The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-11-03
Joe shafer and the Bear.
A Legislative Candidates. Lively e Eper
encs in the WiIds of Cameron County.
philadelphia Times.l


"Between running for the legislature and
hunting bears, Joe NJ. Shafer is having 4
lively time up in Cameron county," re-
marked "Ruchey" Brldgens, tx-mayor Of
l. ok Haven, at the Failon House last even
ing.
What's happened to Joe now?' inquired
A. j: SCHUYLER, the proprietor and owner Of
the finest sooner dog in Clinton county.
"a great deal has happened to him." re-
piled the old iroDclad Democrat. ''You
know Joe is famous for huating, and would
rather follow bear all day than stop to eat
the best dinner that could be set before
him."
''Has he been hunting again?''
"Yes; am just informed by friend
from Sinnemahoning that he started out
yesterday TO electioneer little for member,
and passing over the mountain in the direc-
ton of Drlflwo0d, he struck bear tracks.
That was enough. He forgot all about the
tfice OF me mber, and started after the bear.
He carried his silver mounted Remington
that was presented to him by few friends
at Harrisburg on the adjournment Of the
legislature"
''How did the hunt end?'
''He had scarcely travelled mile When he
came up with the bear. 1t was sitting on
hemlock log, apparently waiting for Joe.
tnen oked to see il the bear had been hit"
"Was hep''
''Yes, In The right leg, but not badly burt.
This riltd the bear, and frightened Joe be-
cause be had made bad shot"
"Wnat thenp
"rhe bear became greatly enrased, and
made rush for Joe, VINO dashed behind
blg hemlock tree and commenced running
around i, thinking to elude the bear. But
traOallad n faQ that he. QOuldn1f Oaf
chance to fire another shot, and alter being
chased around the tree for half an hour and
getting pretty tired, Joe concluded to change
The programme. He suddenly made dash,
aud jumping over the trunk of fallen hem
lock. made for big tree with low branches"
"D;d he succeed?"
"No; he made failure. just as be was
In the act Of climbing up the tree the bear
caught him with one paw and, as he was in
the act of giving him square Cameron
county hug, frirnd csme up and shot the
bear through the head, and 70 was saved.n
"That was pretty clio call for the hon.
orable gentleman" said Schuyler.
1T WAS that; and Jos admits that he
thought be would never get back to Harris
burg again. believe tue bear intented to
puni b him for taking that money out of the
state treasury at the end OF The special ses-
siop.o
"Dd he pocket al2''
eyes, every cert; he didn't put back siu-
gle p 'nny, bat bragged tbat he would have
AIKEN more If the law had allowed him."
"How much did he ge?''
''Over 50 900. never believed it was
right, and L brlieve the bear was on the
@a'ch for hun when he started out lection
eering for another term. Cameron county
bears, you know, are very sagacious, and
sm tolu they are very plenty this fall In the
Sinnrmahonlng mountains, too"
'Rltchey" then put on his hat sud started
down Water street, sOlilOquzing 10 himself
that he never DID believe in that special ses-
sion of the legislature, that he elieved it
was scheme to rob the treasury, aud he
hoped the bears wpuld yet get all those con-
cerned in il.