News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-02-01

it. This feat accomplished, he strobe on
through the forest with the bear on his
back.
OF course the beast objected to this
treatment, and at length getting his
muzzle off, he entered into a serious en-
gagement with his bearer
In the scuffie which ensued Ethan's
clothes were made to suffer, and his
anger being fully aroused, he laid hold
of the bear by the nape of its neck and
one of its hind legs, and raising the crea-
ture high over his head, flung him down
on a rock with such force as to kill him.
Not very ong after, while returning
from trip up the mountain with two
young gentleman tourists, another bear,
a similar one, was captured.
They saw the animal i'll the path ahead
and chased it to a tree, which Ethan
climbed. After Il Iaughable scutfie he
succeeded in tying up the bears mouth
with pocket handkerchiefs, and then
carried it home ON his back.
A trough for water and a ''swing-pole'
were obtained for the bears use, and the
animal was kept for some years. This
was the first of the scores of bears since
kept as .'pets" at the White Mountain
| hotels.
| At about this time Ethan one morning
found a large deer in one of his snares.
1t was a buck, with handsome antlers
and in fine condition, as its glossy skin
Indicated at first sight. That he might
add it to his ''show," Ethan again had
recourse to withes, of which he made
strong halter. But the buck, wild with
fright, was not easily managed. Its fran
tic leaps and bounds taxed all of Ethan's |
great strength, and the task of leading it
home occupied the entire day.
But the exploit which gained Ethan
most renOwn, and made his name famous
for the time through Vermont and New
Hampshire, was his affair with a noted
bully and pugilist whom We will call
McLeary. 1t occurred at one of the an
nuaI trainings" OF ''musters," which,
L think, was thatyear held at Lancaster,
New Hampshire.
All the "militia" companies, from
both sides of the Connecticut River, met
here for review, and for sham fight.
As was usual at such gatherings, there
was quite too much tipping, and great
deal of rough sport. McLeary, who for
some years had been noted as a boxer
and rough-and-tumblef fighter, was there
in all his glory. Going the rounds of
the various cncampments, he openly
challenged amy one to fight him.
As NcLeary was thermometer" the
New Hampshire companies were inclined
to resent his challenge, on the score of
State pride. Several companies put
forth their best man and matched him
against McLeary. But the bully, who
was thick, brawny, heavy-fsted man,
made short work with them ALL The
fellow had a fist like a sledge-hammer
and the blows of his antagonists seemed
to make no impression upon him.
| At noon he was sitting on a stone in
the centre of a ring which had been
formed around HIM, pulled with pride,
because he had already nearly killed four
men who had ventured to stand up against
/ him.
Ethan CHANGED to be at Lancaster that
day-partIy on business, and partly to
see the ''mustcr" and "sham fight" per-
haps. While the bully was sitting in
the ring, some of the New Hampshire
men beset Ethan to fight him-as they
said for the honor of the State.
but I'm not a fighting man, said
Ethan.
And this was cminently true of him.
and greatly to his credit. Though so
strong, he was one of the gentlest-na-
tured of men, kind to everybody, and
very fond of children.
Nevertheless the militia men pleaded
and almost insisted that he should stand
up against McLeary, for the honor of
New Hampshire.
"Honor p said Ethan, ''what honor is
there in pounding a man who never did
me any harm q? I've nothing against
Mr.. McLeary. Besides, [ never struck
q man in my life -
''But he's brute He's a terrible
fellow, and he should be taken down
He's nearly mauled four New Hampshire
men to death this morning p they ar
gued. Just come and look at him, and
if his insolence don't anger you, we don't !
know what viii -
"Well. there Is no reason why should |
not go and see him, said Ethan.
So he went along with them, and COM |
ing up to the ring, entered it without
thought, and in his great, ponderous,
good-humored way, addressed the bully:
"They say you're terrible fellow,
Mr.. McLeary, and l thought 1 would
just come round to see you-out of
curiosity-nothing more, and he offered
to shake hands.
But McLeary, in a fierce way, declined
the Offered hand. "AIl that comes into
this ere ring comes in ter fight, said he,
getting up off the stone and rolling up
his sleeves.
But I only came here to look at YOU,
friend, said Ethan. I'm not fighting
man.
But you've come inter my ring, re-
| torted McLeary, " and now you've got
to fight, or I'll kick We out ont. SO look
out fer yerself !"
ono man ever kicked me yet, replied
Ethan, good naturally. 81 don't think
you better try it; but if you do, you
must look out for yourself
Without further ado the bully
"squarcd off, and struck full blow at
Crawford.
But the blow scarcely reached his lofty
head and the rext moment, with one
sweep Of his powerful right arm, Ethan
brought the "flat of his hand " with
such force against the pugilist's ear that
he measured his length upon the |
ground.
"f You are foolish enough to come at |
me like that, shall be obliged to cuff We |
harder next time, " said Ethan.
But MtLc"ry had no idea of giving up |
so easily. Springing to his feet, he again
rushed at Crawford, when another
tremendous "cuff" on the other ear
landed him flat on the ground at a dis
tance of several yards
"Take my advice now and keep your
distance, said Ethan.
McLeary was no sooner on his legs