News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-12-17
A LIVELY BEAR HUNT.
HOW JOHN FRAZIER. WON A GAIL L
SUPPER.

A LII HELI BEAR HUNl.
HOW JOHN FRAZIER. WON GAhi
SUPPER.
An Incident Which Led Bear Hunters &
Turn Their Attention to Pike County
Pennsylvani a.
81 suppose that about the ivelies
hunting trip that was ever made by an.
one," said John Frazier, of 9Th,
Swamp" twas made by Lon Stewart ano
| myself, sixteen years ago this fall.
"a party of five or six of us hac
been in the habit of going to the Nor
Woods every fall, and we got to think
ing there was no use in trying to have
any sport elsewhere. In those days i
the North Woods, and it took us some
times three days to get to our hunting
| ground. In the fall of '6S wasn't able
to go with the party, but before the sea
son was over | got away for few days
and went with friend to some woods
nearer by. We had good luck, and the
next fall, when my party began to make
arrangements for their usual trip to the
Adirondacks, [ threw a bombshell into
the meeting by asking the boys what
was the sense or use of taking half q
week in getting 10 a camping place
when we have Just as good one good
deal nearer. They almost took me by
the neck. The idea that there was any
game country fit to be hunted in nearer
than their favorite North Woods was
preDosterous, they said, and Harry Pla
eide kicked like a steer.
"Tve laid out a bear hunt that'll
make your hair stand, he said, and I'd
like to know where you're going to find
bear any nearer or more available than
out in Hamilton county
"'Would your said l. well, Tll tell
you what I'll do with YOU says. Tll
bet you the game suppers for this crowd,
or as many more as you like, that l can
go to place where will kill bear or
get shot at Que and be back again in
town in good deal less time than it
will take you to get to your camp in the
North Woods
"That was risky bet, for while there
might be fifty bear right where | was
going, yet might not be able to see or
get on track of one for a week. But |
knew my country and was willing to
take the chances.
"'That's good bet if I lose,' said
Harry, and I'll have to go you
1--WE made the bet Lon Stewart
said he would go with me on the trip
just to have some fun with me, and to
see that didn't buy a dead bear in the
market and play it off on him for a
Simon-pure victim of my rifle. We
made all our arrangements that very
night, and the next morning at o'clock
we took an Erie railway train for Lack
AWAKEN, Penn. | telegraphed Johnny
Williamson at that place to have team
and basket of lunch ready for me on
the arrival of the train there. We got
to Lackawaxen at o'clock. Ten min
utes later we were on our way up the
Pike County mountains, eating our lunch
on the way. AT o'clock we were
sitting in Nose Westbrook's tavern at
Blooming Grove eating a venison din
ner. sent man after Ed. Quick, the
famous Pike Country bear killer, who
declares, in and out of season, that he
has killed thousand of 'em, and by the
time we were through dinner he was on
hand, fully equipped for hunt. told
him that was on flying hunt, and ex
planned why.
"'Do you suppose that we can get
bear so that l can be back in New York
tomorrow 2 | asked him.
"'Of course, he replied. I'VE can go
out and get one right away. There's one
'twixt here and the Knob. l intended
to 60 and fetch it in tomorrow, but if
you want it in a hurry, We'll get it this
afternoon
''Before 5 o'clock we were pretty well
along toward High Knob, the big noun
tain that lifts itself up 2, 800 feet on the
western border of Pike County, and has
a lake a mile long on its summit. We
rode into the woods for four or five
miles on a blackboard, and then left it
and footed it for mile off toward the
Shohola Creek. Quick's three bear
dogs hadn't been in the WOO Is ten min
utes before they started the bear. 1t
was in a small but dense swamp
near the foot of the mountain. The
dogs brought the bear out d rectly toward
the spot where i! was standins,- de saaae
presently broke through the border of
the swamp and shu He'd along the edge
of it, few rods from me, and right to-
ward Lon, who stood about 300 yards
off to my left. whanged away at the
bear, and hit him, for he staggered and
howled. He didn't fall, and tore back
into the swamp The dogs headed him
off, and he kept on his way in the direc-
ton of Harry, but was hidden by the
laurels. Quick, who had been on the
other side of the swamp, came back to
7 Oh To I 70
ahead hundred yards, as the bear would
surely leave the swamp at spot that
much further on. He also told me to
hurry up to that point too, as there
might be chance for nice little fight
before the bear was killed. ran to join
Lon, but before | got there the
bear came out of the Laurel, not more
than two rods from Lon, and almost i'm
mediately received a ball from his gun.
The bear dropped like shot, and the
dogs came tearing from tie swamp and
sprang upon him. He was still game,
however, and regaining his feet fought
the dogs with fury that drove two of
them into retreat. The third dog fought
the bear alone, and before another shot
from both my rifle and Ions put an end
TO the bear he had killed the dog.
''Before o'clock that evening we
were back to Nose Westbrook's with the
bear strapped to our blackboard. The
distance from Blooming Grove to Lack.
AWAKEN was twelve miles. At that time
an express train stopped at that station
about o'clock in the morning. We had
plenty of time, and l made up my mind
that we would catch that train, as it
would land us in New York at Z 80 next
morning. After eating one of the best
backwoods suppers man ever sat down
to, we smoked and rested for two hours,
and then loaded our bear in wagon aud
started for Lsckawaxen. 1t was nj Q
moonlight in October, and we reached
the station in ample time to secure berths
in sleeping coach and have our bear
shipped on the same train with us. We
were in New York in time for an
o'clock breakfast, feeling none the worse
for our flying trip and an exciting hour
or so in the woods. We had consumed
just twenty three hours in our trip and
hunt. 1t Is hardly necessary to say that
Harry Plac de paid for the supper for the
party. and that our camp that year was
do in,