Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-12-17
A TRUE DEAN STORY.

GuLicn TowEsuIP. Dec. 10, 1879.
q. D. GooDLAspER. Eso.-Dear Sir Ia las
weeks Issue you had a remarkable story Of an
adventure with a bear, which was nothing 10 one
which my friend, John Flynn, hsd few days
since. II will be we'll 10 observe that any one
doubts the truth Of this story, that they had bet
tor keep out Of Jacks way lat least | never
doubted ~ Jack is a great hunter. as perhapi
you may know, md one day, becoming weary
with the chase, be lsy down TO rest and soon fei
asleep. lie does not know how long he had
slept, when he was awakened by something rub
bng its cold nose sgsinst his, and when be open
ed his eyes, there was big black bear standing
over him. Now, know you expect me to tel
you that his blood was frozen In his veins that
be was rooted to the spot with terror, dc. But
shan. tell you anyihing OF the Kind, because
am telling you the truth, and because his blood
didn't freeze, and he wasn't rooted. Jack isn't
that kind Of man. Bravery isno name for him
lie just lay still and began TO think he didn't
got up and slo,h round, and eventually XIII the
bear like the hero Of dime novel. No, he lay
still and tried TO make believe be was dead But
the bear was almost az cunning as Jack. so after
turning him over two or three times and failing
to get even gruut out Of him, bis bearsbip con.
oluded to retire short distance, hide and watch
his man. As soon as he was gone, Jack opened
bis eyes and looked around him, still lying per-
fectly quiet to watch the bear, which poked his
bead up every few minutes To see II Jack moved.
Then the minutes increased to hve, aud after
awhile to ten. Then Jack concluded to make a
move, and the next time the bears head dissp-
peared, he up and took 10 his heels, and weuld
undoubtedly have escaped, but, unfortunately,
before he had gone many rods he stepped on .
dry twig, and that started tho m,ddest bear after
him you ever saw er heard o. He gained on
Jack 80 rapidly that he barely reached q swamp
aud climbed small tree, when the bear arrived at
Its root Then be sat down and looked at Jack,
and Jack swean he winked at him as much as to
say "The next trick is mine, old fellow" Theu
he got up and walked od with the air Of q boar
that was disgusted with the whole thing and
was going to take walk Of a couple Of miles or
80. But he only went behind cump Of bushes,
and every minute or two Jack would see him
poke bis head from behiod the tbcksst ones, to
see " he was coming down, which he bad no in.
tention Of doing--that IA, be had no though Of
letting the bear into the secret whom be iid.
He waited until the bear got little careless and
didn't poke his head round 20 often then be
took oil his coat, buttoned Il and proceeded to
fll II with boughs and leaves. until II looked near
enough like himself to deceive bear. The he
waited for the bear to take another look. act IN
the image 40 securely 10 the branches ~ he could
slid quietly down, and struck out once more for
liberty and life. He would have gained both,
and my story would have ended right hero, IL
tickle fortune hadn't unfortunately deserted him
again. Just then a gust Of wind came along
and blew the image down with q crash loud
enough to startle the bear, which pouno ed on Il,
tore II open, discovered the cheat, aud "piled"
after Jack madder than ever.
This time Jack made for q clearing" whore
there were no trees 10 climb, and the bear bel ns
close to bis heels, he had to crawl into a hollow
log that be discovered lying nesr The bank Of q
dam. The bear would have followed him ~ tho
hole had been big enougb-but Il wasn't, 90 the
anima proceeded to roll the log into the dam with
the diaboliesl intention Of drowning my poor
friend out, or drowning hin altogether. Az soon
as he got the log into the water, he placcd his
fore pars on the end that Jack had efawled In at
sank u below the surface, and calmly awaited The
result. lie didn't have long TO walt, ferin few
moments be had the gratihcation Of sssiue jacks
head sticking out Of the other cad. Then he left
and vent Tor the head but be bad no more than
got that end Of the loug under watsr when Jacks
iest stuck out Of tho end that tho bear had Just
Ten. Well, the bear kept poor Jack ratting pp
and down that log tor hfteen or twenty minutes,
aud then. disheartened, ho swan ashore, proba.
bly, 70 think what was best to do psst While
the besr vas studying, jack cn~Ied out Of the
log and took view of the situation, takinR care
10 keep the log between himself and bruin.
Jsek ivund be was near the chute of the da.n asd
the cart, OF running strong toward II. 50 stick
ing bis hat In ens end Of the log aud giving it
THE leg. not the hstl gentle push. to send il iu
the earr.nt he quietly watched the result with
his head just sbove water. fortunstsiy, the
bear vas watching the lag too closely 10 observe
him. and iortenatsly be started to head the leg
ID, when the latter passed over the dam. Then
~s Jacks chance. lie made the most Of n, by
swimming Ashors and stealing quietly away.
lie a,dn't even stop TO tell toe bear that hc had
isoIsd h,m again, bat be made his way As fast %
he could 70 "bap" Moran's camp, told his story
tor AZ much VI 70 40 he thought they would be-
lsvc), drank . glass oi----milk Tue ssys), col.
leeiea crowd, AID started bsox 10 search Vi the
bear. They iound him near where jack bad
fallen asIeep-deadi and jacks gun lying alssE
SIDE empty
An examination showed that he must have
placed the musrle VI tie gun Ia bis moath, kicked
The 'nsgef w,tA his hind-ioet, aud blown % The
top VI has head. Dnvsn to madness at bsinx
cheated % oissa, he died BY bic own feoi,
bear. D.L'