Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-09-16

| heaIo me ne laced around. looking steadily
at me. As came nearer he hid behind an
old log but soon raised his head, when |
took aim with the rifle at arms length and
fired. sending slug through bis neck, drop
ping him as though he were dead. To make
sure ! went nearer and sent another slug
through his head. then dressed him and
came out and got some men to help carry
him to the house. The length across the
forearms from ball 10 ball OF bis feet was
three feet and ten inches. | carried the
carcass over TO Bucksport and shipped it to
Boston to Swan & Newton and there they
have it in the refrigerator to keep till fall
for the appetites of some of the big folks OF
the CITY,"
Mr.. Higgins go, $l2 for the pelt, which
with the bounty of IS and something for the
carcass. made him quite little fee.
Last June he trapped and killed bear
which weighed all of 300 pounds, and
measured across the forearms from ball TO
ball four feet and two inches. He was
three weeks getting that one, for il was only
after trapping him several times that he
! finally secured him.
"Jinks," said Uncle Sim. "he was a cum
ming old rat, tell YOU. | had a time 10 get
him. and the only way | did it was to cheat
him. Some Of these old bears reason like
human beings. The first time caught him
was in a wolf-trap. bu: that was no good.
as he would shake it Of like feather. The
jaws would not come together strong
enough TO give a solid grip. then set the
bear trap which weighed thirty-four pounds.
The next time he was caught in the middle
Of the ball Of the fore-p and the jaws Of
the trap held fast. but the old bear pulled
his paw out, stripping off the hide and flesh
and leaving it in the teeth Of the trap. Next
cut some green sticks and w,hed them to-
gether at the top. leaving an opening at one
side. in which placed the trap and put the
bal, in the back part. But the old fellow
broke in on the side mex, the bait, and car
ried i, of without disturbing the trap. Then
cut a hole in swamp near by for the trap
and placed over it the moss had carefully
Gu, out, so that everything would look
natural. then stuck pole in the ground
and propped it up with an old log so tina,
tie upper end would come over the trap.
and on ,ha, placed the bait
We'll, sir. that bear had ,ramped all
around the trap without disturbing il. taken
the bait and gone off chuckling over the
idea. I've no doubt lie had the best Of the
to ou,wit me. but had figured with q good
many bears about cunning hin,. and
wasn't going to give NJ without another
trial. Again the trap was set in the swamp
as before, but this time got longer pole
aud stuck it in the ground over the log 60
,ha, the end which carried the bal, was high
enough 10 make him stand full height on his
hind legs.
well. tn. cute old fellow began by put
ting his fore paws upon the pole near the
log and reaching out and oarefull, feel
ing his way towards the bait. The mark
Of his claws showed how he had worked.
After stretching mos, his full height. another
step aud he had the bait and the trap had
him by the hind leg. At last the orlt,er
was caught fast. He tried TO get the trap
of by rolling around IN the moss. Then he
went 10 a leaning cedar and climbed up
thirty feet. when the tree broke at the root.
The distance was shown by marks of claw.
and measured b, Mr.. Carter. one Of ,hr
neighbors. Next he climbed green cedar
about eight inches through al the butt.
That broke off 20 fee. high and the top
turned over TO the ground, down which the
bear came trap and all.
Il hadn't yet caught sight Of the old iel-
low. The marks of his claws plainly showed
all tha, had happened. As | followed the
trail farther along heard crashing sound
ahead Of me, and when came where could
see found he had climbed fir tree aud the
trap had caught IN growth Of black alders.
Coming up quite near gave him charge OF
buckshot. when he stood up on bis hind leg.
and raked the bark off The fir tree with ms
forepaws clear 10 the wood, then sent a
ball through his neck, which finished him. -
Uncle Sim Of late years likes TO keep some
trophies Of his hunts. and he still has the
battered ball which he dug ou, Of the neck
bone of old bruin. He also gave short
account OF his tracking bear in the Cherry
field woods in the early part OF the winter
Of 81
There was some snow on the ground at
the time, and the bears we're beginning 10
house themselves for the winter. In passing
through the woods near what is called
Bald Hill," Mr.. Higgins saw the tracks o.
bear in the snow, and he very naturally
wished TO follow them up but he was with
OF, the hatchet he usually carried On such
occasions, and IT being late he decided not
TO Start out without something to gather
fuei for fires. In those days, " hen provided!
with an axe or hatcbet, il was an ordinary
occurrence for HIM to stop out alone, far
back in the forest, even in the cold nights
of winter. Leaving the track he wen, on
for short distance until he eame to where
man was building camp. and finding
that from him he could borrow an axe he
stopped IN the camp that night.
Eearly the next morning he went back tc
where he had seen the bear tracks and fol.
| lowed them for some distance across the
burnt land into green growth, where he
came across herd of seven or eight deer
One OF these he shot, dressed and quartered
him, and hung the meat and hide over the
limb of tree, and then proceeded to follow
the bear tracks, which crossed Spring river
on the ice above the dam. Still continuing OF
, the trail, he soon crossed the west branch o
the Narraguagus river. Soon after crossing
, that he came TO where there were several ole
bear dens. One of them. up TO which III,
, tracks led and then turned away, was under
7 meath large yellow birch tree the roots o
which, spreading out from the tree befor,
reaching the ground, had become covered
. with moss, and the whole overrun witt
ground hemlock, which bears red berries
Of which bears are very fond. An openin,
!, on one side, between two of the larger root.
, ict iiito q uOst snug .lttlt
5 cavity, and the bottom was covered with
| hemlock boughs, making a very cosy anc
| inviting bed. The bear must have beef
E a very fastidous one not to be satisfied will
such quarters.
Mr. Higgins still followed the tracks
! which continued on through the woods, on r'
, knoll and up to large hollow hackmatacl
4 tree. The space between two of the larg,
n roots of the tree was filled in with rottel
E wood, except small opening near the top
r The bear that the hunter was following hat
Z tried to dig away this rotten wood, but hac
S not succeeded on account Of its being frozel
: solid, and had gone further along in searcl
, of winters lodging. Looking into tn
: small opening, the hunter saw bear peerin;
;, out at him. 1t seems that he had hived 70
E the winter, but was not yet in a dorman
a state. A charge of buckshot fired into th
q opening caused the self Gagged brun to grow
: fearfully. He stood up and clawed on th
inside Of the tree as long as he could stan'
}, the smoke from the powder, and then poke,
= out his nose to get breath of air, when
9 bullet from the ready rifle finished him.
e The hunter then cut off the she'll of tn
o tree, making an opening large enough L
t dull out the dead bear. Then, after h
n had built his fire, made his tea, and eate
+ his supper, the den looked so inviting h
thought he would occupy it himself for tn