The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-03
VOL. IV.-NO. Q. .
Up 81 Tree.

| Dr BOD CTrlcr ana party or SpOTtSnlcn
Of Jersey Shore, Pa. returned from a big
hunt in the wids of Potter county recently,
about twenty miles northwest Of Couders-
port, where they spent a week In pursuit
Of game. Gricr Is well known as grea.
fox hunter and lover of the chase, and on
this occasion he met with an adventure
that is worth relating. Recently he left
his party at the cabin where they were en-
! campcd in the forest, for the purpose Of
visiting lumber camp about four miles
away, to sec an acquaintance. tle elung
his Remington over his shoulder. thinking
he might get a shot at Il deer or bear.
About half way between the cabin aud the
lumber camp was Il stage road but little
travelled. AS he crossed the road he camo
suddenly on large buck. He fired, in
| tlicting slight wound, which served only
| 10 rii;atc the animal. The buck made a
dash for him and he was compelled to'clinb
| tree, having barely time to escape being
tramplci to TO death. In his flight Bob
dropped his rifle and he had no other
| weapon except the ordinary hunters knife.
His situation was anything but comfort
able, but rs there was Il possibility of relief
from a passing team he felt disposed to
make the best Of the situation, After he
had been up the tree about al hour hc
heard the crack of Il rifle, and almost i'm
mcdiatcly two of his companions, by the
name of Sutton and Cole, came rushing by,
pursued by bear of unusual size and
| activity. They took refuge Oh n wild
| cherry tree, which parted in two trunks Il
few feet above the ground, one part leaning
slightly and very rotten the whole looking
like two trees Once up the tree they
were safe from Immediate lmrn,, if the ltnar
could he kept from climbing after them.
In tl,nt nj, T1r }rb in, of lac
peration, concluded to risk All encounter
with the buck. In preparing TO descend
he took the prccaution to fastcn his knife,
the only weapon he possessed, by a piece
OF twno to his person., SO that it might not
be lost if il dropped from his hand. Close
by a hemlock had fallen, and the roots at
one end and the branches at the other kept
the trunk of the tree about two feet from
tho ground, making a place Of retreat to
which he could resort ii hard pressed. He
descended cautiously, but the enragcd
animal was on the alert and Mt once rushed
upon him. His great strength was 10
match for the buck, which crushed him to
the earth and tried to stamp him to death.
On his hands and knees, mangled and bleed
ing, he succeeded in reaching the fallen
The buck could Just touch him with it's
feet, but could not harm him.
Anxiety aud pain were wearing Bob ont
when he heard II cracking NOISE ut the root
OF tho tree and II sharp cry of pain from
the buck, which is n familiar sound to the
experienced hunter. Pcerng out cautiously
he found the deer securely held by the
Knotted roots of the tree and his right leg
dangling loosely, IL having been broken in
the efforts to escape. lie was satisfied
from the desperate struggles OF the animal
that ii could not eXtricatc itself, and watch
ing n favorable opportunity he plunged his
knife into the bucks heart and sank down
exhausted. At this moment Dr. Holmes,
who resided some miles from that place,
and who was attending Il patient at the
lumber camp, drove up and found >Dr.
Gricr who was IN old acquaintance, lying
loss of blood. lie took Grier into the
wagon, and after leaving a revolver and
knife in sight Of the mon up the cherry
tree drove off to the camp for help. Mean
time the bear, after many Intellectual at
tcmpts TO climb the tree, gave 1t up, and
apparently relaxed his watchfulncss by
lying down some distance from thestrce.
Sutton, at this time, thought ut least one Of
them might escape and broached the idca
to Cole, who objected, knowing tint relief
would soon arrive. ( Watching an oppor-
tunity, Sutton descended the, Tree quietly,
without being observed, and after moving
cautiously for some distance, sprang to his
feet and started for the cabin with the speed
Of the wind. Meeting tho relief party hur-
rying up to ther assistance, he returned
with them to the rescue of Cole.f Mean
wlule the bear had got up and moved to
the foot of the tree, when, apparently miss
ing one of tho mon, he renewed his efforts
to climb It. Suddenly the dccaycd part Of
the tree fcllwith orasl. The bear owas
somewhat stunned, but fortunately, Cole
was not hurt, and he started for tho re-
volvcr and knife, which lie secured. The
bear pursued and overlook him and 'huggcd
him around tho body Cole fired, hut did
not innict u sufficient wonnd to make tho
bear relax its hold, He fired second and
a third shot, with 20 better result. But
one moro bullet now remained in the pistol.
He felt softly on'tlic bears breast tos find
the location of his heart from its pulsations,
and pressing the muzzlo Of tho pistol to the
spot fired, when the bear gave a heavy
groan and rolled over dead, and Cole sank
exhausted by its body. In a few minutes
seven hardy lumbcrlion calMo to his relief.
His wounds, though painful, weres not
serious t9Ll2- IL . - d y ----4..',y5,t1