of rum before the bears nose. As soon
rs he got the scent of it he Tapped itup greed.
| lily. Ii was great amusement to get u bear
drunk. so they kept feeding him with it us
long as the rum lasted, laughing and shout.
ing over the bears fondness for drink.
When the rum was all gone, and they had
made themselves sufficiently merry at tho
bears expense, they seized tho ropes and
started on again with u great shout Of on.
thusiasm. But they had not counted on the
effect of giving rum to bear. The rum
stimulated the bear even more than it did
the men. lie had drank just enough of II
to enluriatc him and bring all his strength
and ferocity into action. The instant they
started with him they discovered their error
With one tremendous plunge the bear broke
away from those who held him back, and
rushed forward at the men who were drag
ging him along. A settler named William
Mann happened to be nearest him. The
first plunge the bear caught Mann just above
the knee and bit clear through the leg. A;
soon rs it was seen that the bear was loose
all the enthusiasm vanished instantly, anC
the men fed in all directions, leaving onl,
Capt. Marston and his son William e. Mars
ton, twelve years old to rescue their com
panion.
After inhicting one bite the bear relin
pushed his hold, only to bite Mann still
more severely in the thigh. A moment af.
ter he attempted to seize Mann in the aldo
men. He would have done so and killed
him on the spot, had not Capt. Marston, al
that instant, struck him over the nose will
the barrel of his rife. The bear turned in
stantly on the captain, who lodged him,
and ran down the hill with the enfuriateC
beast after him. William, seeing his faith
er's danger, ran after them shouting with al
his might "Ruu, father, rum The beal
will have you run! rum"
The captain did run, for life was at stake.
He understood his peril, and ran at his ut
most speed, but, spite OF his utmost exertion,
for distance Of fifty rods. there was on.
ly n single step between him and destruction.
There CHANGED to be a great white rock
close to the path where he was running.
The captain passed by close to it. The bear
in attempting to pass it, struck the end o
the trap against the rock. The shock re
tarded his pursuit just enough to enable
Capt. Marston to turn and fire on his pur
suer. The captain was an excellent marks
man and the bear rolled over dead. Tina
shot deprived him of the hundred dolla
prize.
On examination they found the trap S,
broken that it fell of of itself Had not tn
captain fired at the right moment. he woul
undoubtedly have lost his life, MS tho bea
was plunging Mt him when he fired.
AS soon us the bear was dead, the fright
cned neighbors returned. Several of then
constructed bier, and bore tho wounde,
man home, wearing sorrowful faces. Al
their recklossness and boistcrousness ha,
vanished.
Another party carried the bear 1t wa
found to be one of the largest ever killed i
the state, weighing more than four hundre'
pounds. Amer the skin was taken of 1t wa
hung in tho tavern for exhibition. Wit
the nose touching the ceiling overhead. tn
toes of the hind feet just reached the floor
distance of sight. feet.
/ The wounded man recovered from hi
wounds after many weeks. Captain Mars
ton learned lesson from the encounter
and always observed greater caution ATE
that. Years after. when relating the stor
of his perilOus flight, he used to say wit
great emphasis: ''Well, boys, knew tina
old bear wOuldt make but single mouthiu
Of me, and IhOpe 10 die on earth II l didn
run then MS no other man ever did. Bu