The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-09-25
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF A GIRL AND
CHILD CHASED BY a BEAR,

OF the greatest danger. AIneTlCd is
small hamlet situated in Lee county, in
the wilds of Eastern Kentucky, and con-
sists of two dwelling houses, country
store and postoffice. For the past
month Miss Callie has been teaching
school in the "Bear Creek" district,
which lies on the waters of Bear Creek.
In going to and returning from school
each week she is obliged to pass over
Bear Wallow MountPin-so called by the
old settlers on account of the great num-
Der of bears that formerly made it rest
ing place in their migrations from the
Chimney Mountains to the Cumberland.
For several years past, however, no bears
have been seen, and the inhabitants have
long ceased to apprehend any danger
from these animals. Last Saturday Miss
Callie started for her home for the pur-
pose of passing the Sabbath with her
mother. She was accompanied by her
little niece, who is only three years old.
the road between Bear Creek Valley and
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 miles, there are no
signs of human habitatiou. While slow
ly climbing the mountain, on the further
side from this place, the child trampled
upon sharp thorn and screamed in
agony.
While Miss Callie was trying to pacify
her she was suddenly startled by a rust
ling Of the bushes at one side of the road,
and upon looking around discovered a
large black bear stepping slowly and
cautiously into the road about forty
yards in her rear.
For moment Miss MCGEE stood gaz-
ing at the bear, too terrified to seek
safety. Then, catching up the child in
her arms, she fled rapidly up the steep
mountain side. Casting a terrified
glance backward over the 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 it's voice, and the bear apparently
redoubled his efforts to catch them.
Painting and gasping for breath, she at
length reached the top of the mountain
almost exhausted, and upon looking
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 being baked of
his intended prey. His heavy, labored
breathing was now distinctly audible to
her ear, and she realized that her strength
was failing and that it was impossible
for her to continue her present pace
much longer. Clasping the child still
more closely to her bosom, she made one
more desperate effort to outfoot her pur-
suer. While continuing her flight the
child's bat, with its gay ribbons and
flowers, became accidentally disarranged
and fell to the ground. After running
100 yards or more Miss MCGEE ventured
too 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.
Miss MCGEE says that at sight of this
she instantly recovered presence of mind,
and coolly 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 nearly two and half miles distant,
and the chances of meeting any one able
to assist her that lonely mountain road
were very few. See knew that she could
not keep up her present rate of speed
much longer, so she moderated her gait,
although she still made good time.
She had gained, perhaps, 200 yards on
the bear when, upon looking around, she
discovered him again starting in pursuit,
having succeeded in demolishing the hat.
She now rapidly proceeded to divest the
child of its 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 de-
stroy it before continuing his pursuit.
Miss MCGEE made good use of the time
lost by the bear, and when he again
started in pursuit she was good dis
lance ahead.
AS he again neared her she threw the
child's dress down into the road, and
again the attention of the boar was at
tracted and few precious moments
gained. She continued this method.
Coolly waiting each time until the bear
had nearly overtaken her, dropping some
article of wearing apparel into the road
until the child was entirely Invested of
clothing, she then 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 few moments respite from pur-
suit. He hat went next, then basque,
and last of all hel dress skirt. The lat
ter succeeded in holding the attention of
the bear until she reached the house of
John Miller, and was once more in safety,
although almost destitute of clothing.
The bear, attracted by the squealing
Of some pigs in apen near the road made
no effort to effect an entrance into the
house, but left the road and went to the
pen for the purpose of procuring pork
dinner. Mr.. Miller was not at home and