The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-14
BEARS INVADING FARMS.
Their Remark able Boldnsss In Gene
trail PeuHsyIvaDfa

Their Remark able Boldnsss In Gene
trail Pennsylvania.
A Harrisburg correspondent Of 1M Nsas
York Sun writes: According to the accounts
Of hunters, black bear were never so numer.
GUS and bold in Central Pennsylvania as they
are this fall In Center County they have walk
ed boldly into villages, and one was killed the
other day On a farm within eight miles Of
Bellefonte. the county seat and home of Gov.
Curtin. In franklin County, in the North
Mountain region, bears invaded the corn fields
in such numbers during the husking season
just ended that great loss was sustained by
the farmers in corn deyoured and carried
away by the animals Over the line In Full.
ton County, especially in Tod Township, more
than one farmer has been robbed OF his win.
ter's pork by marauding bears. In Cumber.
land County, near the Perry County line,
many bears have been seen this month and
three killed
The other day an immense bear was seen
entering the village of Milesbarg, Center
County, having come down from the woods
near by. He coolly crossed the iron bridge
over Bald Eagle Creek, and walked up the
middle of the main street. People who were
in the street got quickly out Of it. Horses
snorted and tugged at their lie straps, but
the bear kept on Its way. Before 1t had got
far number of dogs got wind of it and ap-
peared upon the scene. The bear turned and
dashed through "A. T. Bogg's front picket
fence, smashing 1t down as II IL had been
made OF glass and took short cut of town
for the woods There was no one In Miles
burg anxious to go bear hunting, and the
bear lead the dogs a long chase, and returned
to the mountains.
Two other bears that tried the brave and
impudent act at William farmers, near the
Loop in Center County, on Tuesday night,
did not fare as well as the lone visitor at
Milesburg. Farmer aud his wife were re-
turning home from a neighbours about 8
o'clock. when they saw bear walk out Of
their front yard, shuttle across the road ahead
of them, and stop under tree In field few
yards away. As they stood looking at the i'm
pudent bear another one came sliding down
one Of the trees and joined the one at the
foot of the tree. Then the first bear climbed
the tree and aftes reaching the branches, slid
back down, as his mate had done, and then
the latter repeated the performance. While
the two bears were having this cheeky sport
between themselves, paying no attention to
the spectators Farmer told his wife to 60 in
to the house and get his gun, his revolver and
his ak. BY the time she returned prayer
meeting was over in the village, and the
people were returning home. They all stopped
to see the extraordinary sight of two genuine
wild bears having a circus under the noses OF
twenty spectators. The bears paid not the
Il. - No hrIt frN.NIS
turns in climbing and sliding down the tree.
Farmer sent load Of buckshot into one OF the
bears as it stood on the ground waiting for Its
turn to climb, and it limped hurredly off
toward the woods, bowling fearfully. The
other bear did not slide down the tree that
trip, but remained among the branches
Farmer went closer, and bOmbarded the bear
as it perched in the tree, but he shot 1t four
times, literally Kidding it with buckshot, be-
fore it fell to the ground. 1t was at once set
upon with poles, clubs and axes, by the
crowd, and the little life left In 1t was beaten
out.
The Gentzell farm is two miles south Of
Bellefonte, at the foot of Bald Eagle Noun
tain. few DAYS ago John Gentzell, who
owns the farm, was told by a neighbor that
big bear was In his corn-feld stripping the
shocks and PLAYING hob generally. Farmer
Gentzeil is NO hunter, but he keeps gun,
and, taking It with him, he went to his corn
field, which was In sight Of his house, to see
If there really was bear there husking his
crop. Sure enough, an enormous black fel-
low stood at one of the shocks, scattering the
stalks about and stripping off the ears Gent
zell gave bruin one charge from his rifle. Tue
bear jumped into the air and fell back flat on
the ground. The farmer supposed he had
killed his game bat while lie was loading his
gun the bear jumped up aud siOuched away
aud disappeared among the corn shocks.
Gentzell followed him expecting every mo-
Il. h>Irv Lr,k
surprised to discover him at the other end OF
the. field, working away at another shock OF
corn as If nothing had happened.
Gentzell then shouted to his brother Henry,
who was at work in another field, and while
Henry was on his way to join him. John put
made for the mountains, llmping along on
three legs. The brothers followed him, and
fourth shot was fired into him. This did not
finish the tough old customer, and now thor
oughly aroused, he turned upon bis pursuers,
and rushed upon Henry Gentzell in such
furious charge that the farmer was PROSTATE
on the ground, with the bear paving and
chewing at bis leg before he knew what had
happened 1t was lucky for GentZell that his
brother was there, for the bear would have
torn him to pieces In a minute more. The
brother sprang forward, and with one blow Of
the heavy rife broke the bears back, and the
poor brute fell over and died The flesh was
torn from Henry GentzclPs leg from the knee
down. The bear was one of the biggest ones
ever killed in the county, weighing between
800 and 400 pounds.
Three bows were hunting rabbits on Thurs
day near Cowan Gap, in Franklin county.
They started rabbit, and it ran into corn
shock. One of the bows went to the shock to
kick 1t and scare the rabbit out, while the two
others stood ready to shoot 1t. The rabbit
jumped out of one side, but neither boy shot
1t, for on the other side bear tumbled out
and surveyed the youthful hunters in aston
The rabbit got away and so did the
bows. The bear was afterward killed in the
same field by farmer named Wagner.