Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-01-17
A Hunters Plight.

bunting season. a larger number oil deer
have been killed in the mountains OF
Northern Pennsylvania than ever before,
and many Ieuarksble adventures have
been met with. DR.. George W. klunp, |
8 well-known Williamsport dentist and q
grest lover Of the chase, has just returned
II Dm q hunting expedition In the Lsurel
Hill Mountain, near Liberty, 1Ioga county.
which involved one or two Thrilling adyen-
lures worthy of notice. He entered the
mountains by theN1rout Run Canon, and
after travelling northward some ten miles
arrived st the hunting grounds. Before
starting N be secured the services OF ICE
Bastian and Bill CrIst, two old and ex-
perienced hunters, who had killed great
deal OF game in their time. They pro
ceeded to hut in lonely part of the
mountain near the haunted spring, where
they established their headquarters. The
second day cut the doctor succeeded IN
killing doe and slightly wounGing bear
the CARCASS Of which he dressed and sus-
pended on a tree for safe keeping until il
could be removed 20 the cabin. joe Bas-
tan, who hunted in these wilds for thirty
years. killed a wildcat the third day, and
Bill Crist got long-range shot at bear,
but missed it.
One night, as they were resting quietly
in their cabin and listening to some won
derful hunting stories by Christ, they were
startled by an unearthly scream from some
wild animal 1t proved 10 be wildcat,
which had been attracted TO their camp by
the scent OF venIson and, taking a position
on hemlOck whose branches oveThung
their cabin, commenced sending forth
scIeams that would have fnghtened any
one not accustomed to them. Bastisn
selzed his rifle and after some time sue
ceeded in shooting the cat, which tumhled
of the tree almost in front of Their door.
Il proved 10 be very large and evidently
was the same animal thai had freqnenIed
those parts for a long time and had
frightened great many amateur hunters.
on the fifth day the doctor succeeded in
wounding very large buck, when at
once attscsed hin. Not having time to
reload bis rife and knowing how danger
Gus it was TO encounter deer smsrting
uafer wound, he realized the necessity
If prompt action. The made ened buck
deshed at him, but the doctor escaped by
crawling under the trunk OF a fallen hem
lock, where he succeeded IN reloHding his
gun. in the meantime the deer was jump
ing BACK and forth over the log, DawIDg
tue ground and snortlng fercely. The doc
tor managed 10 fire from his recumbent
position, but only wounded the buck
again, which seemed to intensity his an
ger, and with glsriHg eyes he tried 10 paw
him out from under the log. Matters
were growing serious and the doctor had
about made up bis mind 10 pass the night
in that uncomfortable position, when Bill
Crist came along and dispatched the deer
at the first shot. II proved to be a very
large ana fine one.
a day or two after this adventure the
doctor mad another one which was more
exciting. In moving through the forest he
encountered an old bear sleeping in nest
Of leaves beneath the root of fallen hem
lock He fired at it. but failed to Kill it.
In moment il was after him With dis
tended jaws and glarng eyes. The doctor
realized his great DANGER and prepared for
deadly encounter. He carried a good
hunting knitc, whlcA lie drew and held in
his hand ready to strike when ii closed On
him The Diunajed beast seemed unus-
ualiy fierce, which caused the doctor 10 |
LOOK around for moment. Tne TRUNK OF |
a large fallen pine lay within 4 few feet of |
nun, on which be clambeTed The bear |
followed with an agility that was surprls-
ing chased him along lie ent!re length. He |
then rushed to a large tree standing near |
by and commenced running around the |
the trunk, which vas at least twenty feet |
IL circumference, followed closely by |
BruIu, y 10 seemed intent on mischief. |
This kIuC 81 running was Kept up Tor fully |
hail an hour, wnen the doctor began 10
tire. What 10 90 he knew not. Ii the |
ferocjous beast once got him in its arms
he would be crushed to death in d few |
minutes. Tuere was no time TO luse, |
What was done must be done QUICK '. |
Finally IN a iit OF desperation, he resolved |
to grspple with the beast and trust TO his |
kalie Hg halted and faced II boldly. The |
animal reared up on its hind legs and came !
al him with distended mULIh and hry eyes 1
snd III moment the doctor was in It's |
embrace.
He held lis knife Iicmly in his right /
hand, anG as The bear hugged HIN TO It's /
breast lac buried the long blade deep IN lis |
nIck ana fortunately severed the lugular.
The blood spuIted all over him, aud be-
fore the mOustlr could give hun The death
hug he felJ its crap relaxing, when sud
denly Il ruiieG over on It's side and died in
a lew seconds. The doctor crawled away
a few feet and wiped the blood of the ami
nal from hrs lace, which had ll-nlgh
blinded hlm.
As he stood viewing the carcass and de-
hbeIEtlng what TO 90 joe Basiian hap |
pened along, having heard the nose of the
conflict while watching for deer on the
opposite bill. lie as amazed to fiud that
the doctor had succeeded in killing the
bear us he did. Such good luck is rare.
The doctor was Literally covered wit
blood from head TO loot, bls clothes were
almost tom from his body, his hat was
gone and he presented horrible appear
ELce. lie was nearly exhausted and It
was with some difficulty that the old
huntor succeeded il getting him TO the
cabin, wheIe lie laid for Two DAYS before
he vsa 81 efficiently recovered to return
home. lie says tha; he has had enough
bLnuDg for tins winter.