The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-10

The Exciting Adventure Of Beaver
Trapper In Alabama.

IrMVnrE IN At&N&t**t
Beaver jack Smith. the hunter
and trapper. who roams all over
Georgia and Alabama trapping beaver
and otter. had an exciting adventure
with big black bear not long ago,
says Birmingham Gala correspond
enS OF the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat
Smith had his traps set along the banks
OF tho Tallapoosa river, In Randolph
county, and had been catching mum
Der OF fine, fat beaver. One morning
he went GO one OF his traps, which was
N mile down the river from his camp.
and was surprised 10 find that he had
caught bear instead Of beaver. He
was just I'm time, as the bear had pulled
tho light steel trap from It's fastenings
and was making of with the trap
hanging to his foot with grip he
could not shake of. Smith had left
his gun at the camp. and. seeing that
the bear was In an ugly humor and
disposed 20 show fight, his first Inn
pulse was to LET II go. But II would
carry of his steel trap and steel traps
cost money. Then Jack suddenly re-
membered 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 secure the money.
| Smith decided the safest and best plan
10 capture the animal would be TO get
hold OF one end OF the steel-trap chain
and fasten Il securely 10 a tree. This
would hold bruin until he could go and
get help enough 10 tie him. The bear
was walking of down the bank OF tho
river occasionally turning 10 snap ana
growl at the steel trap that held one
hind foot in vise-like grip. Smith
ran up and secured the end oil the
chain without trouble, but as no
stopped TO fasten IL TO tree the
fun commenced The bear, with a
savage growl, turned and made
"A rush for him. He lodged
behind the tree just in time 10 save
himself from AN embrace that would
have been fatal. la moment the
, bear had turned and was after him
again. and then began "A race around
the tree, Smith all the time holding on
:. 10 the chain. Finally they got away
from the tree and nearer the bank o
the river. Smith caught his foot un
der a vine and fell. He rose quickly
! the bear stumbled and then some way
Smith says he will never know JUS
: how IL happened, he found himsel
. astrlde the animals back. He sill
j held 10 the chain. Briin tried 10 shak
Z off his rider. but getting firm hol
: on the long hair OF the beast Smit
held on. A new idea suddenly entere
= the head OF the bear, and with anothe
q growl he plunged into the river. Su
!, the now thoroughly frightened huntt
= held on, and the bear, with only NJ
% nose above water, struck out for N
= opposite bank OF the river. He swa
about 100 feet from the bank. and thel
IN seeming 10 realize that he was hand
a capped by the weight on his back.
40 turned and went back. As the be-
Il struggled up the muddy bank. Smi
~ leaped of. and wrapping the end OF u
no chain attached TO the steel trap aroui
no n small tree he fastened IL. and then
ar had bruin a captive. He lost no TIN
nd in going after help, but when he
or turned In an hour the bear was gor
z, The animal had pulled its captive ie
'st out OF the trap. A quantity OF Ok
DIV and flesh had been pulled OF the bea
OF loo. but Il was loose and gone. Smi
did not attempt TO find the amin
en- again. Ho says bear-hunting Is
'us his occupation.