The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-09-13
BROOKHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI SEPTEMBER

pen next morning he found the trap
on the outside, and fast between its
teeth the largest bear-paw he had ever
seen. 1t was one of the fore-paws.
The bear could be tracked by the blood
from its lacerated leg for mile, where
it entered the swamp, which was so
dense that no man could enter. Dogs
were sent in, and from the fact that
some of them never came out, while
others returned with torn flesh, it was
surmised that the bear had been over
taken by them, but could not be over
come. Nothing more was seen or heard
of the brute, and it 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 on the other
side it limped as if it had been injured.
A hunt was organized, but, although 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 a hunter
named Haynes, and forced the hunter
himself to hand-to-hand fight before
it received its death wound. About
three weeks ago sheep, a pig and a
calf belonging to residents of the settle
ment disappeared from the inclosure,
and few days afterward some children
returning from school saw large bear
cross the road within a quarter of a
mile of the school-house. They re-
ported that it was very large and only
had three legs. No doubt was felt that
the bear had made the inroads on the
pastures and pig-stiles of the settle
ment, but an extended hunt failed to
bring Bruin down, although his trail
was struck several times and followed
for miles. He exhibited more than the
usual cunning of his kind in escaping
from his pursuers. 1t was decided
finally, to give up hunting for him, and
to set nightly watch at the pastures,
in the hope that he might return for
more mutton or veal and be captured.
The watch was kept up without being
rewarded until last Sunday night.
William HAYNES, George Wing and
Harvey Strang were acting as sentinels
at the sheep pasture of the first-named
when, about ten O'Clock, a huge dark
object was seen to mount the rail-fence
not more than a hundred feet away
from where they sat concealed behind
a clump of elders, and limp slowly
toward knoll on which a flock of
sheep were feeding, 1t was evidently
the much-hunted cunning bear that had
ventured once more on fOraging en-
pedition. 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
Strang sprang over the fence, and made
haste to head Bruin off Haynes fol-
lowed the bear, which scaled the fence
only to meet the other two men on the
other side. They both fired. and the
bear fell to the ground again. Once
more he regained his feet, and, finding
himself brought to bay, raised on his
launches and rushed at once upon
Wing and Strang. A ball from Haynes
rifle stopped the huge brute again, how
ever, and he fell on the ground, unable
to rise. Another ball, which was sent
through his heart, ended his career.
The noise of the rifles gave the signal
to other watchers and to the entire set
tlement, 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 be-
lief is the bear was the one which es-
capped from Ehrouts trap in 1879, and
which, after wandering about the cOun-
try, had returned to his old haunts. The
carcass weighed over four hundred
pounds. Porte Cor. N. Y. Times.