The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-11-12
a KENTUCKY BHAR STORY.
How a Pluclxy Woman Eluded Bruin
and Finally Killed Him.

hciiO"iiS USdT SLOTy
Miss Callie McGee of this place, ha
an experience few days ago that sh
will not forget, and in which she shove
rare courage and presence of mind i
the face of the greatest danger.
America is a small hamlet situated il
Lee county, ia the wilds of Eastern Ken
lucky, and consists of two dwellin.
houses, country store and postoffice
For the past month Miss Callie ha
| been teaching school in the "Bea
| Creek district, which lies on the water
Of Bear creek. In going to and return
ing from school each week she is obliged
to pass over Bear Wallow mountains
called by the early settlers on account
Of the great number of bears that for
merly made it a resting place in theil
migrations from the Chimney mountains
to the Cumberland. For several years
past, however. no bears have been seen
and the inhabitants have long ceased t.
apprehend any danger from these ami
mails. Last Saturday a week Miss Cal
lie started for her home for the purpose
of passing the Sabbath with her moth
er. She was accompanied by her little
niece, who is only three years old. The
road between Bear Greek Valley anG
America is lonely even for mountain
road, and from the base of the mountain
on the one side to the foot on the other
"a distance of three lniles-there are NO
signs of human habitation. While slow.
ly climbing the mountain, on the furth-
er side from this place, thedchild tramp
led upon a sharp thorn, and, ehildlike,
she screamed in her agony.
While Miss Calie was trying toSSpacify
her she was suddenly startled by rust
ling Of the bushes at one side of the
road, and upon looking around discov-
cred a large. black bear stepping slowly
and cautiously into the road about for
ty yards in her rear
For moment Miss McGee stood gaz>
ing at the bear. too terrified to seek safe
ty Then, catching up the child in her
arms, she fled rapidly up the steep
mountain side. Casting a terrified
glance backward over her shoulder, she
was appalled, to see the bear break into
a numbering gallop and start in pursuit
The child, frightened at the unusual ac
tions of her aunt, was screaming at the
top of its voice, and the bear apparent
ly redoubled his efforts to catch them.
Painting and gasping for breath she at
length reached the top of the mountain
back discovered the bear still in pursuit
and rapidly decreasing the distance be-
tween them, being now scarcely twenty
yards behind her Occasionally the bear
gave an angry'snort, as if enraged at be-
ing baked Of his intended prey. His
heavy, labored breathing was now dis
tinctly audible to her ear, and she real
lied that her strength was failing and
that it was impossible tor her to contin
ne her present pace much longer Clasp.
ing the child still more closely to her
bosom she made one more desperate eff
fort to outfoot her pursuer. While con-
tinuing her fight the child's hat, with
it's gay ribbons and flowers, became ac-
cidentaly disarranged and fell to the
ground. After running one hundred
yards or more Miss MeGee ventured to
look back once more, and her relief may
be imagined when she saw the bear
biting and tearing at the hat lying on
the road.
MisssMcGee said that at the sight of
this she instantly recovered presence of
mind, and cody began to calculate on
her chances for escape and her best
method of procedure. She knew that
the nearest house in which she could
seek safety was still nearly two and a
half miles distant, and the chances of
meeting any one able to assist her on
that lonely mountain road were very
few She knew that she could not keep
up her present rate OF speed much longs
err, so she moderated her gait, although
she still made good time.
She had gained perhaps two hundred
yards on the bear, when upon looking
dfOCHO SilS QlSCOFtiSO MIN ctS<ttlt Sueei u
ing in pursuit, having succeeded in de-
the hat She now rapidly
proceeded to divest the child OF the
sacque and threw it down in the road.
Upon reaching the spot in the road
where the garment was lying the bear
again stopped and proceeded to destroy
it before continuing his pursuit. Miss
MCGEE made use of the time lost by the
bear, and when he again started in pur-
suit she was good distance ahead. As
he again neared her she threw the child's
dress down into the road, and again the
attention OF the beal was attracted and
few precious moments gained. She
continued this method. Cody waiting
each time until the bear had nearly
overtaken her, then dropping some afti~
Gle of wearing apparel into the road, I'M
til the child was entirely Invested of
clothing, then she began upon herself.
She was already within less than a mile
of dwelling and began to feel confident
of her ability to delay the animal until
she reached it..
Her gloves were first sacrificed, and
gained a few moments respite from pur-
suit Her hat went next, then basque,
and last of all her dress skirt. The lat
ter succeeded in holding the attention
of the bear until she reached the house
of Mr.. John Miller and was once more in
safety, although almost destitute of
clothing.
The bear, attracted by the squealing
of some pigs IN a pen near the road,
made no effort to effect an entrance into
the house, bot left the road and went
to the pen for the purpose OF procuring
a pork dinner Mr. Miller was not at
home, and the bears chances for secur-
ing young porlSer seemed to be good,
when Miss McGee took down Winches
ter that was above the door, and despite
the entreaties of Mrs Miller, the plucky
teacher proceeded to the pen. AS the
bear saw her approaching he reared up
on his hind legs and stood ready for
fight. Miss Callie quickly brought her
rifle into position and fired, the ball
passing through the animals heart, and
he fell dead He proved to be 'swhop-
per- and he tipped the beam at 1871
pounds.