Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-09-01
NUMBER 80.
A TRUE BEAR STORY.

A large part of Michigan il still new,
and Is covered with turrstr, among which
are scattered the log cabins of the hardy
pioneers. Gnne uf various kinds abound.
The luguhtinu, howl OF the wolf is some
times heard, calling up in imagination of
the startled listener pictures of danger,
which, it must he con e>>ed, have very
little foundation Ia reality. Not unlre-
Qurntly, at certain seasons, hears come
out at the Gcrprr rrces>es of the forest,
atording the opportunity of an exciting
aud usually unsuccessful chase. but sell
dom doing any damage more serious than
lining tat pig oul ot the sty aud taking
II huge mouthtul or two out of his hhck.
y lew ywus ago "a curious event hap.
prncd In connection with the vi,it of
bear 10 the settlements in Mason county,
not Tar from the shore 90 Lake Michigan.
In that region are extensive .racts ot
open pine woods, in which n moderately
luXuriAut growth at wild grass, not un-
like some of the famous grasses of the
Western praities, affords abundant pas
turage tnr Stock. One Of the settlers WAS
in the habit oi turning his horse cut 10
Craze ut some distance from home. CO.
ing one day to the pasture ground, hs
took his little girl, some three years old,
up on his horse for ride, putting her
,wn again n short distance from the
house, rNprcting that she would be nhls
To- return t. IT alune. Look 'ng back soon
after, hcsAw that ,hc La ,topp,d and
Wa pnyiug in the loose sand in the path.
On rdutLng To- the house. after leaving
hi hntsc Mt the pasture gtuuud, he MAS
greatly alarmed To tud thnt ,he hnd not
been seen bv the family. Ills first act,
Of course, was to visit the placc where he
hni seen her lHst, where, to his horror,
mingled with her own li,tle tack, were
e. br seen the tracks ot huge brnr plain
" impressed in the sand. The inference
wa, aud it proved to be correct, that tho
bear had carried of the child. Tbs neigh
hurs MAS informed oi the circum. tanCes,
aud n patty ol men started IN pul suit
After hun ting uu,ucce~slully during tho
Reminder ot the day. thcv encamped ut
night ncnr the Pcrc Marquette river. On
going townd the river, the following
morning u loud ,pln.hing was heard, MS
II made by so,rc lHrge animal running
thrpugh thy ter. A. the men cnms
down b. the mnrgin of the strcnm. tho
hrnr wns just plunglng iutoa thicket on
the opposite shore, md >lrnngest -ipht ~
nj, ia the middle OF the stream was tho
llit'e Rlrl, sitting unhnrmrd on II log
which projected some distance above the
-urIncr Of the water. OF course the m"n
were not long in hrioging her To lnud.
The little ginl could not tell much about
the adventure, only lhnt she wns not
at"id, TINT the bear huggrd her md kept
her wnlm, mud that she boxed the brar's
cars tn which the bear submitted without
ngtowl.
The accepted theory among those cog
uiznhl ot the circumstances is TINT the
bear was II icnulr that had lost her young,
TINT .he adopted the little girl In thcp nee
of her own oil.pring, and TINT being sur
priscd.n the sudden appearance and close
proximity nt the men on the bunk OF the
RIVER, ~ She was crossing the stream,
nlnm for her own safety ovcrcnme her
molhcrly instinct, 40 she deposited her
buidrn IN the first convenien place, mud
took to llipht.
The ludmns living in the vicinity re-
bate how one Of their little girls wns once
stolen hy ~ nntIrrIy bear nnd kept sew.
rra weeks, br,ng fed oG blaekberries,
winch the bear gathered for her by biting
of bushes and uylng them. load,d with
ia" ripa full. at her feet, 1t is only nr
lndln story, bat j., perhaps, fully ~ M
t"tc-ting and quite as relhblc ~ many Of
the marvellous relations thnt figure 50
cpn,pl lou"u.Iy in nncient history. In the
ease of our little girl there j. no telling
what the result might hnve been il shs
Ind not been So provdrntinlly rescued. -
Dr.. Il. L"0ch, IN Western Ruydt.