The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-27
EXCITING BEAR HUNT.
An Animated Adventure Near the Forks
Of the Kennebec.

An item in our columns recently, announced
that Conductor Harry Tucker and Wellington
Sprague, Of the Maine Centrallrailroad, o. A.
Robinson, the we'll known elocutionist, and A.
=. Leach, all of this city, had gone on a So
lourn for few days, near the forks of the
Kennebec. 1t seems that their weeks recrea-
tion was enliyened by a very spirited adven-
ture, being none other than an exciting en-
counter with bear. The Somerset Reporter
gives the particulars as follows:
While the party were stopping at the Forks
Hotel, where they made their headqaarters
they planned hunting expedition for par
tridges. On Thursday last they set out They
went up on the Parlin Pond road to Cold
Stream, where they struck into the forest pri-
meval. They had no guides or packmen, but
each carried small rifle. They had not gone
far into the woods, when they saw g flock OF
partridges in the dista nee. just as they were
10 take aim, the birds rose, and the amateur
huntsmen started in pursuit In following the
Dirds tney did not heed the direction they took
nor ala they think of it till they had bagged
more than half of the flock. Just as they
were trying to get their bearings, the cracking
OF limbs attracted their attention, and looking
in the direction of the sound, what was their
surprise to see large fnll-grown bear looking
them straight in the face. A more surprised
quartette probably never lived, and the bear
seemed TO enter into the spirit Of the party. for
she too, seemed rather unsettled at such an ar
ray of hunters had the men had any heavy
ammunition. they would have been happy, but
as it was they confess that their hats rather
arose from their heads on perpendicular hairs,
The bear stood for moment and then utter
ing savage snarl, started Tor them. The four
rifles were loaded with small cartridges for
partridges. but it wasn't good time to discuss
cause and effect, SO the four guns were aimed
straight at bruins nose, and fred. The shots
evijencly frightened the animal more than il
hurt her, for she turned and ran.
The men quickly reloaded and pursued her
After going some way she again made bold
stand and once more got four charges of shot.
The second shot enraged her and she began to
growl tercely, moving off, in the meantime, at
moderate pace. Soon, however, the pro-
gramme changed; the hunted became the
hunter, for the bear was evidently suffering
intense pain in the face and eyes, from he
shot that had been fred at her. AS she turned
on the hunters they noticed that her face was
covered with blood. She was now about
twenty five feet from them an6 as if to look
them over better she sprang upon a log that
lay three or four feet from the ground and
about the same distance nearer her pursuers.
The men now for the first time realized
their danger for they saw that their shots had
only enraged the animal and that she was
more than match for them sngle-handed. A
short and excited council of war was held and
best of the animal has to surround her. Ac-
cordingly Tucker and Sprague jumped around
behind her while Leach and Robin son held
attention in front. Her bearship was now in a
tight place for each man had reversed his gun,
and was ready to give her the benefit of a tell
ing blow. Robinson made rather an aggres-
sive step towards her when she sprang at him.
He quickly stepped to one side and she missed
him but not the butts OF four rifles, which de-
scended on her head before she could recover
fPfnF klnR Inar IDxyr ID
large dead spruce.
Fortunately, or otherwise, Tucker broke the
stock of his rifle short off at the first blow.
This reminded him of monster pocket-knife
which he had purchased at Bingham. Taking
that out he ordered his companions to once
more hold the attention of the bear, while he
crawled behind her. No one, not even him
self, knew what he was going to do. The bear
now stood erect on her launches and the three
men were engA gng her attention as much as
they dared to. Tucker rushed up behind her
and plunged the knife deep into her side twice,
his companions in the meantime rushing for
her with their guns. The moment she felt
Tucker behind her, she turned aud made
grab for his shoulder, just catching his coat
and heavy shirt in her teeth. Before she could
do more the stabs in her side had done their
work and she fell dead with fuckers clothing
still in her teeth.
A more tired, bewildered set of hunters
never were heard from, but they had killed a
Dear, ana what did 1t matter II they were lost
In the woods. They had not the least idea
where they were or how they could get out.
Fortunately, however, they found that they
were not far from Pat Murphy's place, to
which they made quick tracks, arriving there
just at dark. The next morning they return
ed TO their game and skinned the bear and
brought the skin to the Forks where it WIS
dressed preparatory to tanning, which will be
done here. The party naturally say the skin
belongs to Tucker, and he will have 1t made
into sleigh robe, and huge one it will make
too.