Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-28
ATTACKED BY WILD BEASTS.
Bears and Wild Cat Making 1t Lively
for Travellers in the West Branch Region.
FROM fhe PAliadslIhia Tl1neS.

From fhe PhilGdsllhia Times.
| WATERvILLE. Pa, Dec. 22.-More
bears and wild cats have been seen in the
Pine Greek mountains than usual this
1 fall and winter. AS the train on the Jer-
sey Shore and Pine Creek railroad passed
Pladaghton station yesterday a large
black bear was seen sitting on the side OF
the mountain, not 200 yards away, qui-
city watching it. A passenger fred three
SHOTS at 1t from revolver, when 10 started
| and moved off into the bushes. COnduc-
tors on the passenger trains say that
| they often see bears ia coming through
the Great canyon, which is 16 miles in
length and very wild.
George Harris. William +. Hyman and
Joel SOmers came down Little Pine yes
terday afternoon from the town of Eng
llsh Centre, and on the way they had an
exciting adventure with a wild cat. They
we're on horseback, and at lonely place
IN the road, where the branches of the
hemlocks almost interlOcked, they were
startled by rustling in the limbs of a
tree. Their horses began to pitch furious.
ly. Suddenly a wild cat was discovered
crouching on limb just in front, and as
they forced their horses past il suddenly
sprang and lighted on the back of Son.
ers and commenced clawing him. By a
desperate effort he shook it off, when it
sprang forward and attempted to light on
the back OF Harris. Luckily for him he
had small carpenters hammer, for
driving nails, in his pocket, which he
drew and struck il powerful blow on
the head. This stunned it so severely
that it lay on the ground until Harris
was able to alight and dispatchit with
few more weil-directed blows. The cat
was found to be one of the largest of its
species and was evidently nearly fam
lsned, or 1t would not have attacked the
party. AS bounty of 81 is now paid for
wild cat scalp, the young men secured
the pet, and Harris will soon appear be-
fore the commissioners and claim the re-
ward.
WILLIAMsPoRT, Dec. 22.-James A..
Blanchard, bookkeeper for Emery & Co.,
had russell with bear the other day
while on his way to the lumber camp of
his firm In Elk county. He was passing
through heavy piece OF timber, after
leaving the Low Grade railroad on Ben
nett's branch, when he suddenly met a
bear in the path. Bruin rose on his
launches and acted as if he wonld like to
cultivate closer acquaintance with the
bookkeeper. Blanchard admits that he
was pretty badly frightened at first, as
be had nothing but common pistol in
bis pocket, and scarcely knew what TO
do. The path was narrow and so rocky
on either side that he could not turn out.
The bear sat and watched him very
coolly. Finding this would not do he
drew his pistol and fired. The shot
struck the bear in the mouth, which
greatly enraged it, and it Immediately
made for" its assailant. Blanchard
says:
Il started to run and had made about
200 yards when found the bear was gain.
ing on me. / faced about and commenced
firing with my revolver again, and had
the satisfaction OF knowing that every
shot took effect. The bear rushed on me
with his mouth wide open, and just as
expected him TO seize me shot from q
| hunters rifle laid him out"