The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-21
TREED RY A RIG BEAR.

TREED BY A BIG BEAR.
A correspondent of the New York
World writes from Porter's Lake, Penn,
as follows: Last spring Kittie Wagner,
aged thirteen years, of Pittsburg, Pa,
came to spend the summe and winter
with an uncle residing six miles south
east of this place, in o wild and almost
unbroken wilderness. Last Sunday a-
ternoon Kittie was sent to drive home
her uncle's cattle, which were out in
the woods grazing. It was nearly sun
down when she left the house, and, not
returning at the usual time, her rela-
tives became uneasy, aud her uncle
started out, hoping to meet her. Hay
ing gone about half o mile, he heard q
cow-beIl which he at once recognized as
one worn by one of his lows. From the
direction of the soundEit was evident the
cattle were moving toward home. Think
ing, of course, hat Kittie was with
them, he fetraced his steps. The cattle
we're in the yard, but Kittie had not re-
turned with them. Her absence caused
alarm, for it was feared she had met
with some accident, or had become lost.
Three of the family, with lanterns.
started to search for her. They Travelled
through swamps and owe high noun
tains until after midnight, when, finding
no trace, they returned home. At day
break the. next morning several OF the
adjoining neighbors were notified, and
about seven O'clock, the party, number.
ing ten. started to renew the search.
The country for a radius of several miles
was thoroughly secured, but at the cloes
of a long days search they returned to
their homes with no more OF o clue than
when they first set ouj. Another night
passed with no tidings of the little one.
Six miles from here is a wild and rocky
gully known to hunters rs "Bruin's Re-
| sort" so called owing to the large num-
Der of bears killed in that immediate vi
cipity during the past two years. 1t was
thought That Kittie might have wander
ed off in that direction. Three of the
party resolved to visit the resort, and
early on Tuesday morning, each with
rifle in hand, they started. In about
two hours the northwest end of the gully
was reached. Here the searchers sat
down to rest. While resting they fred
off their rifles, thinking, perhaps, Kittie
might be within hearing distance and
would, if alive, respond. Just as the
sound was dying away q voice like that
of some one in distress washeard in the
distance. One of the party thought he
recognized it as the voice Of the missing
one. They proceeded on down the gully,
and after going q short distance again
discharged their, rifles. Another re-
spouse came, this time so distinct that
there was no longer any doubt as to its
being the missing girls cry. A few
steps further and q steep declivity was
reached. Here the searchers again
halted. Looking about them they saw
nothing unusual, and they were about
to proceed when a faint cry was heard to
come fromthe thicket just below. Peer
ing through the bushes they discovered
| Ginning to the top of o tree the object
| of their search: The overjoyed uncle
fastened to the foot of the tree and
babe Kite come down. She e~pdeavored
to descend, but 80 weak had she become
that she lost her hold and fell, butland-
ed safely in her uncle's arms. She said
that the COWS not being where she usual.
ly found them, she wandered off, and,
going further than she meant, she be-
came lost. She travelled until late into
the night, when becoming exhausted
she sat down by q tree and fell asleep.
When she awoke the sun was shining
brightly. She again set out, thinking
she would find her way home, but. she
had become so frightened and bewilder-
ed that after walking all day she found
herself in about the same place as she
was the previous night. As the shades
of night began to fall the little wanderer
realized her situation, and cried bitterly.
Being almost starved and her feet hay
ing become sore from walking, she gath
cred some dried leaves and making q bed
laid herself upon it, and was soon fast
asleep. She said her sleep was inter:
rupted by the most horrible dreams, and
several times she wa awakened by
| strange noises, which she thought must
have been made by wild animals When
| she awoke in the morning it was just
getting light, and brushing the leaves
from off her clothing she again started.
She had only gone a short distance
when she heard q noise in the bushes
behind her, and looking back discovered
a huge black bear following in her trail.
She screamed at the top of her voice and
ran with all her might. But the bear
rapidly gained on her, and knowing she
soon must be overtaken she resolved to
| climb q tree. The belr reached the tree.
as the frightened girl was ascending it,
and standing upon his hind feet made o
blow at her, fastening it's claws into her
| skirts. She maintained her hold, and,
after repeated efforts, succeeded in free
ing berself and climbed beyond the ami
mails reach. The bear remained about
the tree for some little time, vainly en-
deavoring to ascend it owing to its small
circumference, and had disappeared into
the thicket only a short time before the
rescuers arrived. She was carried home,
and her narrow escape has ever since
been the talk of the ~neigborhood. The
same day q party of hunters from Mil
ford, Pa, were hunting in the vicinity
for deer. John Hans, q noted bear and
deer hunter, became separated from his
companions, and, when passing through
the woods near the Dingman turnpike,
discovered a monster black bear coming
directly toward him. He waited until
the animal got within shooting distance
and then fred a ball at it. but missed.
The bear, instead Of ~retreating, as is
their custom, continued toward Hans,
shaking his head at every step. The
plucky hunter never weakened, but
awaited his nearer approach. When
within about twenty-five yards of him
the bear raised itself upon his hind feet,
and while in that attitude Hans took
aim and fred. The animal gave an up
ward spring and fell dead. It is believed
to have been the same bear that pursued
the lost Kittie Wagner. The animal was
taken to Milford. 1t weighed nearly
three hundred pounds.
An Excellent Reason.
Romieu, the French actor, was an in
corrigible joker, but one day he wal
very neatly taken in by o clockmaker
in the Palais Royal. Enter Romieu,
pretending to be a3gentleman from the
country, Of a very simple type indeed.
Romieu, with strong provincial accent {: