The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-11-30
TREED BY A BIG BEAR.
A Little Girls Extraordinary Adventur


[Porters Lake (Pa) Cor. New York worldl
Last spring Kittie Wagner, aged ID
years, of Pittsburgh, Pa, came to spend
the summer and winter with an uncle
residing six miles southeast of this place,
in 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 cow-bell which he at once recog-
nized as one worn by one of his cows.
From the direction of the sound it was
evident the cattle were moving toward
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 alb
sence caused alarm, for it was feared she
had met with some accident, or had be-
come lost. Three of the family, 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 neighbors were notified,
and about 7 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 close
of long days search, they returned to
their homes with no more of 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 "Br,iin's 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
direction. Three of the party resolved
to visit the Resort, and, early on Tues
day 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
fired off their rifles, thinking, perhaps,
Kittie might be within hearing distance
and would if alive respond. Just as the
sound was dying away a voice like that
of some one in 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, after going short distance,
again discharged their rifles. Another
response 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 a steep declivity was
reached. Here the searchers again
halted. Looking about them they saw
nothing unusual, and they were about to
proceed when faint cry was heard to
come from the thicket just below. Peer
ing through the bushes, they discovered
clinging to the top of o tree the object OF
their search. The overioyed uncle
FASTENED to the foot of the tree and babe
Kittie come down. She endeavored to
descend, but so weak had she become
that she lost her hold and fell, but land
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 a tree and fell
fast asleep. When she awoke the
sun was shining brightly. She
again set out, thinking she wuld
find her way home, but she had become
so frightened and bewildered that after
walking all day she found herself in
about the same place as she was the pre-
vious night AS the shades of the night
began to fall the little wanderer realized
her situation, and cried bitterly. Being
almost starved and her feet having be-
come some sore from walking, she gath
cred dried leaves and making 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 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 clothes she again started.
She had gone only a short distance when
she heard noise in the bushes behind
her. and locking back discovered n huge
black bear following in her trail. She
screamed at the top of her voice and ran
with all her might. But the bear rapid
ly gained on her, and knowing that she
must soon be overtaken she resolved to
climb tree. The bear reached the tree
as the frightened girl was ascending it,
and standing upon its hind feet made
blow at her, fastening its claws into her
skirts. She maintained her hold, and,
after repeated efforts, succeeded in free
ing herself 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 short time before her
rescuers arrived She was carried home,
and her narrow escape has ever since
been the talk of the neighborhood.
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