The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-06-12
A KENTUCKY seAa.AuNr.
yalorous Deeds OF Youthful sportsmen-
Their Triumphant Return.

A few years ago there could be found
no Drawer hunters than the mountains
of Kentucky afforded. The game has,
for the most part. disappeared. but there
still remain the ..sons of sires'' who
fought the ferocions bear and panther
of former times.
Accordingly. when not long since it
was noised about that a real bears
track had been seen not far from town.
there was sudden excitement among
the younger generation that knew no
bounds. writes Hyden (Ky.) cor
respondent of the Globe : Democrat.
Every old rusty fre-lock was called in
to use by plucky Nimrods who we're
thirsting to meet the bear face to face.
1t was animating to see the boys leave
the town in a long trot. their feet far
apart in the stirrups and their guns
high in air. Every dog that could
make noise and would not bite was
taken along. Every man was to make
all the noise he could, also. This was
to give the bear a chance To come
upon a bear suddenly and murder him
was not considered fair. When they
thought he might be in a certain
thicket they gave HIM fair and gentle
manly opportunity to get out before
they got in. A LOT of hunters more
been found.
But notwithstanding such preeaution
one of the boys accidentally came in
sight of the bear. All at once this fell
low bethought himself of the needs of
his family or something else that de-
manded his presence at home. He
didn't underyalue his gun. but he was
in mighty hurry. and SO he left it till
another time. His hat fell off as he
II 4
he thought he would let it go till he
came after his gun.
When he got home the folks asked
him what he had come for. He said he
had come after ammunition. They
wanted to know what he had done
with his hat. He said the bear had
eaten it up. Where is. your gun2"
they asked Il put it in hollow tree
/ till l go back" he said But how do
you know the bear will be there when
! you get back?a they inquired. Il guess
l know how to hunt bear. was his
answer. When some of the bows
brought his gun in that evening he was
mighty mad" .I'll let 'em know -
| he said. THAT l amt afraid to go no.
where after my own gun"
The method of the boys was as fol-
/ lows: When one found the bears track
he at once gave yell. whereupon the
other boys would close in on the track.
! breathless and with guns cooked.
When certain that the bear itself was
somewhere else they breathed more
freely. and letting down the hammers
of their guns went in quest of another
! track. On the second day Of the hunt
one of the boys, who carried a 45 pistol.
] was heard to discharge i've shots rapid
ly. On fastening to him they found
that he had reloaded and was standing
with his pistol in both hands. presented
on some object in a bunch of bush.
Here he is, boys" he said. ..Wherer'
said dozen vices Right there in
that bush. u Yes: that's him." they
all said. Each one then proceeded to
empty his gun into the ill-fated bear.
Over seventy shots were fired into him
broadside- The bear didn't even move
This created some suspicion. But one
old fellow said he knew what was the
matter. The bear was killed too dead
to move. No bear could stand that
amount of lead thrown into him and be
expected to move. Then cautiously
slipping up closer on tiptoe. they peere6
through the brush. when there it was
sure enough. big black stumpi
Matters went on in this way for two
. or three DAYS more The horses wer;
, jaded. Some of the dogs were knocked
out of the eounty-the bear was clost
to the county Iine-while the other!
even refused to look the way the beai
had gone. Things were getting des
; perate when one North. who had hid
/ den himself in Il tree-top. spied MIR
Bruin as lac walked along aud sho
him. 1t is surprising how soon s
wound will heal on a bear. Not less
? than score of bullets had been shot
: into this bear; that is. by the nightly
t reports. and yet when he was dead but
one bullet-hole could be found in him.
1t was funny to see how the boys face;
shone with valor as they marched into
2 town bearing for their flag of triumph
/. Bruins winter clothing held aloft on &
e chestnut pole.