Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-24
For the Democrat.
EXCITING BEAR HUNT IN WEST
PHILLIPS.
For the Democrat.
M. Edi0r,

on tributary Of Sandy River, is farm
owned and occupied by G. l.. Kempton
The western portion of the farm is skirt
ed by an unbroken forest extending for
miles away to the Canada line. 1t i:
the home of the moose, caribou, deer
and bear, beside multitude Of smaller
game. A number of deer have been
killed in the vicinity Of the old home
stead within the past few years, but
though very numerous, no bears have
ever been captured or killed on the own
er's land till last week.
| have been stopping the past few
weeks with Mr.. Kempton, assisting him
in harvesting his crops. He has an or
chard close to the forest before spoken
of, and last Thursday we took the cart
and oxen to go to the upper orchard to
gather spples. On entering the orchard
we saw signs Of bears, and from appear
ances we judged that they had been there
the night before. 1t appeared that one
was large and the other small, for some
apples Of large size were bitten in two,
showing the prints Of very large teeth,
while several others showed smaller
teeth.prints. After gathering all the
apples, we took basket of sweet ones,
which seemed 10 be Bruins fayorite, and
put them under tree about five rods
from the fence in full view of a good 20.
sition for shooting them.
Kempton remarked: "The bears will
be here tonight, and so will we; but !
suppose if you see one, you will run and
leave me"
Show me one" said |, "and see if |
don't warm my rifle ~
After going TO the house with our APP
pies, we both carefully loaded our guns
mine, an Evans rifle, 26-shot, but had
only twelve cartridges prepared,-his,
double barreled shotgun. We both had
revolvers, and each large sheath-knife
in our belts.
Just at dark we started. 1t was near
ly one-half mile from the house. When
within twelve rods Of the orchard we
dropped to the ground and crept to our
position that we had chosen beside the
fence. Silently we gazed around in the
darkness. 1t was very cloudy and still.
All at once there came a crash from the
woods, as if some heavy animal had
broken a pole on top of the fence. Soon
another crack, not so loud. We knew
they were entering the orchard.
Kempton whispered: q" Take your time
to shoot | will FIRE soon as you do
In few moments we observed small
bear come up to the pile of apples. He
stood on his hind legs a moment, but |
was unable to get good sight, it being
so dark, and he dropped to the ground
and moved off, and we thought we had
lost him but glancing toward the tree |
saw another ponderous body swaying
along. Soon he stopped and looked up
in the tree, and had a chance to take
good aim.
| whispered: "Pve got him now"
go for him !" said Kempton.
There was simultaneous report, and
we rose to our feet and over the fence we
went for the bear, which took to the
woods. l kept firing, for could see him
when the gun flashed, and he was going
quite rapidly, and we were rushing
through brush and briar.
l fired my last shot, and he turned at
bay. We were within eighty feet. Our
revolvers and knives were our only de-
pendence now. We both emptied our
revolvers at his head as near as we could
for it was dark, and as stopped firing
my rifle could see nothing plainly. He
gave a lurch, and we both drove our
knives to the hilt in his struggling body,
and our shouts of victory made the woods
ring and was answered back by the wo-
men at the house who had been listening
anxiously to the report of our firearms.
| offered to stay by the bear while
Kempton returned to the house to get
the cart and oxen to haul our prize home.
am not ashamed to say felt quite
proud of my success, as sat beside that
great black monster and knew that had
helped to kill him, and that in all prob
ability if it had not been for my rife we
should not have found him.
Kempton had been gone about half an
hour when l heard the rustling of bushes
and swapping of twigs, and soon snuff
ing about three rods from me. had
nothing but an empty revolver and my
knife to defend myself. l felt in my
pocket and found one loaded cartridge
which l managed to get into my pistol.
The bear kept circling round and soon
saw his eyes like balls of fire. took
aim and fred. He gave snort and
nlunoad away in the darkness. and