Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-02-22
srlcKLER's CLOSE CALL.
He Joked About Finding q Bear and Found
One In Earnest.

He Joked About Finding Bear and Found
| One In Earnest.
A Philadelphian named Stickler
spends several weeks each year in the
Catskill mountains. He had an exciting
adventure the other day. Stickler left
his retreat, which nestles among tall
pines in 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-
lowing mountain paths he soon came in
sight of the Hotel Kaaterskill, where
be stopped a short time and chatted
with friends, who bantered him about
shooting bear. Stickler took the jest
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-
ioyable 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 tramped on for mile or
two. Stickler kept a 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 filed him with pleasure
and his pulse quickened with excite
ment. Between four tall trees, which
formed space of about twenty feet,
we're two cub ears 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.
The little animal was badly wounded,
and it set up Il crying that could be
heard IA long distance. The plaintive
sounds We're heard by the old mother
bear, which had been feeding on ber-
ries. 1t went tearing through the
bushes to its young, lic.ed the wounds
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 Sticklsr
was standing and the spot where the
cubs We're there WAS stretched huge
trunk of tree which had been denuded
of its branches. The log rested in such
position that a small animal could
crawl under. This proved 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
dicted a terrible but not 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 it's 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 a
terrible blow in the breast, and he fell
unconscious 10 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-
membered, as it came across the log,
was wide open. The brute's tongue
was cut off at the roots and was filled
with shot. Livingston IN ~ Free
man.
Somebody has published the state
mont in Philadelphia that if one wished
to have good luck in the daily transac-