Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-07-23
A RRAR-RAcK RIDE.
The Exciting Adventure OF n HeaV
Trapper IN AIabama.

me Exciting Adventure OF q BoaHe1
Trappsr IN AIabama.
Beaver jack Smith, the hunter and
trapper, who roams all over Georgia and
Alabama trapping beaver and otter. had
an exciting adventure with q big black
bear not long ago. says a birmingham
(AlA) correspondent of the st. Louis
G{obe-DemocTdL Smith had his traps
set along the banks of the TallapoOsa
been catching q number of fine, fat
beaver. One morning he went to one
Of his traps, which was a mile down the
river from his camp, and was surprised
TO find that he had caught q 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
of with the trap hanging to his foot with
> grip he could not shake of. Smith
had left his gun at the camp, and, see
ing that the bear was in an ugly humor
and disposed to show fight, his first i'm
pulse was to let go. But 1t would carry
on his steel-traps, and steel-traps cost
money, Then Jack suddenly temem.
bered that strollinR Snowman who was
IN the neighborhood had offered him
500 Tor live bear. This decided him
he would capture the bear alive and se-
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 he could go and get help
enough to tie him. The bear was walk.
ing of down the bank of the river, 90.
casionally turning to snap and groWl al
the steel-trap that held one hind foot in
a Tiselike gFfp. Smith ran up and Sc.
cured the end Of 1.-THE chain without
trouble, but as he stopped to fasten 1t
to tree the fun commenced. The bear,
with q savage growl, turned and made
q rush for him. He lodged behind the
tree just in time to save himself from an
embrace that would have been fatal. In
a moment the bear had turned and was
after him again. and then began q 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 q vine and fell. He rose
quickly, the bear stumbled, and thsa
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
snake on ms r1der, but getting nrm
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 on, and wrapping the end of the
chain attached to the steel-trap around
a small tree he fastened it, and then he
had bruin a captive. He lost no tins
in going after help, but when he re.
turned in an honr the bear was gone.
The animal had pulled its captive fool
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.
ton.