The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-12-27
A 13-YEAR-OLD BEAR KILLER.
George Mea1y Bagged Three in a Fe-


Three bears, two evidently last springs
cubs and the other a very large, full
grown bear, were discovered in turnip
field on Mealy's farm, three miles from
here, last Monday. George Mealy, 49,
year-old boy, discovered them, and, with
out saying word to anybody, hurried
home and got his fathers gun. Hasten
ing back to the turnip field, he found
that the bears had walked over to the
far side of the field, adjoining piece of
woods. The boy hunter stole round
through the woods and got to that side
of the field to see the big bear and one
of the small ones entering the woods out
of gunshot.
The other small bear had fingered some
distance behind. Young Mealy crept up
a few rods closer and lodged a charge of
buckshot in the bears vitals, killing it
almost instantly. He dragged the bear
home and surprised the family, no
other member of which was aware that
there was bear within ten miles of
them. 1t was in the forenoon when the
boy discovered and killed the bear. The
killing filled him with ardor, and along
in the afternoon he sneaked the gun out
of the house and made his way to the
turnip patch. He had hopes that the
two other bears might have returned to
renew their meal on the turnips. There
were no bears to be seen, but Master
Mealy had plenty of time, and he hid
himself in the edge of the woods, near
the spot where the two had disappeared,
on the chance that they might come
back.
The boy had been in his hiding place
only a few minutes when his heart al
most jumped out of his mouth at sight
of the big bears head that was thrust
between the rails of the fence, scarcely
ten feet from where he lay. Immedi
ately after the big beaSs head appeared,
the little ones head was stuck through
the fence a few feet further along.
Neither bear presented a favorable shot
to the young hunter, who lay as quiet
as he could under the circumstances.
Presently both bears climbed the fence
and stood still, taking survey of the
field. The big bear was nearest the boy,
standing broadside to him. He aimed
at the animals side, near the shoulder,
and fired. The bear fell, got up with
difficulty and whirled swiftly around
for several times, blood squirting in a
stream from the wound in her side.
Then she fell in heap on the ground
and never moved again.
The small bear ran to and fro in a
frightened manner while the bear was
whirling about, and when she fell ii
started rapidly across the turnip field
directly toward Mealy's house. Young
Mealy, satisfied that the big bear was
his legs could carry him. By the course
he took he reached the house before the
fleeing bear had made an appearance
anywhere. The boy dashed into the
house, grabbed some ammunition and
loaded his gun, while his mother looked
on in alarm. The only thing the boy
said as he tore out of the house was:
"More bears!'
AS he dashed out of the yard he saw
the bear come out of the field fifty yards
below the house, cross the road, and make
for growth of willows along the creek
that runs in the rear of the house
Judging that the bear would be more
likely to emerge from the willows at the
upper end rather than at the lower, be.
cause thick growth of woods on that
side of the farm would be brought nearer
to him by doing SO, the boy flew across
the lot and reached the creek above the
willows. The bear had not appeared,
but a splashing in the creek showed that
he was on hisway out. He came in sight
only few yards from where Mealy was
standing.
The boys aim was as true in this case
as it had been in the other two, and one
shot was all that was required to add the
third bear to his days bag. The intrepid
young bear killer dragged the bear up to
the house, where his mother, who had
been watching the chase unable to speak
or move, stood pale and trembling in the
yard. Her boy stretched the bear on the
ground before her, and, mopping his
head and face with his sleeve. said:
"There! If t'other one is Swanted, some
one will have to go after it with the
stone drag"
1t wasn't until hired man, who had
come to the house for something, haG
gone down to the turnip field and dis
covered the big bear doubled up with
hole in her side he could stick his fist in
that the family believed that theil
Georges prowess had gone so far as
three bears. The three bears weighed
$50 pounds.-Forkston (Pa.) Cor. New
York Sun.