Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-01-04
ADVENTURE wIru HEARS


ADVENTURE VITA BEARS
New York Tribune.
An Elmira man, whom we will cal
Jones, had most discouraglng cxper,
ence lew wcehs ago while on it'll
hunting trip across the liue Ia Pennsyl
vania. On the authority OF that sbi
xooloeist. the late Artenus Ward, III,
Kangaroo has been considered the mos
amusing and entertaining mem Der Of III,
animal Kingdom; but, II the story til,
Lluiira man tells 10 true, the common
black bear will compare iavorAbly with
she antip dean maIsnpial when Il come,
to the possession OF q well deyelopet
sen'e of humor.
According To = local account Of the Al
fair, we learn that Mr.. Jones Ia not him
sell very enthusiast!c hunter, but thai
he consented to accompany two or tire,
iriends on ths trip They went to what 1,
considered the best bear neis hborhood In
P-nnsyivani. aud estahlishsd their camp
Then they gave themselves up to III,
chase, but found no bears. Al the end
OF . week II sesmed Ms II they had walked
several hundred miles, but tho pcaresI
they had como 10 the object OF the hunt
was few tracks aud little gorge which
In the words OF the leader, "loo ked
mighty beary." Jones became weary,
aud proposed one morning that he stay
In camp and rest while the others again
went out anu continued the search for
big game. He said seven days walk ne
had convinced him that the supply o.
bears was not up to the demand, and he
was willing to stay In camp until these
great underlying principles had had time
To restore the equilibrium In the bear
market. Mr.. Jones' proposal was agreed
to, and he wss left in camp.
They lad been gone half hour, per.
haps, aud Mr.. Jones was lying on .
blanket spread near the tent, with his
hoad propped up on sack of Hour and
his ieet toward the dying breakfast fire,
when be heard q slight noise behind him.
Raising binse I on his elbow he looked
around, and vas astouishcd to seu Q
large bear resting on his Launches only a
lew yards away. Mr.. Jones had been
looking Tor bears Tor week, but lie now
realized how little te had understood his
own feelings. 1t dAwned on him that he
had not wanted to fie bit bear ut all.
Mr.. Joues said subsequently, that he had
stood In Wall street, and looked no nj
Trinity Church splre, but It did not seem
50 high to him as this bear. He got up
hastily, and began looking for his gun.
1t WAS on the work of moment to tind
II, but, Rs the be5r WAS sitting on 1t, Mr..
jones determined not TO disturb him.
Mr.. Jones had suddenly developed a
theory that 1t was best to ba polite, even
To hearr. There w3s tall tree the Other
side OF the Gre, 80 Mr. Jones climbed It.
He admits that he went up partly on &C.
count OF he lear, but no needed exercise
anyhcw. He perch.d On tho lowest limb.
about thirty feet from the ground. He
would gladly have followed the playful
advice OF the sarcastic pOiiti, al para
~ her and pulled the tree up alter him,
but this was an impussibiity.
Jones, OF Elmirs, now settled down
astIide Of the liulb and gave himself up
to holding on, while the bear p unl Cd
toto round Of dis.ipaiion which II was
trightiM to behold. He bret tore open
thr flour sack and deyoured u o contents,
lie then iurned his attention to the other
provisions. The bill OF fare seemed 10
please hin, rs ho sampled everything
with numerous satilfi Al grunts, ending
by taking long drink from large two.
gallon stone Jug with which the hunters
had provided themselves, an q few
grslns OF coffee evidently 10 disguise his
breath.
lie el plored the tent occasionally while
doing s., putting his head out of the
OF ening aud gazing arout d, as ii looking
at the Gather AMI wondering II there
would be a fall of bear hunters soon.
But lie seemed to find especial pieasur.
in, t. quote tie words OF the account,
"noti & the gun around camp" He
nearly wore the gun out with his atteu-
lions. Jones still fingered patiently
about In tie tree. The forenoon wore
away and the afternoon natural fol.
lowed; still the bear said nothing about
going. At o'clock other bears began
to drop imam old one with two cubs, u
party Of three black bears and two
brown ones, besides several mlsc-llane-
Qua bears. Each Visited the stone Jug
several timss, aud their spirits seemed TO
rise with every visit. Others continued
to arrive, and just hiter sunset they tore
down the tent, piled 1t and other camp
furniture tincluding the gum In 4
condition about the tree In
which Mr.. Jones was temporarily stay
Ing, and through the last gathering dA k
meas he looked down on thirteen boars
q wild unhallowed Virginia reel
Indeed hurt, but retained his scat. At
O'Clock he heard his friends returning.
The hears also heard them and trotted
on, the original caller reeling away In an
upright position with the stone jug under
one arm AID frying pan perched rak-
shly on his head.
Mr.. Jones WAS rescued, and after two
hous' work wa. Strengthened out aud
restoI ed to his normal shape.
Row the question which Mr.. Jones
asks ,s, Were these ordinary Wild bears
)r tsoupe Of tame bears escaped from
some travelling circus or wande ing
Trained bear exhibitors? He 10 almost
certain that the drst one at least was
Lraiuel hear