The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-09-26
A Hot Fight With Bears.

A correspondent Of the ST. Louis Gl0jv-
Dsnoeyu, writing from Green Pond. Fla,
gives AN interesting account Of fight
three women had with three bears;
At Bat Simpsons sons place. some
three miles from here, and about baif
mile from the river swamp, the women
folks had an exciting contest with bears
a few days ago. Mr. Simpson takes great
pride in his hogs, and has some very fine
ones. The pen is near the house, and
the fence whice surrounds it is very
strong. being built Of heavy rails strong
" braced. and seven or eight feet high.
He has had visits from beans before. bat
thought that such fence would b3ther
them not little
The men folks were of about half
mile from the house. at work. and the f.
males, Mrs. simpson and her swo grown
up daughters, were tshing at a small
stream that rams near the house. About
10 o'clock they heard great uproar at
the pig pen, where at that time they had
some ten poTkers Elitening The hogs
were s4ueaIing in wild alarm, while
above all could be heard the deep grunts
that too plainly told who the intruders
were. The plucky women, however,
didn't intend TO let their prize porkers
go without struggle Mrs. Simpson nan
up to the house, and seizing the tin horn
blew loud blast, which she knew would
bring up the men in 3 hurry The two
girls and their mother then seized big
brands Of pine knots from under their
wash boilers and ran out back Of the
barn where the pigs were, not counting
their own danger at all. As they rushed
around the corner Of the barn the loud
whiffs and srowls Of the bears gave them
an idea Of what was before them. Climb
ing up the fence into the pen were two
big, gaHut, black fellows, while younger
one WAS sitting down outside as if on the
watch. The girls were not daanted by
the savage growing and made for the
young one. waving their fire-brands and
shouting loudly. The bear stood his
ground till they got 50 close that the
flames flashed in his face. when he turn
ed suddenly and ran off with savage
growl He stopped after he had gone a
dozen rods and licked his wounds. snarl-
ing savagely all the time. R1nnins mp
10 the other two bears on the fence. they
thrust their torches close to the animals
launches, resulting in their flesh being
burned With roars OF rage and pain
the two scrambled forward, and not tax
ing pains to secure safe footing, boih
fell headl9ng into the pen. As the beans
landed in their qnarteas, the hogs al tied
in the widest alarm. going through a
small hole that led under the barn
The imprisoned animals just then be-
gan 10 get mad. They rushed around the
incIosure, and then dashed up the inside
Of the pen, climbing with a rapility that
showed they meant business. While Mrs.
simpson ran 20 the house for an *, The
two girls ran up TO the fence, and As the
animals got their heads over the top rail,
flashed their torches in their faces, burn
ing and scorcliing them terribly. They
couldn't stand this and fell backward
with savage uars.
The young cub now became brave al
at once, aud advanced upon the girls,
growing and snarling as lie came one
of the sisters ran toward HIM, and at the
same time the two trapped bears made a
desperate attempt to regain their liberty.
With one Of the guards absent it seemed
as if one OF them would surely escape.
I The girl met one Of them ss his savage
I face appeared over the rail with her ef-
feetive torch, and he again dropped back
ward. His plueky opponent then saw to
her dismay that the other one was apt to
get out, as he was nearly over, and, being
on the opposite side Of the pen, she could
1 not get around there in time. But to her
relief her mother at this moment came
running around the corner with an up
( lifted AK in hand Taking in the situa-
tion at a glance sle rushed up in front Of
+ the escaping brGin and delivered blow
at his hind paw, cutting Il OF. Mrs Simp-
son uplifted her AK, took deliberate aim
and breught down the sharp blade square
( on the bears head. With a snarl Of pain
he fell back into the pen. The young
cub, in the meantime, retreatei before
the blazing pine knot, though the roar Of
its mates had melted its anger to the
highest point. While one OF the women
kept it at bay, the ether two guarded the
Imprisoned animals.
+ Finally the men arrived, and, hastily
( securing their Winchesters. made short
work OF the bears The women are all
greatly praised for their plucky fight