The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-11-28
STRUGGLING WITH A BEAR.
4 PESNSHLvANIA HUNTER DESrEE-
ATE FIGHT FOR LIFE.

\ letter from Waymart. Pa. dated
Nov. Il. says
A hunter named John DaCgers had ter
rible fight with a wounded bear, on the PO-
como Mountains, on Monday last, and mar
rOwly escaped with his life. His dog started
the bear in the swamp, and it reached its
Gen among the rocks, half way up the noun
tain, before the hunter got a shot at IL. Dag
gers built a FIRE in the mouth of the den, and
smoked ont the bear, who hurried on up the
ridge with the hunter and his dog i'm pursuit.
DaggegS got a shot at BTuin and wounded
him, though not 50 as TO disable him. The
dog gained on the bear. however. and finally
pressed him so closely that he took refuge i'm
a tree, climbing up thirty feet among the
branches. At the first shot from Dagger's'
rife the bear tumbled from the tree to the
ground. In an instant he was his feet,
and rising erect on his launches. rushed
with distended jaws upon the hunter, only
pauSlng long enough To crush the dog into 2
ShapeeSS mass, that poor brute having
gamely sprung at the bears throat as ii as
Sumed the offensive.
Daggers had no time TO reload his gun, and
as the bear advanced upon him he dubbed
his rifle and dealt the brute q heavy blow
with the butt. This had no perCeptibie effect
on the bear, but il broke the gun into a
dozen pieces The barrel Daguers retained
in his hand, and he thrust il into the bears
mouth, intending 10 drive itdown its throat.
The bear closed his jaw upon the barrel, and
quickly wreuched il from the hunters hand
DaggerS at that instant plunged his long
bladed hunting knife up to the hilt in the
bears side, and blood spurted i'm a great
stream from the wound.
Ddggers anew -. .ie had touched a vital
spot Before he could again Use his knife
the bear struck him with one of his fUrauawS
which knocked the hunter to the ground
stunning him for an instant, and terribly
laceTating his face. In the fall DaCCerS' knife
was knocked from his hand. and the bear
rushed upon him 50 quickly rs he lay ON the
ground that he only had time to lump To his
feet TO elude its clutch. and left his knife on
the ground. In backing away from the bear
DaggerS struck his heel against a root. and
he fell over backward among the stones and
scrub oaks. Fortunately FOR him, as be fell
he gTaSped a branch of a scrub oak i'm his
right hand, and the piece that broke of q
mere twig, he retained mechanically in his
hand That twig saved his life. The bear
was upon him i'm an instant with q great
paw on each shoulder and Jaws open ready
to tear the PROSTATE hunter to pieces. Dag
gers thrust aimiessly out with his stick and
it entered the bears right eve, tearing il from
the socket.
The bear rolled over on the ground, howl
ing with rage and pain. Daggers jumped
up, but the bear Sprang at him and seized
him oy the shoulder. With one sweep OF his
paw he tore the clothing from the hunters
body and tore the flesh from his shoulder
Daggers was weak from pain and the strug-
gle he had, but for ten minutes hn had To
tight for life. Finally he dropped SeuSeless
to the ground. When he came % the bear
lay dead five feet away. DaCgers was found
by some woOdchOppers and taken home.