The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-14
WILLIAMSON WAS SURPRISED.


81 have had a good many surprises
from bears in my time, said Conrad
Williamson, of Gaines, Pa, "but was
never quite so much surprised as was
in little experience had in Clinton
county. went to the Pine creek
country to look after some lumber in
terests, and, as is my invariable Gus
tom if l am there during the trout sea-
son, started in one day to have some
enjoyment on q branch of Pine creek.
I had tished perhaps half a mile when
I was not a little startled, because l
wasn't expecting such sight just then,
to see Il big bear come coolly ont of the
woods on the opposite side of the
creek, step in the water, and, giving
me q contenptuous sort of look, start
to wade diagonally across the stream,
heading for a point not more than 100
feet above where l was standing, in
open mouthed astonishment.
AS soon as l recovered from my
surprise the impudence of the bear
made me mad 1t was just as if the
cheeky animal had looked me over and
said:
81 guess won't letany such looking
chap as you turn me out of my
course
Il had a revolver in my pocket 1
pulled it out and began peppering
away at the bear as it slouched slowly
along toward the point it had started
for Out of the six shots the pistol
held l put five of them in the big mark,
because every time one struck him he
gave a start and a sharp squeal or snort.
All the effect The bullets seemed to
have ON him, though, was TO hurry up
his pace. He reached the bank and
climbed out, lie stopped and looked
savagely at me, and growled in a man
ner that made me think that was
about to have 4 little more business on
my hands than pulbns trout out of the
water, but he thought better of ii and
went on his way, disappearing shortly
in the woods
IF l had had any more cartridges
within l would have been fool enough
to follow the bear and get myself In
trouble. was TOO much worked up, as
it was, TO let the impudent old pig
stealer get away il could help, and
dropped my rod right there and hurried
up to the lain5er camp and got Il rifle
and plenty of ammunition. IL was my
belief that tie bear was heading for a
swamp q mile or sc up the creek, and l
made short cut for the same place. l
reached the edge of the swamp, and,
seeing no sign of the bear, concluded
that l had got there ahead of him. J
was preparing to take p position and
wait for him when I heard a grunt in
the direction of IN old log road off TO
the right, and there, with nothing but
his head TO be seen above The surface
of a deep mud hole, was the bear. He
raised his head q little higher, and my
aim was so good that I found had
put myself to the necessity of tugging
the bear out of the mud hole or leave
him in it, for he sank in the mud as
dead as stone.
Il walked up 10 make Il survey of the
big beast and his muddy grave. I
stood trying TO plan q way 10 raise him
without going for help. when heard
movement in The brushat the roadside,
and looking up saw the head of another
big bear, which was paering out ct me
with very evil expression en- his face.
He was on top Of bank, ten feet
above the road. The bear did not
move, but stood there staring at Inc
flercely. l didn't Ike the look, and
sent a bullet between the bears eyes.
He came tumbling down the bank like
a log down Il roIway, and lay in the
road apparently as dead as the bear in
the mudhole; but while l stood looking
at him he got up and started for me on
his hind feet. Ny rifle was empty. I
backed away, putting in cartridge as
I retreated. But l didn't have to use
it. The bear only took three or tour
steps, but ne made the woods howl
while he was taking them Then he
fell backward, flat on his back and
that was the end OF him
Having two bears l was forced to
go for help to get them into camp.
When we got them there and dressed
them I had the shock Of surprise l
spoke about. The first one killed, the
one in the lnudhole, which supposed
was the bear I had seen in the creek
and put the five pistol balls in, had
only one bullet in him, and that was in
his brain. The one that ! shot on the
bank, and regarded merely rs an inter-
loper, was really the beer | was after.
1t had Q rifle ball hole between lis eyes
and five pistol balls distributed about
in its right side, the one which WAS to-
ward me in the creek. Of course was
sorry for the other bear, because had
no grudge against him whatever. But
it was too late to help the matter then.
New York Sun.