The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-03-31
IN A BEARS CLUTCHES.
A Young VSOman's Desperate straSEIe "a
the Mouth or n Gave.

the Mouth or n Cave.
damascus Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Times
Lotie Merrill, the female hunter of
this section, has had another adventure
worthy of record and one which came so
near costing her her life that she will prob
ably in the future never resume her
masculine sport. just after the great
sleet storm which swept over the cotln-
try, Lottie determined to go deer hunt
ing. Donning her snow shoes she started
to cross Orig Swamp, dense mass of
scrub oaks and laurel. When she had
reached the centre of the marsh she dis
covered the foot prints of very large
bear on the crust. She followed the
trial out of the swamp for about two
miles, when she discovered the den
which the animal inhabited. Entering
the cave she found two little cubs on a
bed of leaves in one corner. The cubs
were about the size Of kittens and we're
easily captured.
Lottie was just emerging from the
cave when she was met by OH immense
she bear. The bear had heard the cubs
yeu and was making all possible speed
to rescue them. Before Lottie could
draw her rifle to her shoulder the animal
was upon her and grasping her in her
paws gave her such terrible squeeze
that she tainted, when the bear, thinking
her dead, released her grip. She for
tunately regained consciousness quickly,
and while the old bear was playing with
her cubs tho plucky hunter drew her
rifle and shot her i'll the side. The bull
let did not strike the animals heart, and
as the brute dashed Mt her again Lottie
drew her hunting knife and with one
bold stroke nearly served the bears
head from the body.
Lottie was jttst congratulating herself
on her successful escape when the dead
bears mate made his appearance. Lot
ties rifle was unloaded and she was
totally unpreparedfor second encounter,
but determined to fight it out" The
struggle was q long one. Fortunately
the young lady was not oncumbered in
her motion by petticoats, for In all her
hunting expeditions she wears pantaloons
of doeslkin, with long blouse. When,
finally, Lottie thought the bear was
dead she stopped over to cut his throat,
and the animal, with one stroke of his
1lonstrous paw, tore the clothing almost
completely from her body. During the
protracted struggle the bear had reached
the edge of cliff fully hundred feet
high and sloping mt an angle of more
than forty-tive degrees down to the Wal.
linpaupaok Creek. AS the animal grab
bed Lottie he commenced sliding on the
slippery crust down this almost per
pendicular slope. Lottie was carried
with him, and every foot of distance tra-
versed added to their velocity. When
they reached the foot of the slope they
struck against q tree, completely killing
the bear and breaking two of Lottie's 8
ribs, her left arm and one of her limbs
She managed, however, to crawl about n
mile to house, where She received
medical teatment. The first bear killed
Mehe Trea nn"G wnen nd th %
hundred and eighty-four pounds. Lot
tie, who is improving slowly, has the
cubs in her possession. but she says it
will be some time before she will take
another expedition Of this kind.