Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-12-13
Sad Occurrence.
A MAN PuRsUEs A BEAR. BECOMES Be
WILDERED IN THE SNOW AND Is FRO
ZEN TO DEATH.

A MAN PURsUEs A BEAR. BECOMES Be
WILDERED IN THE SNOW AND Is FRO
ZEN TO DEATH.
Lesoisburg ". Va.,) Independent.
On Tuesday morning. the 26th day
Of November, 1878, party consisting
Of Vim. e. Baber, Jos. K. Smithson, Jas.
NJ. Craft, T. H. w. Smithson, E. d. NC
Clure and MD. Jones Left their camp on
the south side of Cold Kno b, in Greenbrier
county, with Il wagon and team, with tho
intention of making their way through the
snow drifts to the Holiday place, On the
waters of Cherry river, u point ABOUT
twelve miles distant They had Travelled
about Eve miles, and had reached the south
extreme of Bull Hill. when it was discov-
cred that bear had crossed the ROAD tne
previous night, making it's way III the ol-
rection uf the south fork ,'f Cherry river.
Mr.. Baber who was driving the team, DIS
mounted, called up two dogs that were
with them, and started il pursuit of The
bear, requesting the company to drive on
while he would 90 round the hill little
way He had neither weapons, firearms
nor provisions.-The company moved on,
leaving TIE point at about eleven O'Clock,
A. M. expecting Mr.. Baber to come up at
every moment and reached their place or
destination before nightfall. On the fol-
lowing mnrninV, the 9th, the news was
spread that MIR. Baber had not yet return
I'd. and search was made by Messrs. TEuS,
A. Baber, john Hannah, and Harry
Hocket, who returned the same evening
bringing the information that he was still
III pursuit OF the bear, when they turned
back from his rail, pulling through snow
and creeping through laurel thickets.. ga
The following morning. the 18th. search was
continued by Messrs. H. z. Coats, Michael
Rutledge, John Hannah, Thos. A. Baber
r. H. W. Smiths Il. The day was spent
in following the zig-zag way the lear and
man had gone, A little before night the
point was gained wnere the man had Civ
| en- up the chase, and started in the direct
course for the road. He Travelled straight
| for a half mile or more, when he turned
| at right angles aud went into dense lau
| rel thicket, which he passed through
down the hill to Cold Spring Run. Here
| iL was found tina he had taken the water
| The party went into camp for the night,
and on the following morning, tile 295n,
| discovered by the Jrails OF tae dogs on TIE
| banks that the last man had gone down
the creek He followed the creek half a
mile, when it emptied into the south fork
OI OueTTy IlVol. lucHCc uo"u UHo AA'oA
| about the same distance, never making a
mark on the banks, nor passing over log
that lay above water. Here he came
ashore on the south side of the stream.
climbed the mountain about a quarter OF
mile. stopping twice, but never getting
off his feet. Just as be topped the bluff he
lay down exhausted, closed his eyes and
died-it seems without pain or struggle.
His own dog remained with him till he
was found; the other left him after he lay
down and went back to the settlement
The dead body was conveyed on the 30th
to the road, some two and a-half miles dis
tant, on litter; thence by wagon to his
family. Mr.. Baber had recently moved te
that section from B lue Sulphur He wa:
highly respected wherever known, and his
sad death will be de eply regretted.