Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-28

An item in our columns recently announced
tnat Conductors Tucker and Wellington
Sprague, Of the Maine Central Railroad. n
A. Robinson, the well-known elocutionist
and A. 2 Leach had gone on q soiourn for ,
few days near the Forks of the Kennebec. I,
seems that their weeks recrestion was enliv.
ened by very spirited adventure. being none
otheI than an exciting encounter with q bear,
- follows:
While the party were stopping at the Fork,
hotel where they made their headqu.rters.
they planned hunting expedition for par.
trldges. On Thursday last they set out.
They went up on the Parlin Pond road to
Cold stream where they struck into the forest
prlmeval They had no guides or packmen
but each carried a small rifle They had no,
gone far into the woOds when they saw flock OF
partridges in the distance. just as they were
to take aim the birds rose and the amateur
hnntsnen started in pursuit In following
the birds they did not heed the direction thev
took nor did they think of it till they had
bagged more than half of the flock. just
as they were irving 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 a large full
grown bear looking them straight in the
face
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 array 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 uttering saw
age snarl. started for them. The four rifles
were loaded with small cartridges for part.
ridges, but it wasn't good time to discuss
cause and effect, 50 the four guns were aimed
straight at bruins nose and fired. The shot
evidently frightened the animal more than it
hurt her, for she turned and ram
The men quickly reloaded and pursued her.
After going some ways she again made bold
stand and once more got four charges of shot.
The second shot enraged her and she began
to grewl fercely. moving Off in the mean.
time, at a moderate pace. Soon, however,
the programme changed the hunted became
the hunter, for the bear was evidently suffer.
ing intense pain in the face and eyes, from
the shots that had been fired at her As she
turned on the hunters they noticed that her
face was covered with blood. She was now
about % feet from them and as if to look
them over better she sprang upon log that
lay three or four feet from the ground and
about the same distance nearer her purusers
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 single handed
short and excited council of war was held
and it was decided that the only way to get
NI.x.h neN g 81
Accordingly Tucker and Sprague jumped
around behind her while Leach and Robin
son held her attention in front. Her bear
ship was now in tight place for each man
had reversed his gun. and was ready to give
her the benefit of telling blow. Robinson
made rather an aggressive step towards her
when she sprang at him. He quickly stepped
to one side and she missed him but not the
butt of four rifles, which descended on her
head before she could recover from her leap,
having landed in the top of q large dead
spruce.
Fortunately, or otherwise, Tucker broke
the stock of his rife short of at the first blow
This reminded him of a 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 enc, not even him
sell, KNEW Wudt nc Wds SOlHk W uo. uc
bear now stood erect on her launches and the
three men were engaging her attention as
much as they dared to do. Tucker rushed
up behind her and plunged the knife deep
into her side twice, his companions in the
meantime ru, hing for her with their guns.
The moment she felt Tucker behind her. she
turned and 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.
more tired, ewildered set of hunters
never were heard from. but they had killed
bear and what did it matter if they were
lost in the woods. Thew had mott the least
idea where they were or how they could get
out, fortunately, however. they found out
that they were not far from Pat Murphy
place, to which they made quick tracks. ar
irving their just at dark. The next morning
they returned to their game and skinned the
bear and brought the skin to the Forks,
where it was dressed preparatory to tanning
which will be done here. The party natural
Is say the skin belongs to Tucker, and he
will have it made into a sleigh robe, and q
&. 10