The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-06-09
ADVERTISING RATES
Desperate Struggle with n Bear.


| We have heard many stories OF desper-
ate encounters with the bear, but do not
remember hearing of one more desperate
than that told Of John Minter, which took
place about the beginning of the present
century in Delaware County. Ohio.
Miuter was man fond Of hunting, a
crack shot, and bold as lion. He would
rather meet bear than a deer any time,
and would not change his course to avoid
any beast that infested the woods. One
day after fruitless hunt os several
hours he came suddenly on a monster
black bear and instantly drew up his
heavy rifle and fired Brnin fell as If
dead, but Minter had caution and ex-
perience enough not to approach a wound
ed animal until his weapon had been re-
loaded. After ramming another ball
home he advanced to his game, and game
it was indeed; the skull had been but
slightly fractured between the ears, which
had only stunned the animal, and as
Minter touched him with the toe Of his
boot the bear reared into position to give
him hug Minter drew back suddenly
and placed the muzzle OF his gun close to
his adversary's head, fired again. this time
making only a flesh wound in the neck,
which enrsged the animal to his widest
fury. The hunter clnbbed his gun and
laid Avar he baor NTH all Of HI, r~oxvar
but this was soon hurled from his grasp;
his Ratchet came next, and this was forced
from his hands and the bear was upon
him. As last weapon he drew his broad
hunting-knife fom his belt and undertook
to stab his terrible foe, but this was forced
from him by the bears powerful paw, as
had been the implements ofvarfare before;
he was left with nothing but his hands to
contend with this enraged monster.
Bruin clasped him in his vise-like en-
brace, both rolled to the ground, and
A fearful struggle then ensued between
the combatants; one ruled by unvarying
instincts and the other guided by the die
tates of reason. The former depended
wholly upon hugging his adversary to
death, while the latter aimed at present.
ing his body in such positions as would
best enable him to Withstand the vise-like
squeeze till be could loosen the grasp
Minter was about six feet in hight, pos
sessing large bones and well-developed
muscles, and being properly proportioned
was very athletic. The woods were open
and clear of underbrush, and in their
struggles they rolled in every direction.
Several times Minter thought the severity
of the hug would finish him; but by chok-
ing the bear he would compel him to re-
lease his hold to knock off his hands.
when he would recover his breath and
gain better position. After maintaining
the contest in this way several hours they,
happily for him, rolled back nearly where
the knife lay, which inspired him with
buoyant hope, hut he had to make many
Intellectual efforts before he could tumble
the bear within reach of it. Having f.
.
nally recovered it, be stabbed the bear at
every chance till he finally bledto death,
only relaxing his hold when life became
extinct. The hunter attempted to get up,
but was too much exhausted, and, crawl
ing to a log, against which he leaned, his
heart-sickened as he contemplated the
scene. Not rag was LEFT on him, and
, over his back, arms and legs his flesh
/ was lacerated to the bones by the claws
: of the bear. BY crawling and walking
t he reached home some time in the night,
n with no other covering than gore OF
t blood from head to foot. His friends, who
e went out next morning to survey the
. ground and bring in the trophy, said the
e surface was torn up by them over a space
e Of at least half an acre.
a Jack Minter recovered, but he carried
a with him the cicatrices and wells, some
a of which were more than a quarter of an
e inch thick, till the day of his Death
b House and Garden.