The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-08-13
A TERRIBLE MIDNIGHT VISITOR,
THE EXCITING EXPERIENCE OF AN EARLY
SETTLER on THE UPPER DELAWARE
A FIRsT-CLASs BEAR FIGHT

SETTLER On THE IIPER DELAWARE
FIRST-CLAss BEAR FIGHT.
Among the many old settlers of the Pike
county hills and glens is an old sun burned
man, who has a little cabin few rods back
from the regular path to Mount Union. Wis
itors here are told that he can tell many a
strange tale about the pioneers and their his
tory, and here is one that he gave day or
two ago:
"YOu want 4 yarn about myself in nv
younger days, do you, stranger? ? Well,
there's many one, and tough, too might
tell you But, seein' you come from the city,
and are eager for somethin' rather excitin',
will give you an account of the trouble we
had with the bears when we built the first ho-
tel up here. That was good while ago l
couldn't think of saying just how long. Twas
young, strong chap then, and could lift as
heavy a load as any of 'em. Some specula-
tive fellow from Philadelphia had seen this
place around here, and made up his mind to
build a tavern, and see if he couldn't get a
lot of men here to sell fish. The fishin' was
wonderful in them days. The bears were
terribly plenty in this neighborhood, although
we had driven 'em away on the jersey side.
You see there was no one living over here
then but two old trappers. They had a hut
right over the hill yonder, and not far from
where the Gap House is now. The lumber
for the tavern was brought down on RATS,
and the first thing we did was to put up some
shanties for us to live in while we were build
ing. The man was in tremendous hurry
about the thing and wanted US to work day
and night if we could. So we put up some
rough huts, and made ourselves as comfort
able as possible, The trappers were hired,
too, and they came down from their cabin
every morning. Nights they used to 90 up
huntin and we had all the bear meat we
wanted. Things went on smooth for some
days and besides bear growl now and then,
or a rattlesnake's call, we didn't hear any
thing unusual. We soon got used to the aw-
full quiet and didn't think of harm.
cone nignt-'twas Saturday-we went to
sleep very tired. We had worked hard until
about 10 o'clock, because we had the next
day to rest in. Ten of us slept in one shanty
and five in another. l was with the five.
Just who left the door wide open none of us
ever found out. We were all so plaguy
sleepy we didn't know what was going on
1t must have been soon after midnight that /
woke up, feelin' as though some one had
stuck me with knife. 1 was sittin straight
up on my bunk eve had straw ticks on the
floOr), and there by my side, with one claw
dug into my arm, was big black bear. For
a minute l was all broken to pieces. Havin'
| been so sound asleep and all, 1 'spOse my
/ wits were kinder scattered. While l was so
confused, heard some one hOllerin' for help.
turned, and by the light of the moon, which
/ was shinn' in, l saw Bill Stivers, who had q
! bunk next to mine, clasped in the aims of
another big bear Then was wide awake,
and gave my hand a twist. 1t came so sud
den that the cuss hadn't time to think, and
! got my arm loose. With that jumped. to my
/ feet and put for my gun. The varmint was
| too quick for me, and grabbed me around the
waist. l tell you, stranger, thought the jig
was up. l gave glance round the room.
Bill was on the floor, and the bear on top of
him. The other fellers were awake, and in
the door came another bear. We all yelled
at the top of our voices. Bill was nearly
Snothered, but he managed to scream for a
knife. 1 did the same and then tried to grip
the cuss. He began squeezing, and fought
like the mischief. 1 tell you, its tough.
Those critters will just take the breath out
of you in no time at all. / tripped the cuss
SOlIttlOM anu itll pu Ooll. AS lltii L Hlt iilti
with all my might between the eyes. It
seemed to staggeI him for an instant, and ne
let up little on his hold. Qucker'n I've
been talllin', I had squirmed out, and was
kinder tumbling towards the wall. The var
! mint was after me right off, and couldn't
reach my gun. All l could get was my jack
knife, which was Iyin' on a box. Before ]
could get my arm up with it 1 was in the
chaps claws l knew the thing would be
over mighty quick if something desperate
wasn't done for the critteT was madder'T
fury l just stuck the knife into his heart
again and again. OF course, he had my arm;
pressed against my side and all ! could use
was my hand. That alone didn's deal very
hard blows, but it was life or eternity with
me, so did the best l was weakenin fast
but 1 kept it up. Pretty quick everything
began to swim and my power was goin' fast
/ knew that my jack was dOin' some good,
for l could feel the blood running from the
bear. His terrible grip continued though,
and l could tell that the last of my fOOlin
had come | must have hollered as loud as
could for I remembered hearin' a sound an
words of some kind. / was snkin', when
heard, like a noise way off, the report of 8
gun. On a second l tumbled on the floor, al
in a heap, and the cuss, lettin 20 of me, roll
ed over dead. 1t was one of them trapper:
saved my life"