The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-10-22
MISSOURI.
A GEORGIA HUNT.
Pursuing a Bear in a PnlmettO-Fatch-
4 Nand-tO-IIand Encounter.
[From the .Ntlanta CONSTITUTIONS

From the Atlanta Constitution.
After dinner and Il good easy rest, we
arranged for Il bcar-hunt. We had seen
fresh signs just before We stopped, and
it was supposed by Lee that he would
return to the anne palmetto-patch late
Brown and Marlborough would remain
and watch this place until night, and Lee
and myself would 90 farther down the
island Git is ten miles lOng) and search
for other indications of bear. The dogs
were tied and left with the baggage.
We had gone about a mile and a half
when we came to the object of our
search. In a palmetto-patch a bear had
been within the last t~wenty-four hours.
and had pulled many buds. We moved
beyond for the sake of getting the wind
right, and we had not gone far before a
heavy rain came on us, and lasted for
IN hour. Our blankets and coats were
two miles away, and we had to shelter
behind leaning pines as best we could.
Our guns were laid across Il LOG with
muzzles downward, and two rounds
of thick bark from Il dead pine near by
laid over the hammers. This kept them
dry.
When the rain ceased it was near sun
down, and Lee assured me that the
bears were out feeding, and no mistake;
that We nay keep a lookout for them.
We started back towards our ''bear
signs" only skirting close along the
swamp. We had gone but a short dis
lance when Lee stopped and looked
steadily for 4 moment, and then sig
niticantly pointed his finger towards 4
patch of palmetto, Il little 20 our left. |
looked. and saw old bruin, busy step
PING around and around, and pulling
the palmetto. Lee told me to follow
him closely. and t stop every time he
did. We moved on with Il slow and
and noiScIcSS tread. Nothing could be
heard but the rip of the palmetto, and
the thump, thump, thump of my heart.
| thought | vas cool and that my nerves
were steady, but my heart was unrUIy.
1t seemed that old bruin, over Il hun
dred yards away, would hear it.
When we got within sixty yards of
him, he threw up his head and whitfield
the air, and then struck off for the
swamp in 4 ~aIlop. We were almost
between him and the swamp, but he
went quartcring off to our right. We
ran about twenty steps, and then at 4
simultaneous fire, 1t 4 distance of scy-
~enty-tivc yards, II OF Us plugged him
in the hind quarter and the other in the
fore shoulder. Lee gave him his see
Ond barrel at two great a distance to eff
feet much, and my second failed to
shoot. He was badly shot, however,
and it was with difficulty that he hob
bled on towards the swamp. Lee shout
ed to me to follow him and give him
my remaining load. | hastily put on a
fresh cap, and like 4 Camanche Indian,
| flew after him in hot pursuit, needless
of my stiff knees. Just as he was slow
" entering the bushes | ran up within
ten steps and gave him the benefit Of
nine blue whiStlcrs in the left loin. |
had to shoot him in this spot, because
his head was from me and | could not
get at his heart; besides, | had been
told that a safe place to
break one down so he could
not get away, was about the
small OF the back. At the flash OF the
gun he fell and began to scramble in the
fern. | was without my pistol, and very
much fearing that he might yet make his
. escape, dropped my gun and drew my
knife, and was making up to him when
Lee came nearer up and called to me to
stop. "Iou'rc in danger, boy!n said
he. | did not know, after 4 second
thought, but what | was, and | paused;
but as soon as Lee came up he said it
was finished with him, and, sure enough,
it was. 4 little more agonizin@, and the
usual bleat like a sheep, and he gaycup
the ghost. He was not as large as the
one [ killed on Floyd's Island, but his
claws and tuSks were longer. | have
the full set OF the latter preserved. We
left him, aS it was too near dark to skin
him, and returned to our camp. Boone
and Marlborough, had returned without
getting a shot, and were awaiting us
with 4 delightful lightwood fire. We
were very wet, and after drying our
O. clothing We cooled up for the night.
Next morning, Wednesday, the 23d,