The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-09-06
ALONG-sUFFERING BEAR.
A Brnte Which Lost Ono Paw I'm {
Trap Four Years Ago,


swamp amongst the logging camps OF
this country, and = few miles from
Gregg's settlement. Bears were unusual.
ly plenty in the woods last year, and
one of immense size has been seen sew.
eral times in the neighborhood of the
swamp, but it had eluded all efforts Of
hunters to capture 1t. The tap mon
toned was set for the special purpose
of ensnaring this bear. In setting q
bear-trap triangular pen IL constructed
out of small h9s or saplings. In this in
closure the tap. which is pOnderous
steel affair, With sharp-toothed jaws, is
set. From it chain extends to the ont
side of the pen, and is fastened to Q
heavy piece Of timber. The trap is
placed SO that it bear enters to secure
the meat or honey; which is placed in
the pen to attract him, be cannot avoid
jaws of which instantly spring shut, sink
ing their teeth deep in the fesh Of the
to escape with the trap
is prevented by the timber to
which it is chained, which. becomes in
,erlocked in the trunks of trees and
holds Bruin captive. 1t happens once
in great while that the bear succeeds
in dragging the trap and timber for
miles, but they 90 Tetard his progress
that the trapper finds no difficulty in
coming up with him and ending his mis-
cry with rifle-ball. 1t is not an infre-
9uent occurrence for bear to obtain its
freedom by tearing off the imprisoned
paw and leaving it in the trap, and
many old hunters affirm that bears have
been known to deliberately gDaw off an
imprisoned paw and make their escape.
This is what the trapper Ehrout claims
the bear did which be set the trap for
referred to above for when he visited
the pen next morning he found the trap
on the outside and fast between the
teeth the largest bear paw be had ever
seen. 1t was one of the torepaws. The
bear could be tracked by the blood
from Its lacerated leg for mile, whore
1t entered the swamp, which was 60
dense that no man could enter. Dogs
were set in, and from the fact that some
turned With torn flesh, it was surmised
that the bear had been overtaken by
them, but could not be overcome. Moth
ing was seen or heard of the brute, and
1t was the opinion that it had probably
received injuries from which it died.
Early in the present season party of
Philadelphia gentlemen were trout fish
Ing In the vicinity of the settlement, and
one day they reported having seen .
very large bear cross the creek not far
from their camp, and that when it
climbed out of the stream it limped as
if it had been injured. A hunt was or
eanized, but. althoush it lasted three
days, the bear was not found. Two
smaller ones were killed, near the head
waters of the creek, one of which killed
the dog of hunter named Haynes, and
forced the hunter himself to a hand-to-
hand fight before it received it's death
wound. About three weeks ago sheep,
pig, and calf disappeared from their
enclosure. and a few days afterward
some children returning from school
saw large bear cross the road within
quarter ola mile of the school-h?use.
They reported that it was very large
and only had three ,gs. No doubt was
felt that the bear had made the inroads
on the pastures and piesties of the
settlement, but An extended hunt failed
to bring Bruin down, although his
trail was struck several times and fol-
lowed for miles. He exhibited more
than the usual cunning of his ki- d in es-
Gaping from his pursuers. 1t was
decided finally, to give up hunting tor
him and to set q nightly watch at the
pastures. in the hope that he might re-
turn for more mutton or veal and be
captured. The watch was kept up with
out being rewarded until last Sunday
night. William Haynes, George Wing
and Harvey Strong were acting as senti-
nels at the sheep pasture of the first
named, when, about 10 O'Clock, q hugo
dark object was seen to mount the rail
fence not more than hundred feet
away from where they sat concealed be-
hind clump Of elders, and limp slowly
were feeding. 1t was evidently the
much hunted cunning bear that had ven
tured once more on q foraging expedi-
ton. He was short rifle-shot away.
and Haynes fired. The bear fell, but
was on his feet in moment, turned, and
made back toward the spot where he
had entered the field at speed which
was remarkable if he had only the three
legs he was reputed to have. Wing and
Strong sprang over the fence, and
made haste to head Bruin
off: Haynes followed the
bear, which scaled the fence only to
meet the other two men on the other
side. They both fred. and the bear fell
to the ground again. Once more he re-
gained his feet, and, finding himself
broug ut to bay, raised on bis launches
and rushed at once upon Wing and
Strong. A ball from Haynes rife
stopped the huge brute again, however,
and he fell heavily to the ground, un-
able to rise. Another ball, which was
sent through his heart, ended bis career.
The noise of the rifles gave the signal
to other watchers and to the entire Set
Element, and every man, woman and
child had gathered around the PROSTATE
bear almost before he was dead. The
rejoicing was great. The bear had but
three paws, the right fore paw being
gone. The stump had apparently been
healed long time. The general belief
is the bear was the one which escaped
from Ehrout's trap in 1879 and which,
after wandering elsewhere about the
country, had returned to his old baunts.
The carcass weighed over four hundred
pounds.
Not I'm Need of Sympathy.
From Denver. letter to the Louisville Con.
rier Journal.
IN tho <ro1n <1,oro MOO a vuoDoon nth