St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-26
The Bear Hunt.

Oh lne ODlOn hlVef, III the northwestern
part of Tennessee. A freshet had pre-
viOusly swept away all his earthly pos
sessions, and he had come to this new
section of the country with his family
i'll order to begin life anew. His near
est neighbor was just nigh enough for
the faint crack of his rife to be heard
as he brought down the game that
swarmed around him.
With his matchless skill with his rifle
there was little danger of his family
suffering for the want of food. When
ever he returned from his days hunt he
was sure to be loaded down with elk,
deer, turkeys and partridges. The faces
of his children were ever shiny with the
rich grease of his game, and the physi
cal condition of himself, as well as all
of them, could not be surpassed.
But Crockett's great delight was to
hunt bears. He would leave any en-
plOyment, or resign any game, if he
once caught glimpse of bear-track.
He would follow the trail hour after
hour, and when Overtaken by night,
kindle his fire, lie down and sleep till
daylight, when he would resume his
pursuit.
No matter whith@it led him-thrOugh
tangled swamps, across swollen streams,
or over wide stretches of prairie, he
would follow with perseverance that
would not be denied, and finally cap
ture his prey by sheer persistency.
Colonel Crockett always had several
dogs of the best breed and training, and
these invariably accompanied him upon
his hunts. In fact they were so useful
to him that he found it impossible to
get along without them.
In December, 1922, Crockett found
himself reduced to the last charge of
powder. The weather was intensely
cold, and he saw that he must procure
more, to prevent his family from suffer-
ing for want of food.
His nearest neighbor was his brother
in-law, who lived six miles distant, Oh
the opposite side of fork of the Obion.
He undoubtedly had an abundance OF
ammunition and Crockett determined
to visit him and secure supply.
Unfortunately there had been a storm
of several days duration, and the rivers
had risen to an extraordinary height.
Several inches OF snow lay upon the
ground, the air was keen and cutting,
and he had gone but il short distance
flowing its banks to such an extent that
it spread out like an open sea before
him. There was thin crust of ice also,
broken in patches, and floating swiftly
by, and needles of ice put out from the
slime, while the current surged so rap
idly by that almost any man would
have been atfrighted and turned back.
But Crockett had come after ammuni-
ton, and was determined to have it.
As he stepped into the water and ii
filled his shoes it was OF icy chilliness,
but lie never hesitated. He waded
cautiously forward until he reached the
channel, where he found fallen tree,
upon which he crossed.
This brought him to the edge of a
deep slough where there had formerly
been IL log to cross; but this was now
submerged by the freshet.
Here Colonel Crockett felt was the
critical point. If he could pass the
slough there would be comparatively
little trouble i'll reaching the opposite
side. In ordinary times the slough was
a small island, and sapling grew be-
side the log upon which he wished tG
cross, and which was submerged be-
meath the water.
Here was the trouble, but the hunters
ready mind hit upon an article by which
to Overcome.it. He first cut forked
sapling, with WHICH he reached across
the surging current, and fastened into
the young, swaying tree. With the help
of this he gradually worked his way
forward until by sounding with the
pole, he found the log three feet be,
meath him. He now went back and got
his rifle.
Carefully climbing up the tree, he
succeeded in placing his feet upon the
submerged log, began crossing it. This
was one of the most difficult of under.
takings. The water beneath the log
was dozen feet deep, and above it the
; swift current surged to his waist. The
most delicate pOise was necessary tt
keep his position on the log.
He was compelled to advance inch 10y
inch, not stepping, but showing his feet
along, and watching for any logs thai
might come floating down stream. Th,
ice was yet so thin that it occasionet
no annoyance.
Finally, after long time, and afte
great deal of labor, he found himsel
$ across and shortly reached anothe
, slough across which log was floating
This was even more dangerous than tn,
other, as it had no stability, and wa
| liable to turn with him; but there wa
? no retreat, and so he stepped upon it.
- 1t sank down almost beneath the sur
, face but he moved as carefully forward
as before and was about half way across
r when, as quick as lightning, it turned
I with him, and he went down with
gasp as the icy waters closed over him
With his usual presence of mind, he re
tanned his hold upon the log, and di,
S not allow his rifle to go out of his hand
s He was yet in the midst of the stream
s but he worked manfully, and at lengt
succeeded in reaching the land.
. Here he changed his clothes, and wa
: obliged to run at the top of his spec
: to keep from freezing. Late in th
evening he reached his friends, who, q
:. may we'll be supposed, was astonishe
y to see him.
e "All this distance for powder ?n il
IS quired his brother-in-law.
Is "Well, you see it is good weather fC
10 bears, and | must have hunt while
lasts"
r danger than the bears"
30 sWe'll soon settle that matter"
J. His relative gladly furnished him wit
:. all the ammunition he could spare, al
st he announced his intention of returnir
lg on the morrow but during the nigl
d, the temperature became so low that
Y was persuaded to defer the attempt III
!, til the succeeding day.
But the weather continued GROWN
is colder and colder, and the second ds
#, was found more intensely severe thu