West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-08-25
A TUCKER COUNTY BEAR
STORY.
A TUCKER COUNTY MAN TELLS HIS
ADVENTURE WITH A HUGE DEAR
HE KILLS OLD BRUIN AND TAKES
TWO CUBS CAPTIVE.

Charles E. Long, of Tucker coun =
ty, dropped into our sanctum last
Wednesday, aud engaged represen-
tative OF this paper 10 conversation
Tor some time about matters up in
the State Of Tucker. After convers-
ing at some length upon the crops,
quality and condition Of the land
&c, in Tucker county, our repre-
sentative asked Mr.. Long if there
were any bears still roaming in the
forests Of his county.
% yes, said Long, and if you have
the time to listen, l will relate to
you an adventure which l had with
SHE BEAR AND TWO CUBS
only a short time ago.
The reporter seated himself on a
pile of paper and told Long to pro-
coed.
WELL said he, L live at the
north end of Shaver mountain, in
Tucker county. That section of
country is very sparsely settled, ond
consequently, very few persons keep
their stock inside of fenced fields
bat let them run at large in the
woods. One day, about two months
ago, went into the woods TO look
for five or six head oil cattle that
were running ut large. | went up
the side Of the mountain, about
two miles, when / beard a noise
in the brush about twenty yards to
my right. l had no gun and, OF
course, a feeling of timidity came
upon me, but my curiosity to know
what was making the noise was great
er than my sense of fear, and, call
ing my dog which was only a
short distance below where he had
freed coon, proceeded to the spot
whence the noise emanated. Arriv-
ing at the place, | espled a huge
bear with ITS eyes intentIy fixed up.
on me. My first impulse was TO re-
treat, but a thick growth of under
brush made a safe retreat an impos-
ability. Bruir rushed towards the
place where | Was standing, and Just
al he was in the act of
TAKING HOLD OF ME,
l jumped behind tree. The bear
began 10 rue round the tree and. you
may bet your lie, that l did the
same thing, always taking care to
keep the body of the tree between
myself and my foe. After we had
made about ten revolutions round
the tree, bruin stopped to rest, and,
while he rested | meditated. !
thought Of my home aud the dear
ones I had lett there, then l thought
what an awful thing it would be to
be eaten alive by bear. These facts
and thousand others were upon my
mind, in a minutes time, and l con-
cluded that something must be done,
aud that Immediately too. l ran
my hand into my pocket but alas
no penknile was there. 1t was at
home. just at that moment the dog,
which ran away at first eight OF the
bear, appeared on the scene, and the
beast turned her head to watch the
dog's move ments. / seized the OPP
portunity, sprsng out and caught the
bear by the tail. The monster turn
ed Immediately to catch me by the
leg, but I ran az itturned, just fast
enough TO keep out Of it's reach.
Well, sir, that bear just put me in
mihd VI - "hiillbibI ~ 5puu hiyuuu
30 rapidly. After making about 40
revolutions,she became dizzy -headed 4,
tell upon the ground, and was unable
to get up. took up a email oudgel
aud punched out her eyes.
This made the beast so frantic thai
it
TORE UP THE EARTH
with its huge claws, and aclua lily
tore sapplinR from two 10 three inch.
es in diameter, out by the roots.
hurried home ~ quickly a. possible,
procured my gun, and started back
20 tho place whore had last loft tho
monster. I had gono ab5ut mile up
the mountain, whom } camo upon the
bear standing quietly 5y the side Of a
tree. took deliberate aim and shot il
through the heart. went on " the
place where our first encounter took
place, and ia the hollow trunk ola tree.
only few yards from the battle ground.
! found two cubs that weighed at that
time twenty aud sixteen pounds rospoc-
lively. These 1 carried home, and TO,
day they are As tame As pups, / have
| learned them to
DRAW CART,
| AMI have for week or two boon ha,.tfno