Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-03-10
THRILLING ADVENTURE.
A PENNSYLVANIA Woman's Fight With
Two Bears.
baltimore Special to Chicago Tribune.

Baltimore Special to Chicago Tribune.
Mr. Thoddeus Nevans, of Waynesboro, Pa,
who arrived here to-day from up in the Blue
Ridge Chain, reports an exciting. adventure
among the mountains by Lottier Merrill, the
handsome huntress Of Wayne county, who, a
few days since, had a terrible tussle with
big black bear, in which she vanquished the
beast but received serious injuries herself.
The narrative, as told by the plucky Lottie to
Mr. Nevans, is that ON last Saturday, just at
ter the great sleet storm which swept over
the country, she determined to go out on the
mountains and look for game. Accordingly
she donned her pantaloons OF doeskin, blue
cloth blouse, and big snOWshOes, and sailed
forth, carrying with her, of course, her trusty
rifle and a brace of pistols. While crossing a
marsh, Just before ascending the mountain,
she discovered footprints OF bear. Her
huntress heart was delighted, and she started
I'D the mountains on the trail. She soon
found bruins home in a cave III the rocks,
and ON bed of leaves were lying two little
cubs no bigger than kittens. She captured
the prize and was retreatlng when she en-
countered an immense she-bear, the mother
Of the cubs, who had scented the stranger.
Before Lottie could draw her rife, to her
shoulder the animal was upon her, anti grasp
ing her il her paws. gave her such q terrible
squeeze that she tainted, when the bear
thinking her dead, released her grip. She
fortunately regained her consciousness quick
ly, and while the old bear was playing with
her cubs the plucky huntress drew her rifle
and shot her in the side. The bullet did not
strike the animals heart, and as the brute
dashed at her again, Lottie drew her hunting
knife, and with one bold stroke nearly sever
lating herself upon her narrow escape, the
brave huntress picked up the cubs and start
ed homeward She had porceeded but
short distance, however, when she encounter
ed another of the savage beasts, the mate of
the one she had killed. Although her rifle
was unloaded the brave little woman, born
and bred among the mountains dangers, re-
tanned her nerve. Unsheathing her clasp
knife as the beast approached her, she plunged
it into his throat, but he had caught her for
the fatal hug. 1t was struggle for life or
DEATH and the brave woman fought desper
ately. During the struggle the girl and bear
reached the edge of q cliff nearly 100 feet
high, and sloping at an angle of 45 degrees
down to the Wallinpaupack Creek. AS the
animal grabbed Lottie, he commenced sliding
on the slippery crust down this almost per-
pendicular slope. Lottie was carried with
him, and every foot of the distance traversed
added to their velocity. When they reached
the foot of the slope they str-sck againsta tree,
completely killing the bear, and breaking
two of Lotties ribs and dislocating her right
arm. She was picked up nsensible by some
hunters and taken to her home in Damascus
Wayne county, where she lies in critical
condition. This is the third miraculous
escape this woman has had among the noun
tains. Lottie is well known throughout
Western Maryland and across the Pennsyl
vania border. The male bear which she
killed weighed 4S4 pounds.