American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-10
TREED BY A BIG BEAR.
A Little Girl Who Will Hereafter be Much
More Careful When She Looks for Her
From the New York World. !

From the New York World
PORTER's LAKE, Pa, Oct. 26--Last
spring Kittie Wagner, aged 13 years, of
Pittsburg, Penn, came to spend the
summer and winter with an uncle re-
siding six miles southeast of this place,
in a wild and almost unbroken wilder
ness. Last Sunday afternoon Kittie was
sent to drive home her uncle's cattle,
which were out in the woods grazing.
1t was nearly shutdown when she left the
house, and not returning at the usual
time, her relatives became uneasy, and
her uncle started out, hoping to meet
her. Having gone about half mile, he
heard a cow bell which he at once
recognized as one worn by one of his
cows. From the direction of the sound
it was evident the cattle were moving
towards home. Thinking, of course,
that Kittie was with them, he retraced
his steps. The cattle were in the yard,
but Kittie had not returned with them.
Her absence caused alarm, for it was
feared she had met with some accident,
or had become lost. Three of the fam
lily, with lanterns, started to search for
her. They travelled through swamps,
and over high mountains until after
midnight, when, finding no trace, they
returned home. At daybreak the next
morning several of the adjoining neigh
bors were notified, and about O'Clock
the party, numbering ten, started to re-
new the search. The country for a ra-
dius of several miles was thoroughly
days search they returned
to their homes with no more of a clew
than when they first set out. Another
night passed with no tidings of the little
one. Six miles south from here is a
wild and rocky gully known to hunters
as 9 Bruins Resort" so-called owing
to the large number of bears killed in
that Immediate vicinity during the past
few years. 1t was thought that Kittie
might have wandered off in that direc-
ton. 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 north
west end of the gully was reached.
Here the searchers sat down to rest
While resting they fired off their rifles,
thinking, perhaps, Kittie might be with
in hearing distance and would, if alive,
respond. just as the sound was dying
away voice like that of some one III
distress was heard 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 aftel
going a short distance again discharged
their rifles Another response came,
this time so distinct that there was nc
longer any doubt as to its being the
missing girls cry. A few steps fur
Their and a steep declivity was reach
ed. Here the searchers again
halted. Looking about them they
saw nothing unusual, and they were
about to proceed when a faint cry wa;
heard to come from the thicket just be
low. Peering through the bushes they
Uncovered clinging to the top of tree
the object of their search. The over
joyed uncle FASTENED to the foot of the
tree and babe Kittie come down. She
endeavored to descend, but so weak haC
she become that she lost her hold anC
fell, but landed safely in her uncle,
arms. She said that the COWS not being
where she usually found them, She
wandered off, and going further thar
she meant she became lost. She travel
ed until late into the. night, when, be
coming exhausted, she sat down by {
tree and fell asleep. When she awokt
the sun was shining brightly. She agar
set out, thinking she would find hel
way home, but she had become Sc
frightened and bewildered that, after
walking all day, she found herself il
about the same place as she was the
previous night. AS the shades of nigh
began to fall, the little handkerchief
lied her situation and cried bitterly
Being almost starved, and her feet hav
ing become sore from walking, SHE
gathered some dry leaves, and
making a bed, laid herself upoI
it, and was soon fast asleep. She sale
her sleep was interrupted by the mos
horrible dreams, and several times she
was 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 cloth
ing, she again started. She had gone
only a short distance when she heard {
noise in the bushes behind her, and look
ing back discovered huge black beal
following in her trail. She screamed
at the top of her voice and ran with al
her might. But the bear rapidly gained
on her, and knowing she must soon b.
overtaken, she resolved to climb tree
The bear reached the tree as the fright
ened girl was ascending it, and, stand
ing upon its hind feet, made blow a
her, fastening its claws into her skirts
! She maintained her hold, and after re
peated efforts succeeded in freeing her
self and climbed beyond the animal''
reach. The bear remained about the
tree for some little time, vainly en-
deavoring to ascend it owing to it!
small circumference, and haC
disappeared into the thicke
only short time before her rescuer!
arrived. She was carried home, anC
her narrow escape has ever since beer
the talk of the neighborhood. The same
day party of hunters from Milford
Pa, were hunting in the vicinity fol
deer. John Hans, a noted bear anC
deer hunter, became separated from hi
companions, and, when passing through