Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-23
A True Bear Story.

Let the boys who think that all adven.
lures belong 10 them, stand back while girl
tells true bear story
We were spending the summer at a small
hotel in the Catskills, situated on a shoulder
Of one of the highest mountain peaks.
From the front of the house the view ex-
tended, as far as the eye could reach, over
| hills and valleys but at the back, the high
mountains lowered up till they seemed TO
reach the sky. Often only half the mount
ain would be visible, the top being enveloped
in the clouds.
The old farmers who lived around there
said that bears were often seen or heard in
the thickest and widest parts, but as we
never met any in our walks, we thought. of
course, it was not true. But there was an
old man about seventy years Of age who
lived not very far from the hotel called
" Barney Butts, the great bear hunter" lie
had lived all his life in little house in the
forest, and supported himself by catching
bears in traps set on different parts of the
mountain, and selling the skins.
lie seldom caught any except in the win
ter season. One night, however, the peo-
pie were awakened by hearing a low growl-
ing around the hotel, and some of the ser
wants heard a scratching at the cellar door
The next morning bear-tracks were found
all over the grounds. Every one was very
much excited, and hearing bear seemed
the next best thing to seeing one. We were
all anxious to have a bear story to take home
with as.
Rut there was a greater excitement and
delight few mornings later when 10 was
announced in the diningToom, while all
were at breakfast that old Barney Butts had
caught bear in one of his traps and that
the big wagon would be around in fifteen
minutes to take any Of the ladies and chill
dren who wanted to 60 to see him.
OF course every one wanted 10 20; so
when Phil--one of the stable men, who was
| always ready for good time. especially
when the children were concerned-drove
his four horses up to the door, he found an
excited party waiting for him The wagon
had long seats on the sides for the ladies,
while the children climbed in and sat on the
straw in the bottom. In another minute
Phil whipped up his horses, and we were all
off, the gentlemen walking across the fields.
The bear had been caught on the other
side of the mountain which was behind the
house; and 10y going round by the road we
could drive TO within a very short distance
of the place where he was.
When we arrived, we found the gentlemen
all there before us, aud the bear lying with
the iron clasp around his paw, and fastened
to a fallen tree by a long chain. The poor
creature had such a sad face. and looked as
if he was suffering very much, and he did
not seem to know what to make Of so many
people standing looking at him.
Then Phil, who could not keep long out Of
mischief, thought lac would make him growl
and move about to please the children.
SO he got long stick aud commenced to
worry him. The gentlemen told him he had
better be careful, and the ladies and children
moved a little further away.
At first the bear did not seem to mind
Phil, but when he kept up his teasing, he
suddenly gave a low growl and sprang at
/ him. Phil jumped back and started to run,
the bear after him, dragging the tree with
him; and before the men could stop him, he
had caught Phil, and punished him by bit
/ ing great piece of flesh out Of his leg and
/ tearing his pants badly.
OF course this frightened the ladies and
children, who went screaming and rushing
| down, out of the woods, as fast as they could
and reached the wagon all out Of breath
! Most Of the children were crying with fright
and two Of the ladies had tainted.
One Of the gentlemen, with unnecessary
cruelty, which should be severely condemned,
drew out a small pocket pistol and fred at
the bear. The shot was too small TO injure
him seriously, but, going through his head,
only panied him enough to make him more
furious. Every one Of the party was very
indignant, and felt that he deserved punish
ment as much as Phil.
The men who had charge of the bear got
Phil away aud carried him down to old Bar
ney's house. where they bound up his wound I;
and then they got wagon and drove him
home.
The bear could not run very far, for the
tree to which he was chained soon caught
between the other trees, and then the sharp
iron clasp around his foot would cut him
when he tried to run. So they succeeded in
keeping him quiet until the men, who had
gone for yoke of oxen and drag, came
back then they chained the poor creature
on to the drag so that he could not move,
aud started for the hotel, that the other
guests might sec him.
The boys formed a procession, and went
on in front, all carrying large sticks, and
shouting and singing all sorts of songs, very
much delighted with this new entertainment.
by the time they reached the house the
bear was too weak to be dangerous. The
fright, together with his wounded leg and
head, had reduced his strength so much that
all were able to stand quite close to the drag,
as he could not harm them.
After every one had seen him the enter
tanment seemed to be over, so they took up
collection to pay the men for their trouble
~ bringing the bear up to the house and
then the bear was taken back to old Barney
Butts, where he died in a day or two. Phil
was sent home to be taken care of.
We were all satisfied, now that we had seen
bear that had been caught right near the
house, and did not care to have any more
bear excitements during the summer. Even
Phil felt satisfied, and we hope that his own
suffering taught him to be more merciful to
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