St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-26
An Encounter With a Bear.

AN encounter w I'LL d D0dI-
4 little more than one hundred years
ago. when the forests of northern New
Hampshire bad scarcely been broken
bv the settlers axe, family by the
name of Boyd moved up into the town
of Dalton on the Connecticut and took
up 4 large clearing of land.
The family consisted Of but fOur per-
sons. a mau. his wife and two children.
boy and n giIl, aged respectively
sixteen and twelve. Their cabin WAS
built of fallen trees on a pleasant hill
side. from W hich Il view of the winding
''River of Pines" was discernible, while
back upon the hill slope extended
thrifty growth of naples which pro
yided the pioneers with their annual
supply of sugar.
1t was bard life they led at first. A
distance ot fifteen miles separated
them from their nearest neighbOrs,
with marked trees to Indicate the path,
for there were no roads in those days.
Along this route had been borne on
the back of Il horse at different times
all the household goods OF the family.
Wild animals were plentiful. espe-
ciallv bears aud wolves, which were so
numerous az to devour their swine and
sheep. and sometimes to assail their
larger cattle. They kept a large watch
dog, but even with him they found it
impossible To escape the inroads of
their raveuous nrighb"rs.
During the second winter of their
stay ut Dalton the Boy DIS were annoyed
by the destructive ravages of Il bear,
whose enterprise and industry were
never surpassed by any other bear that
| have read Of He commenced his
inroads sometime in the month of De
cember, and from that time until the
following April, when he was killed,
the family was kept i'll constant appre-
henSion by his visits.
The animals first victim was a calf,
favorite one that Harvey, the boy,
called his own. The calf was housed
with the other live stock in rude but
rather strong building, that had been
erected for this purpose. 1t appeared
that the bear tried To get under the
sill of the door 10y removing two or
three bushels OF dirt. but some stones
Murdered the progress that way. Up
on this disappointment he changed his
measures. aud worked against the
door with so much strength that he
drew six ten-penny nails out of the
wooden hinges and catch Of The latch.
1t Is supposed he did this by putting
his paws under the door aud prying
and pushing. The track of the bear
was very distinct. but there was no APP
pearance OF his dragging the calf along
the ground So he mnst have carried 1t
on his back.
About three weeks after this per
Torrance he returned Ia the dwelling
house. and at night unnailed the wood
Ell bars which defended the window
of the kitchen. got in and Toasted on a
tray of milk. turned another over and
split it. and then taking punch bowl
containing about two quarts of cream.
carefully carried it through "A window,
nearly rod from the house. without
spilIing, and after he had drank its
contents gently turned the bowl bot
tom upwards as if he had drank a dish
OF tea for breakfast, and left il whole.
Singularly enough Harvey and the
dog were absent that night at the next
settlement, where the boy had been
sent TO obtain some groceries that the
family stood in need of. but the noise
accustomed 10y the bear returning out
OF the window awoke Mr.. Boyd and his
wife. who got up to liscot or the cause.
They soon found where the robber
got in. and both together putting their
heads out of tho window under which
the bear happened 10 be, he rose up
like lion rampant, and struck at them
With his paws.
Mrs. Boyd uttered scream, and her
husband FASTENED to get his gun that
hung 0n the deer's autleis oI+r the
door. The bear then mounted the
rails Of au adjacent fence. The settler
fired at him, at which brain uttered a
roar and made of. I
When 1t Vas morning and Harvey
aud the dog had returned they followed
the bears tracks 10 = swamp. Rover
was sent III, and shortly after returned
wounded, supposed liz an engagement
with the bear. The pioneers could
not very we'll go in. and so his bear !
ship was left manifested in his retreat. !
Two or three days afterwards the