The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-05-14
A KENTUCKY BCAR.HUNT.
yalorous Deeds of Youthful Sportsmen-
Their Triumphant Return.

A few years ago there could be found
no Drawer hunters than the mountains
of Kentucky afforded. The game has,
for the most part, disappeared. but there
still remain the sons of sireSn who
fought the ferocious bear and panther
of former times.
Accordingly. when not long since it
was noised about that real bear 5
track had been seen not far from town,
there was Il sudden excitement among
the younger generation that knew no
bounds. writes a Hyden (ky.) cor
respondent of the Globe Democrat.
Every old rusty iirc-lock was called in
to use by plucky Nimrois who were
thirsting to meet the bear face to face.
Ii was auimaling to see the boys leave
the town in long trot, their feet far
apart in the stirrups and their guns
high in air. Every dog that could
make noise and would not bite WAS
taken along. Every man was to make
all the noise he could, also. This was
to give the bear a chance. To come
upon bear suddenly and murder him
was not considered fair. When they
thought he might be in a certain
thicket they gave him IL fair and gentle
manly opportunity To get out before
they got in. A lot of hunters more
courteous 10 their game has likely never
been found.
But notwithstanding such precaution
one of the boys accidentally came in
sight of the bear. All at once this fel-
low bethought himself of the needs of
his family or something else that de
manded his presence at home. He
didn't undervalue his gun, but he was
in mighty hurry. and so he left it till
another time. His hat fell off as he
went along. but it was getting late and
he thought he would let it 60 till he
came after his gun.
When he got home the folks asked
him what he had come for. He said he
had come after ammunition. They
wanted to know what he had done
with his hat. He said the bear had
eaten it up. ''Where is your gun?'
they asked. Il put it in hollow tree
till 60 back" he said. But how do
you know the bear will be there when
you get back?' they inquired Il guess
l know how to hunt bear" was his
answer. When some of the BOYS
brought his gun in that evening he was
mighty mad" "Tll let 'em know"
he said, that | amt afraid to 90 no.
where after my OWE gun
The method of the bows was rs fol-
lows: When one found the bears track
he at once gave yell, whereupon the
other boys would close in on the track,
breathless and with guns cooked.
When certain that the bear itself was
somewhere else they breathed more
freely, and letting down the hammers
of their guns went in quest of another
track. On the second day of the hunt
one of the boys, who carried 45 pistol,
was heard to discharge five shots rapid
ly- On Fastening to him they found
that he had reloaded and was standing
with his pistol in both hands presented
on some object in bunch of BUSH
Here he is, boys" he said "Wherer
said dozen vices. Right there in
that bush" Yes: that's him." they
all said. Each one then proceeded to
empty his gun into the iIl-fated bear
Over seventy shots were fired into him
broadside. The bear didn't even move
This created some suspicion. But one
old fellow said he knew what was the
matter. The bear was killed too dead
to move. No bear could stand that
amount of lead thrown into him and be
expected to move. Then cautiously
slipping up closer on tiptoe, they peered
through the brush, when there it was,
sure enough, a big black stump!
Matters went on in this way for two
or three days more. The horses were
jadcd. Some of the dogs were knocked
out of the county-the bear was close
to the county line-whie the others
even refused to look the way the bear
had gone. Things were getting des-
peratc, when one North. who had hid
den himself in tree-top. spicd Mr.
Bruin as he walked along and shot
him. 1t is surprising how soon
wound will heal on bear. Not less
than 4 score of bullets had been shot
into this bear; that is. by the nightly
reports, and yet when he was dead but
one bullet-hole could be found in him.
1t was funny TO see how the boys, faces
shone with valor as they marched into
town bearing for their hag of triumph
Bruins winter clothing held aloft Oh a
chestnut pole.