Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-13
SLAPPED BY a BEAR.
s Youth who Was Hit by Bruin Finally
Gets the Best of Him.
New York SUM-

Young John Armstrong, who lives near
the hanks Of the Cumberland river twelve
miles mp stream from Pineyille, KY, Is the
greatest fisherman OF these parts. Last
SUNDAY he decided 10 pa, pleasant day
ANGLING for black oass in the Deep Hole"
% mile above the house Of hrs parents, with
whom he lives. John had skin, or
's,.ft." a- The mountaincers call them, IN
which hc was IN the habit of padding up
and down thcriyer ON fishing excursions.
I'm this -hif he was 10 20 % the Deep Hole.
Young Armstrong moDred tEe shlf at the
usual landing place, about three hundred
wards above bis fathers house. at the edge
of tine thick woods. lie placed IN II good
dinner for hc intended 20 remain all day.
and went back into the house after the
bait. Hespelt some time reparing The lat
ter. and having plaorditin bucket started
tohish0ut. Johnmust have been dreaming
OF the fish Le WAS going To catch, for
le Gld mot look ahead oi him, aud
when he came to the landing place
he pushed the bushes aside and stepped
blindly into the boat. As his feet touched
the bottom of the boat DARK form rose
mp and something heavy and hard struck
him n resembling hwack on the side OF the
head and knocked him half senseless ont
of the boat into the river. As he went I'M
der the cold water revived him, and pad
ding 10 The shore hc drew himself upon
DRY land. lighting mad aud ready to whip
theman who had knocked him out Of his
own boat.
II took Armstrong a minute or two more
10 WIpe the water ont of his eyes, and
when hc finished that job be saw that
there Was blood on his hands, and more OF
the red huid was running down his face.
That fellow must have Int me an IN
formal swipe." he exclaimed to him
self ~ hc turned his now cleared eyes
toward the boat and prepared TO size up the
brllicOse intruder. Standing IN the skin,
which was rocking beneath his weight,
was % large black bear dey0urIng the
food which John had so carefully prepared
for his dinner. One end of the boat was
against the bank, and the bear, probably
attracted toy the smell of the provisions.
had walked Oh board in search of the VIC
tuals He had his nose in the basket when
John stepped into the boat, and he resent
ed the intrusion by promptly slapplng the
incautious youth into the water. Alter
the act the bear paid no further attention
TO John, but proceeded with his eating.
For moment John watched his dinner
disappear He had not seen bear since
his father killed one on the mountain i've
wears before. but he knew the animal was
not likely 10 modest him unless placed
upon the defensive. After taking good
look he started on a run for the house,
where be arrived all ont of breath, and
told his father his adventure. The old man
took his long barrelled rifle from the hooks
and followed his son 10 the river.
The bear had Just finished the provisions
and was leaving the boat when old man
Armstrong and his son came up. Mr.. ARM
strong took careful aim and sent ball
squarely into the animals right eve. Bruin
rolled over on his side, kicked a few times,
aud gave up the ghost. He weighed 1865
pounds and his carcass was sold 10 one of
the summer hotels in this place.
Nearly all the skin was raked on one side
Of Young Armstrong; face by the slap
which the bear gave him with his great
paw, and he has so many bandages ON his
head that he will not 60 out Of the house.
His mother says il was a punishment for
him because he intended to so fishing on
Sunday