Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-05-16
Pioneer Adventures in Maine.

The town of Harrison was at one time
in the towns of Otistield and Bridgton.
Several of the early settlers who purchased
land on the east side of Long Pond, built
cabins in which they lived while clearing
their land, before marriage. Benjamin
Foster had purchased lands of Thomas
Perley, of Bedford, Mass, bordering on
.'Crooked River" and for several years
worked telling trees and clearing his farm,
living alone in rude log-cabin.
But Benjamin had raised twelve acres
of battle-ground corn, and believing it
was not good for man to be alone, he went
in search of companion with whom to
share the joys of life. He had formed the
acquaintance of Nancy Veasey of Den
mark, and was returning to his home late
at night, after visit to that lady, when
he stumbled upon huge bear. Her
bearship, not wishing to be disturbed
during her nightly slumbers, seemed de-
termined on revenge, and pursued the in
nocent Benjamin. He knew there was no
safety upon the ground, and at once
climbed sapling, which he supposed too
small for the bear to "hug;' but he was
doomed to disappointment, for she fol-
lowed him, climbing higher and higher,
until Benjamin dared go no further, lest
the tree break.
As soon as the bear reached his feet, she
took one of his heels in her mouth, tear
ing his slipper and flesh away; in doing
this, the bear lost her hold and went
crashing to the ground. He supposed his
trouble was now at an end, but was not
to get off SO easily. She soon climbed the
tree again, and catching his heels again,
tore away the flesh until the bone of one
was laid bare, and this time the limb on
which Mr.. Foster was hanging gave way.
and both man and bear went to the ground
together "a distance of fortyJfoe feet
Foster came down stop of the heap and
without waiting to examine the injuries
of his companion in trihulation," ran
with all his might toward his home.
1t was late in the autumn, and IN cross
ing a field of ''rye-stubble," he first dis
covered how serious were his injuries.
The stubble pricked his mangled feet
dreadfully, and caused him intense suffer
ing. He was made cripple for life by
that nights adventure, but he was not re-
jected by Nancy Veasey on that account,
and soon made her his wife, and took her
to his new-made home in Otisfield-now
Harrison.
1t was on a branch of the Penobscot,
many, many years ago, among the from
tier settlements, that William Whitney
went back from the clearings and cut
down large yellow birch for deer and
moose to "browse'-these animals sub
sist in the winter months on the bark of
xrstl,ip hai
reach-and setting heavy bear trap in
the snow amid the branches, he shouldered
his axe and wendell homeward.
Some few days passed away, and going
to look after his trap, he found large
moose in it. Mr.. Whitney fastened home,
and taking young man with him, and
armed with gun and axe, went back to Sc
cure the game. The trap was not "tog-
gled. :" and when the two Whitneys reached
the place where the tree had been cut
down, the moose was gone. They fol-
lowed on, through a large piece of mea-
dow-land, following the tracks of the
moose (Which were stained with blood)
until they saw him near the bank of a
sustf stream. When the moose saw that
he was pursued, he opened his nOstrils
anu DCiioWCu iCoiAuiiy tuiS CAPACoSAoh
of anger so terrified the old man that he
declared he should go no further, but
Whitney the younger was eager for the
game, and proposed to 60 forward alone.
Thc old man represented the lad as icing
like young dog; said he, 'they that
know nothing fear nothing" But when
the old gent saw the determination of the
younger, he was vcxed, and followed on.
The moose, notwithstanding the weight
of the trap-some sixty pounds-kcpt out
of sight nearly all of the time. They fire.
quently saw places in the snow whore he had
lain down, and the blood upon it indicated
that he was growing weak. This inspired
confidence in the young man, and, urging
on his uncle, they soon came to the bank
of considerable river, a branch Of the
Pen0bscot Il believe it was the Passa-
dumkeag) and saw the moose swimming
down the current. Here again the old
man was discouraged, and advised to give
up the pursuit, but not SO with 'sStephen .
he was determined to have the moose, and
calling to his uncle to "come on" dashed
down the bank and ssheaded off" the
moose. When the poor animal saw that