Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-06-13
A 5EAR.laAcK RIDE.
Tho Exciting Adventure Of . Beaver
Trapper In Alabama.

Beaver Jack" Smith, the hunter
and trapper. who roams all over Geor-
gia and Alabama trapping beaver and
otter. had an exciting adventure with
n big black bear not long ago, says a
Birmingham (Ala.) correspondent Of
the st. Louis Globe Democrat
Smith had his traps set along the
banks Of the Tallapoosa river, in Ran
dolph county. and had been catching a
number of fine, fat beaver. One MORN
ing he went to one of his traps which
was mile down the river from his
camp, and was surprised to find that
he had caught bear instead of
beaver. He was just In time. as the
bear had pulled the light steel trap
from its fastenings and was making
off with the trap hanging to his foot
with grip he could not shake of.
Smith had left his gun at the camp
and. seeing that the bear was in an
ugly humor and disposed to show fight.
his first impulse was to let it 60. But
1t would carry of his steel traps and
steel traps cost money. Then Jack
suddenly remembered that q strolling
Snowman who was in the neighbor-
hood had offered him $50 for a live
bear. This decided him; he would cap
ture the bear alive and secure the
money.
Smith decided the safest and best
plan to capture the animal would be
to get hold of one end of the steel-trap
chain and fasten it securely to q tree.
This would hold bruin until he could
go and get help enough to tie him.
The bear was walking off down the
bank of the river. occasionally turning
to snap and growl at the steel trap
that held one hind foot in q vise-like
grip. Smith ran up and secured the
end OF the chain without trouble. but
as he stopped to fasten it to tree the
fun commenced. The bear. with q
savage growl, turned and made u rush
for him. He lodged behind the tree
just in time to save himself from an
embrace that would have been fatal.
In moment the bear had turned and
was after him again. and then began q |
race around the tree, Smith all the
time holding on to the chain. Finally
they got away from the tree and near
er the bank Of the river. Smith caught
his foot under q vine and fell. He
rose quickly. the bear stumbled, and
then some way. Smith says he will
never know just how 1t happened, he
found himself astride the animals back.
He still held to the chain. Bruin tried
to shake of his rider. but getting a firm
hold on the long hair of the beast Smith
held on.
A new idea suddenly entered the
head of the bear. and with another
growl he plunged into the river. Still
the now thoroughly frightened hunter
held on. and the bear, with only his
nose above water, struck out for the
opposite bank of the river. He swan
about 100 feet from the bank. and then,
seeming to realize that he was handi-
capped by the weight ON his back. he
urned and went back. As the bear
up the muddy bank Smith
capped Of. and wrapping the end of
he chain attached to the steel trap
around small tree he fastened 1t, and
hen he had bruin a captive. He lost
10 time 10 going after help. but when
he returned in an hour the bear was
rome. The animal had pulled its cap
i've foot out of the trap. A quantity Of
kin and flesh had been pulled of the
,ear's leg. but it was loose and gone.
smith did not attempt to find the
Inimal again. He says bear-hunting il
lot his occupation.