St. Landry democrat., 1888-10-06
STiCkLER'S CLOSE CALL.
He Joked About Finding Bear and Found
One in Earnest.


STiCkLER'S CLOSE CALL.
He Joked About Finding Bear and Found
One in Earnest.
A Philadelphia named Stickler
spends several weeks each year in the
Catskill mountains. He had al exciting
adventure the other day: Stickler left
his retreat, which nestles among tall
pines in a picturesque valley, early in the
morning. He took with him double
barreled gun, and a small Scotch ter
rier dog followed at his heels. Fol-
loving li6ttillltttlin pttaiHs hG sooh chine in
sight of the Hotel Kaaterskill, where
he. stopped short time and chatted
with friends, who bantered him about
shooting a bear. Stickler took The jsst
good naturally, and remarked that he
would return with bear. Bidding his
friends good-by, he sailed forth on
what he anticipated would be an en-
joyable days sport. Stickler soon
came to the brow OF the hill which
overlooks deep valley south of the
hotel;
The hunter descended the mountain
side into the valley, which he crossed,
and then he tratnped on for a mile or
two. Stickler kept q sharp lookout for
game. His little dog kept several
yards ahead of him. Suddenly he heard
it bark, and it ran back to him. 1t
acted as if it were badly frightened.
Advancing cautiously, Stickler saw
something that filled him with pleasure
and his pulse guickened with excite
ment: Between four tail trees, which
formed u space of about twenty feet
were two cab bears at play. Their an
tics amused him and it was some time
before he awakened to his senses that
what he had started out for was right
before him. Raising his gun, he took
aim at the largest Of the cubs and fired.
This little hnlnal wig badly wounded,
and it set up a crying that could be
heard long distance. The plaintive
sounds were heard by the old mother
bear, which had been feeding on ber-
ries. 1t went tearing through the
bushes to it's young, licked the wounds
Of It's offspring, amt looked around for
the hunter. The old bear caught sight
Of .Stickler, and with growls that sent
cold shivers running up and down his
spinal column, it made for him.
Between the place where Stickler
was standing and the spot where the
cubs were there was stretched huge
trunk of a tree which had been denuded
of its branches. The log rested in such
a position that b small animal could
crawl under. This proved a fortunate
circumstance for Stickler, for his life
was saved by it. Bruin was rapidly
approaching, and the hunter raised the
gun to his shoulder and took careful
aim. as it was the only charge he had.
In the excitement that followed the
shooting of the cub he had forgotten to
reload the other barrel. The charge
hit the bear near the shoulder and in
ficted terrible but tot fatal wound. |
This only served to enrage the shaggy
brute still more, and it reached the log
and had its fore paws on top of it when |
the little terrier, which had stood trem- |
bling with fear behind its master, dart |
ed Under the log and caught the beast |
by one of its hind legs. The bear turned |
its attention to the dog; which Slipped |
back under the log.
The new turn of affairs encouraged |
Stickler, who did not let the chance slip |
by. Grasping his weapon by the bar
rel he advanced and struck the brute
on the head. Bruin did not seem to |
mind the blow, and it again mounted |
the log and the little'dog again repeated
it's performance. Stickler began to re-
load one barrel of his gun, but so nerv-
GUS and excited was he that he spilled |
half his powder on the ground He
managed however, to get a charge in
just as the bear was ON top of the log
for the third time He fired and the
terrier at the same instant went for the
bears hind quarters. This time Bruin
did not turn back, and Stickler, realiz-
ing it was life or death with him, again
rushed toward to club the animal He
had the weapon elevated when the bear
raised its fore paws and struck him
terrible blow in the breast, and he fell
to the ground. When he
opened his eyes he saw the bear lying
by his side. 1t was dead. 1t had
struck the hunter in its last death
struggle.
Stickler found that the last shot had
entered the bears mouth, which, he re-
as it came across the log,
was wide open. The brutes tongue
was cut off at the roots and was filed
with shot. Kingston IN ~ Free
nan.