New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-15
KILLING BEARS AND UILDC4TS.
ADVENTURE IN THE WOODS AND CLEARINGs OF
PENNSYLVANIA MOUNTAINS.

Scranton, Penn, Nov. Especial. -Annold Hummell,
who lives near the headquarters of Bounans Creek.
in Wyoming County, has had $40 worth OF sheep killed
this fall by bears. Two weeks ago lie began to pen
his sheep up at night, and u morning or so later he
discovered bear tracks near the fold The bear came
around every other night for ten days but lie didn't
get any sheep because the pen rooted and strong
Last Thursday night Mr.. Hummell decided to lie In
wait for the bear. few yards from the sheepfOld
there is a hogpen with Fat roof and Thursday
night Mr. IIummel placed lot OF straw on the roof
loaded his old musket with big bullet and half
dozen bucbshot covered himself with blankets and lay
down in the straw 10 watch for the coming OF the
bear. The moon set early but the starlight enabled
Mr. Hnmmell to see the sheepfold plainly, and be-
tween 1 and . O'Clock he saw dark object steal
around the corner Of the barn and climb the barn
ward fence. II was the bear that Mr.. Hummell had
sat mp for, and as soon as it was over the fence.
it struck listening attitude, with lis left broadsde
toward the hogpen. Mr. IIlimme Immediately rested
the musket across his left knee aud banged away at
the bear. There was tremendous charge in the old
gun, and the vgilant farmer tumbed backward of
the roof into pile of straw: but the fall didn't hurt
him any, and when he got to the barnyard the bear
dead. The bullet and buckshot having made hole
as big as hens egg in its left side. II weighed
nearly 400 pounds
Before the first frost came last month"; Jarvis
Means OF Root Hollow. chopped down large Eastwood
tree in forest on his lands. The upper part of the
tree proved TO be hollow, and after 1t had struck
the ground swarm OF bees began TO
pour from hole in the trunk. Mr.. Means
forced to run for his life, and when
1t was dark lie and his sons went to the woods
to gather the honey They found bear In possession
Of the tree and it determined to fill itself with
honey before IL went away that it gIowled and showed
fght when the men approached. II was cawing at
the hole but ii hadn't got its paw in yet, and the
odor OF the honey made it furious TO gObble Of
down in short order While the bear was tearing at
the tree Mr. Means held the lantern and the boys went
for it with their The bears surliness and de
termination cost him his life. for the yUng men
speedily crushed his skull The bear weighed a little
over 300 pounds.
4 bulldog belonging 10 Elijah Ellsworth, of the
MehOopany Creek region freed a bear in the edge OF
spruce swamp few DAYS ago. Mr. Ellsworth heard
the dog barking furionsy for half hour in the swamp
and wondering why the dog stayed there long, lie
tldged TO the spot to find out. lie ascetained
that the bulldog had driven bear into spruce tree
OF his own accord and that he barking up the tree
and compelling the bear TO cling TO the limbs The
freed animal eyeng the dog but IL didn't dare to
down from its perch and Mr.. Ellsworth told the
dog Keep it up there Then lie went after his rife
and when he returned the bulldog still barking
and the bear was hanging 10 the branches. Mr.. Tits
worth blazed away and the bear tumbled from the
tres dead rock.
LatOa Stocser. OF COolbaugh Township. saw q wild
cat feeding rabbit in the Toby hanna Woods last
Tuesday. lie fired charge of fine shot at il. and ii
appeared to be dead, but Ii revived the moment he
picked II up and began 10 scratch him with its hind
feet Stocker then drove knife into its breast and
finished it, 4 wildcat pitched on Henry Godfrey's
spaniel in the Spring Crook woods q few days ago.
The dog into brush heap. and Mr. Godfrey killed
the wildcat by filing It's head full Of bird shot