The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-09-10
SERGT. LONGS SHOT.
A BEAR KILLED WHICH SAVED THE
GREEDY PARTY FROM STARVING.

before we came to our last round of rations
had discovered the tracks of bear. hat
followed them about until l was exhausted
trying to meet the beast, but had utterly
failed. This day light snow fell in thu
morning, just enough to obscure the trail
but still hunted. l gave it up late in thu
afternoon and returned to the camp. Brain
erd had gone to the shrimping ground ant
was still absent when ! laid by my gun
Suddenly he appeared, running down Gene
terry ridge as fast as his poor weak legs would
bring him. We all started up and waited
his coming in the most painful excitement
When he reached the camp he fell to the
ground all cut of breath. The men crawled
to his assistance and two of them raised hi.
head in their arms. He gasped and looked
at us wildly.
"'Brainerd,' exclaimed the lieutenant
what is itr
"'Bear! bearr was all he could answer, in
a choking whisper.
"'Where, man, whereg cried, reaching
for my gun, all trembling and quivering with
hope and fear.
"'There,' he said, family, pointing towards
the ridge; he followed after me; he's
coming
IN A PERFECT FRENZY.
allow can tell the terrible excitement that
prevailed! The men were in a perfect frenzy.
Cruel suffering had made them worse than
unreasonable. Some of them could think of
nothing but cursing poor Brainerd for not
killing the bear, and were with difficulty re-
strained from falling upon him to wreak ven
geance. He did not take his gun with him.
Nobody ever did who went shrimping, and
they cursed and raved at that and burst into
tears at their last chance for life. Others
and they were the weakest men III the
party-were for starting out at once for an
all night hunt over the snow fields and ice
bergs. Nothing could be more foolhardy.
They couldn't have gone beyond the top Of
the ridge without breaking down, to say
nothing of carrying a gun and firing &C
curately. The lieutenant used his authority
and my influence to quiet the men, and at
last the plan of the hunt was arranged. 1t
was really only few minutes, but it seemed
an hour. Jan, the Esquimau, and l started
up the ridge to meet the bear if he should con-
tinue towards us.
Hardly had we got a rod from the camp
when long white nose appeared over an ice
covered rock at the top of the hills. The men
set up a shout and think it unnerved me,
but it was long range shot, nearly 800 yards,
and the target was small. ! raised my gun,
and, taking quick aim, fired. The ball missed,
but it did not go wide of its mark. The bear
was startled. He paused just too short time
to give the Esquimau chance at him and
turned tail and ram I heard the bowls and
groans Of disappointment and rage behind
me. | believe that some Of those poor half
starved half-frOZen men would have shot at
me in their anger if they had had their guns
at hand.
"'Jan,' said hastily 'take the course to the
left and go round the ridge and keep well to
the west so as to get between the bear and the
water will go in the same way on the
east
"The faithful Esquimau understood the plan
at once, and set out without word.
crawled to the top of the ridge as fast as
could, and saw the bear a long way out of
range still on the run. He turned round for
a second and looked back, and then, as if
satisfied that he was pursued, continued his
flight. l didn't go straight after him. but
keeping out of his sight as much as possible,
crawlec, and ran, and slid up and down the
icy slopes. making all the time for the water.
was fcverish with fear 1t seemed as if
every possible obstruction got in my way,
was a terrible chase May l never have
another like it!
A LONG CHASE.
ut seems incredible now, but l actually
went ten miles out Of my way to get in front
of that bear l knew that he would stop run
ming when he got over his scare and saw no
body in pursuit, and had to take this round
about course to keep out of sight. Mighty
Dft lotI i.f, {lo
Most of it was crawled. But had no idea of
giving up. l plunged on, and at last, two
hours and half after leaving camp, l gained
the position wanted l climbed low hill,
and there was bruin 1000 yards away, sitting
down after his hard run, within thirty feet of
open water. I had not succeeded fully in my
plan He could still escape, but his back was
toward me and did not despair Almost at
the same moment that saw The bear l dis
covered Jan, the Esquimau, at some distance,
and we both made for the beast With the
utmost care not to alarm him we crawled
over the ground, approaching nearer end
nearer to our prey. We had got perhaps half
the distance when Jan raised his gun and
fired. think it was bad Judgment, for we
might have got much closer. But there was
no time for regret Excitement gave me
iAiolC oUl eIli L WIFI iii HiJ hiShp
straight toward the bear He got up and
looked at me, and seemed not to know whether
to run again or stand and make fight of it.
l resisted the temptation to fire at him until
was within $50 yards. Then stopped rum
ming, threw my cap down, pulled off my nit
tens, and acted as deliberately as if l were
practising at target. My excitement seemed
to leave me, or, rat er, to make me steady.
took long, careful aim and fired. The bear
turned slightly, but it was evident that 1 bad
missed 1 fired again quickly. Another miss!
my heart sunk low. Jan had not been able
to get another shot, and was not now where
he could fire with any hope of hitting. The
bear began to make for the water Ready to
die with despair if should fail again, took
another long aim.
"The bullet struck the bear in the head, and
he tumbled over instantly, stone dead.
at was $50 o'clock, and the place where
bruin fell was three miles in straight line
from camp We left the 400 pounds of food
lying on the ice and returned to the anxious
party to get help in bringing the carcass
home We did not sleep that night until the |
dead bear was brought into camp. The liel-
tenant gave out extra rations to the men who |
assisted in the work, and made up stew of |
all the scraps that were left of the regular |
rations. 1t wasn't much, but it seemed quite |
a feast tn us The hear saved rs for lust be- |