The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-12
THE BEAR FACED THE MUSIC.
Lured to Death BY the Mysterious Bas,
Horn of "a Brass Band.


Horn of u Brass Band.
George Griswold, who lives on the 10y
alsock Creek q mile and q half north o
Forksville, Pa. plays the brass horn liz
the Forksville brass band. One evening
short time ago. Griswold tucked his biz
horn under his arm and strode down Il
Forksville to practice with the Other
members OF the noisy village organize
tion. A little after 10 o'clock Griswole
started for home In the bright light o.,
the full moon. When be had gone nearly
mile from the village. he heard q noise
In field short distance to the right, and
looking that way he saw q bear paving
around and crunching nuts under big
chestnut tree.
Grlswold watched the greedy animal
for a moment and then he stole up to the
fence, squatted behind II, poksd his bass
horn between the rails and blew single
blast that sent the echoes flying amo"e
the surrounding hills. The toot OF /:
big horn gave the bear an amazing STA. =
In his sudden fright he rolled over dm
ber OF times and then he jumped up ana
legged 1t across the meadows at full tilt
Griswold thought he had scared the bear
half to death, and he was about to pull bis
horn out Of the fence. when he saw the
Dear turn ABOUT ana SLOWLY mofCu DdcB
toward the chestnut tree.
The bear cautiously approached the
tree. but he didn't stop under 1t to paw uI
more nuts. He waddled directly toward
the fence. shifted the air frequently. and
had his eyes fixed on the horn. the big epd
OF which glittered In the moonlight w
front Of him. When the inQusitive anima.
was within few yards OF the fence, Girls.
void blew another blast with all the lung
power he had. and the bear rolled all over
himself and went dancing across the lot
as though he had been shot at. Before he
had reached the end of the field he faced
about, snorted half a dozen times, and
sham bled back to find out more about II.
Griswold kept the curious brute capering
across the lot In this way for nearly half
an hour. when Charles Harper. a son OF
the owner OF the land. ran down the road
to ascertain what the horn was being
bio IN for.
AS Harper drew near Griswold gave an
other blast, and the bear started off again.
Griswold told Harper In q whisper how
the bear had been acting, and Harper be-
gan to look around for something with
which to tackle the bear when he came
toward the fence the next time. He soon
found rusty old plowshar near the
roadside. BY that time the bear had
turned back once more and was tramp
ing slowly toward the horn. Griswold
promised not to toot the horn again. and
while the bear was marching back, with
his eyes bent on the shining brass, Har-
per took the plowshare, crawled through
the fence, crept along on his stomach TO
the chestnut tree, and concealed himself
behind the trunk.
The bear appeared to be determined TO
find out what kind OF q machine the big
brass thing was, for he slouched toward 1t
in bee line. and he didn't turn his head
to either side as he nesred it. The mo-
ment he passed the chestnut tree Harper
tiptoed up behind him, sprang to his side.
and drove the point OF the ploughshare
into the top OF the bears skull with all
his might. The bear gave a roar. reared
up on his hind legs, and wheeled
around, knocking Harper of his feet.
Harper rallied at once, and. before
the bear had taken ten steps, he dealt
him another blow on the head with the
ploughshare, and felled him to the ground.
Griswold then jumped over the fence
with a large stone. but before he got
chance to DO anything Harper had killed
the bear with the ploughshare. Farmer
Harper was on his way to the spot when
the bear turned up his toes. and the three
men lugged the carcass TO the barn. The
bear was hog fat. and weigh he'd 4O6 pounds.