Milford chronicle., 1878-10-04
PLAYING IT ON THE OLD BEAR.
THE TRUE sToRY OF AN AGED BEAR
HUNTER FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

HE TRUE 6IOltI OF AN AGhO BEAF
HUNTER FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
The Pittsburgh Telegraph tells this
story One day, long time ago, about
the time when Jackson ran for President
the first time, perhaps, was one day
hunting up on the Adge between Meadow
Run and Cucumber Run, which tumbles
off the rocks just across there.
had known for some time by the
signs that there was a nest of cub bears
somewhere in the neighborhood, so on
that day concluded that would put in
my time finding them, as a party up in
Uniontown wanted pair to send over to
Baltimore to, a friend who was fond of
OItlandish pets.
You see it was along about the 1st of
September, and pretty warm at that, and
after walking up and down the ravines [
began to get pretty tired. Twas not so
heavy then as am now, and did not
weigh more than a couple of hundred
pounds. As said, I was tired, and so,
mp on the top of the ridge I sat down by
the side of a smooth chestnut stump
about twelve or fourteen feet high. I
hadn't set there more than minute till
I heard something inside the stump, and
soon made out that it was q couple of
cub bears playing with one another
looked on all sides of the stump to
hnd an opening, but none was to be seen.
Then I happened to notice the marks of
claws up the side of the stump and IN
'lcrstood it., Tlue hole sent i'll az thC
top. set my gun against bush, up$
ended the branch Of tres, and was soon
at the top Of the stump looking in at the
two cubs, which were about the size of
full-grown rat dogs.
!, J G~v.- 90 Az";tv,t 4l4Rt i,,mf-rvI down
into the stump anGt grabbed the cubs.
They at first CONNIE nced to sqheal, and
then turned on me'fer fight. But they
we're small enough to handle, and in
minute or two l had their mouths tied so
they could not bite, and their feet fast
ened 80 they couldn't scratch.
1 knew the old bear would be along
pretty soon and make it hot for me if she
found me in the nest, so I swung the
youngsters into my buckskin belt pre-
paratory to getting out.
Get out? Did get out Land ofLove
it makes me shiver to think of it yet
could no more get ont of that stump than.
/ could fly. The hollow was bell-shaped;
larger at the bottom than at the top-,so
large, in fact, that could not put my
back against one side and my feet and
hands against the other and crawl up, as
rabbits and other animals climb up the |
inside of hollow trees.
In no way could gel up foot There
we're no sticks inside to help me up, and |
l made up my mind I had got to die cer-
tam. About the time I came to this con-
clusion heard the old bear climbing up
the outside;of the stump. With only my
hunting g-knife as means of defence, a1sd |
IN such close quarters. you may possibly
aagine the state of my feelings.
The old bear was not more than half a
minute, at the outside, climbing up the
stulAp, but it seemed like month, at
least. I thought of all my sins dozen
hines. At last she reached the top, but
she didn't seem to suspect my presence
at all, as she deliberately turned around
and began slowly descending, tail fore
most.
felt as though my lasl hour had come, I
md began seriously to think about lying
1own and letting the bear kill me, so as
o get ont OF my misery as quickly as
possible. Suddenly an idea struck me,
md despair gave way to hope. I drew /
ny hunting knife and stood on tip toe. {
When the bear was about seven feet from t
he bottom of the hollow, 1 fastened on
Ter tail with my left hand with a vice !
Ike grip, and with my right drove the {
uniting knife to the hilt into her haunch.
t the same time yelling like a whole G
ribe of Indians. s
What did she do?" chorused the s
hole crowd, who had been holding their c
reath. g
What did she do? Well, YOU should T
ave seen the performance. Sne didn't /
5op to reflect moment, but shot ou: of q
1e top of the stump like the bullet out S
a gun. A hairs breadth to the min f,
te. I held on until we struck the d
round, some thirty feetfrom the stump, h
hen the old bear went like lightning e
ito the brush, and was out of sight in n
alf second. I was little bruised bv n
lie fall, but that WIS all. I took the If
lbs to Uniontown the next day, and ON W
count of the adventure 1 got SIS apiece tC
r them ; and i'll those times $5 was as r(
'od as $50 now. m