The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-02-19
Two BEAR STORIES.
Entertaining Party-Unpleasnnt Experi-
ence Of q Lumberman.

Entertaining Psrty-Unpleasnnt Experi-
ence Of . Lumberman.
'One fall bear carried off two Of my
pigs four nights spart," said an old
farmer TO a writer in the New York
Tribune. II found where he had de-
voured them in ravine less than twen-
ty rods from my house, and set trap
for him. Then fastened some wire to-
the trap, and strung the wire over
bushes to the house, attaching the other
end to a little bell over the kitchen.
door. That night we had an apple-bee,
and told all the young folks that if the
bell jingled while they were there we
would all march to the ravine and take
look at the bear before l shot him.
Watching for the bell to tinkle made
lots of fun during the evening, and
little before midnight it did tinkle right,
lively, and it kept tinkling until we
had lighted dozen lanterns and started
teen buxom and jolly girls in the party,
and as many strong young men, and
there wasn't one in the crowd that was q
bit afraid of bear. When we got to
the ravine the bear was tearing sap
Hngs up by the roots and thrashing
around as though he were as big as an
elephant, but his right fore. paw was
fast, and though he beloved and tore
he couldn't free himself. Then by the
light of the lanterns I watched my
chance and fired bullet into his head
at the butt Of the ear, and the bear
keeled over and died. He weighed four
hundred and thirty-three pounds, and
was the biggest bear ever killed I
made his skin into robe, and used it
twenty-six winters before it wore out.
''Some people make fun of you when
you tell them that black bears often
tackle men, but have known them to
do SO q number of times. One October
night James Rathbone came to my
house covered with blood, and said that
bear had pitched on him In the middle
Of the road between here and Pocono
summit. Rathbone was lumberman,
who lived near Canadensis. That after
noon he had finished contract for the
Tobyhanna lumber company, and the
company had paid him eighty dollars in
five and ten-dollar gold pieces. Rath-
bone put the money in squirrelskin
purse, and put the purse in his coat
pocket. He hadn't been home in two
months, and as soon as he got his pay
he started through the woods. The
night was muggy, and he carried the
coat on his left arm. This side of POGO
no summit bear followed him, knocked
him down in the mud, tore the back of
his coat and shirt off and scratched his
neck, face and arms so severely that he
lost good deal of blood before he
reached my house. He also lost his coat
and his money. That Is the story he
told me, and found out that it was the
truth in every particular. and my
son took the dog and two guns, and Inn
mediately went to the place in dug
way where Rathbone said that he had
been attacked. We found his coat torn
into strips, and after a good deal Vt
searching we dug his purse out Of the
mud The same amount was in 1t that
Rathbone said he had, and before mid
night the dog led us to where the bear
was hidden under big hemlock log. 1t
was large female bear, and we had to
shoot four bullets into her before we
killed her. I gave her skin to Rath-
bone, and guess he has it vet"