Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-07-10
Highest Of al Leavenng Poweu Govt Report, Aus assa
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A BEAR-BAcK RIDE.
The Exciting Adventure Of . Bea
Trappsr In Alabama.

The Exciting Adventure Of . Beaver
Trappsr In Alabama.
Beaver Jack" Smith, the hunter and
trspper, who roams ell over Georgia and
Alabama trapping beaver and otter, had
IN exciting adventure with big black
bear not long ago. says Birmingham
Ale. correspondent Of the ST. Louis
Globe Nepl0trat Smith Ind hts te1ee
|Aet saeu9 the banks Of the pUoGa
River. in Randolph County, and had
been catching . number of fine, fat
beaver. One morning he went to one
of his traps. which was mile down the
river from his camp, and was surprised
to find that he had caught . bear in
stead Of beaver. He was Just in time,
as the bear had pulled the light steel
trap from its fastenings and was making
off with the trap hanging to his foot with
a grip he could not shake of. Smith
had left his gun at the camp, and, see-
ing that the bear was in an ugly humo1
and disposed to show fight. his first i'm
pulse was to let go. But it would carry
off his steel-traps, and steel.traps cost
money. Then Jack suddenly remem.
bered that strolling Snowman who was
in the neighborhood had offered him
$50 for live bear This decided him ;
he would capture the bear alive and &C.
cure the money. Smith decided the
safest and best plan to capture the ami.
NAL would be to get hold of one end OF
the steel-trap chain and fasten il
securely to q tree. This would hold
bruin until be could go and get help
enough to tie him. The bear was walk.
ing Off down the bank of the river, o.
casionally turning to snap and growl at
the steel-trap that held one hind foot in
q viselike grip. Smith ran up and 70.
cured the end of the chain without
trouble, but as he stopped to fasten it
to tree the fun commenced. The bear,
with savage growl. turned and made
rush for him. He lodged behind the
tree Just in time to save himself from an
embrace that would have been fatal In
q moment the bear had turned and was
after him again. aud then began . race
around the tree, Smith all the time
holding on to the chain. Finally they
got away from the tree and nearer the
bank of the river. Smith caught his
foot under vine and fell. He rose
quickly, the bear stumbled, and then
some way, Smith SAYS he will never
know just how it happened, he found
himself astride the animals back. he
still held to the chain. Bruin tried to
shake off his rider, but getting . firm
hold on the long hair of the beast Smith
held on. A new idea suddenly entered
the head Of the bear, and with another
growl he plunged into the river. Still
the now thoroughly frightened hunter
held on, and the bear. with only his
nose above water, struck out for the
opposite bank of the river. He SWAN
about 100 feet from the bank. and then,
seeming to realize that he was handi.
capped by the weight on his back, he
turned and went back. As the bear
struggled up the muddy bank Smith
leaped of. and wrapping the end Of the
chain attached to the steel-trap around
. small tree he fastened it, and then he
had bruin captive. He lost no time
in going after help, but when he re-
turned in an hour the bear WAS gone.
The animal had pulled its captive foot
out of the trap. A quantity Of skin and
flesh had been pulled of the bears leg,
but it was loose and gone. Smith did
not attempt to find the animal again.
He says bear-hunting is not his occupa-
fion