The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-01
A BOUr wIrH BRUINS.
Fighting q Family OF Bears In the Wild
of Penusy lvanih.

Al BOUT wIrH BRUlNs.
Fighting Family or Bears In the Wild,
OF Penusy Iyanla.
Correspondence New York Times
Although now over so years OF age
"Jim" Jacobs, Seneca Indian living or
the Cattaraugus Reservation, near sala'
manca, N. Y, has returned from his annu'
al encampment in the Pennsylvania will
derness, where he has roamed every winter
for sixty years hunting bear and deer. He
is known all through this region as the
"Bear. killer" and II local tradition and the
word OF Jacobs are to be trusted, he has
not only trapped and shot hundreds Of
bears and deer, but. he has been the hero Of
many hand.to. hand fights with Bruin, and is
covered with scars received from the teeth
and claws OF these Infatuated brutes brought
TO bay. The old Indian leaves his home on
Incarceration every November, and it is
rarely that he is seen again until the end
OF March. He returned earlier than usual
tthis year, owing TO scarcity Of his favor
ties since the beginning OF the present
month. He brought in from the woods
only five bear.skins this season, and only
twelve deer.skins. The bear he killed in
Forest county and the deer in Forest, Elk
and Potter counties. He covers a wide
area in bis hunting, and in former years
ranged as far east as the Susquehanna, and
even 10 the head waters OF the Delaware.
Jacobs Is a typical Indian. He is extreme
" ,aciturn, and Is best pleased when he is
alone. His hair Is as black as coal, in spite
OF bis great age, and falls about his
shoulders. His form is still erect and
powerful. The deepest snow or most
rigorous weather seems to have no terrors
for him. His hunting earb is picturesque
combination OF Indian and white man"
and he attracts much attention from
strangers.
He had been hunting, with very little
success, for several days, when, near the
head waters OF Sugar Creek he came upon
signs OF bear. Asnow storm, which prom.
ised to be heavy one, had begun at the
same time. Being well acquainted with
the habits OF bears. the Indian knew that
this storm would drive them into the first
places OF shelter which the rocks and ra.
vines OF that part oil the county would
afford them. He felt instinctively that be
would be sure to find at least one bear
safely slowed away on the south side OF the
high and somewhat steep ridge, two miles
from where he discovered the first signs OF
the animals, and he determined to take up
position there, 80 that he might be in
readiness to meet his game at the earliest
opportunity. With provisions sufficient
for himself and dog for two days,
l. he started for the rocky ridge.
Along the south side of the ridge
ledge Of rocks twenty feet high and
crowned with gnarled growth Of dwarf
evergreens extended for nearly u mile The
ledge was broken into wide seams in places
and in others shelving rocks protruded and
formed caverns or cavities that extended
back in TIE ledge from 10 to 20 feet. BY
the time the Indian and his dog reached
this part Of theridge the snow had fallen
| 10 a'greath depth, and was still falling
heavily. The seams In the ledge and the
mouth OF the caverns were here and there
almost closed by the snow. At the mouth
OF one OF these, however, Jacobs discover.
ed the inevitable indication that bear
had sought refuge within-the presence OF
small depression in the snow, as ii were
being melted from the under side. This
the Indian knew was caused by the breath
OF one or more. bears lying inside with
their noses toward the opening.i
Jacobs knew that no bear would make
its appearance on the outside until the
storm was over, and the snow was 80
binding that he concluded II would be
better TO wait until 1t had ceased falling
before making an attack. Jacobs sought
the summit Of the ledge, where be made a
snug place OF shelter for himself and dog
by roofing over with hemlock boughs a
large crevace between two huge rocks, and
and closing up the front Of the opening in
the same way. It continued showing the
remainder OF the day, and at the end Of
the next day showed no signs Of ceasing.
The position chosen by Jacobs for his shell
ter, be now began to see, had such poti-
ton that Il a wind should arise and the
snow be driited, he would be closed in be-
hind fortress OF snow many feet thick
and high. The snow was already heaped
ND high around the rocks, but he feared
that an attempt to seek another place would
be attended with greater peril than 1t
would be in taking the chances OF getting
out after the snow ceased falling.
Late in the night OF the sec.
ond day tho wind commenced blowing o
gale, and continued blowing all night and
the greater part Of the next day. When
It ceased Jacobs made up his mind that
the storm had also ceased, and that he
must lose no time in finding way out Of
his position. for he was shut in by drift
the depth and extent Of which he had no
means OF knowing. Fortunately the posi-:
ton OF the rocks around him had confined
the drifting snow TO the Enclosure thus
formed, and Jacobs emerged into the open
space beyond alter tunnelling about forty
feel. The wind had swept the snow almost
clean from the slope OF the ridge and in
patches from the foot Of the ledge. Jacobs
bad good view Of the cave where the bear
had taken shelter, and was preparing TO
20 down, smoke the game out and kill IT.,
when he was attracted by the yelpipg OF
his dog, which had been running about
after emerging from the snQr ipnnel.
The Indian hurried 10 tn pot and there
discovered q large she.bear standing on her
launches, defending two cubs from the
dog. She was furious with rage. Jacobs
stepped around from behind clump OF
| dwarf cedars in order to get better sight
OF the bear, and in doing 50 stepped on q
small stone that was hidden under the
snow. The stone turned and the Indian
fell headlong within 10ieet Of the infuriated
bear. His gun fell from his hand, and be.
fore be could recover il the bear sprang TO-
ward him. The bear paid no attention TO
the dog, which harassed 1t from behind,
hut seemed determined 10 make an end Of
The hunter lat once. Jacobs agility en-.
abled him to regain his feet, however. be.
| fore the bear was upon him, and at once
began to retreat, supposing that the
bear would remain with her cubs
and attack the dog. With q fierce
cry, however, and followed by her
cubs abe hastened after Jacobs. Owing 10
the steepness Of the ridge, the Indian did
hand.to, hand fight with the bear there, so
ha conclrded II abe pressed him, to drop