Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-09-17


Black Woods, No. 2.
THos. A. Ci,BTREE.
In article number one, We left Isaac en-
tertaining his fellow passenger with some
OF his exploits at hunting in the woods of
Maine. Isaac was good Shot, but when
he came 10 tell that he shot ten deer one
fail, and every one he shot in the eye, the
driver whipped up his horses a If anxious
to drive away from something. In short
time they emerged from the woods, and
heavy shower Of rain began to fall and
I>aac's advice was to turn into the house
( of Mr.. Downing, whom Isaac said was
4 downright good old man" MIR. d. re-
cetyed them in hi, usual courteous manner,
drew the team under cover. and in CON
junction with his good wife gave them
Kind reception. The rain continued TO
fall sud as night was coming on the party
vas invited 70 stop till morning Supper
was soon ready and the hot johnny cakes
that Mrs. ID. only knew how to make just
10 suit the appetite Of every body, van
lshed when placed before the three hungr,
men, Ike chatf IN the wind. Mr. ID. was
good story teller, and a. Isaac had near
ly exhausted his store, Mr.. d. held the
tloor till the faithful hammer in the old
wooden clock pounded out the number of
twelve.
Mr. ID. related numher Of bear stories
one Of which was a. follows One spring
the bears made great havoc among the
sheep, killing some for him and his neigh
hor>. He one day took his old nintlock
put IN two one ounce balls and set it BY
sheep. lately Killed. about mile up the
stream. About ten o'clock at night he
heard the old gun roar Early The next
morning he went to see the results of the
Shot, He saw by the blood that the bear
was badly wounded, but after following
him for short distance his bcarship took
to the water and swan across a small
pond. Though he searched carefully he
could find nothing more Of him Consid
erng that he was bear that pow Ter and
lead had no power over he carried his gun
home. The slaughter Of sheep was not
any diminished. and he concluded to try a
steel trap. He went TO his trap in a few
days, and the old bear was there, fast and
savage; but a bullet from the old gun soon
settled the matter, ''and what do YOU
think continued he. When | came to
skin him | found that two bullets had
passed directly through his middle, evil
IDENTIFY the two from my old gun. as the
wounds were not healed" No one spoke
for live minutes then the silence was brok-
en- ny Isaac, who rejoued, II believe every
word Of it," The silence was next broken
by Mrs. ID. who announced that il was time
to retire; but Isaac insisted on having one
more story. and Mr ID. related the follow
ing: This piece of woods you have
come through" said he, addressing the
You must have noticed that the land is
very mount ainous This led timid peo-
pie to believe that every 'pokehole'
amongst the ledges was the abode of
band Of robbers therefore, the report Went
far and near that Blacks woods were full
of robbers.
During the excitement caused by these
reports. a man on horseback was riding
through from the town Of F. Night came
on much earlier than he expe ected, and he
soon learned that the major part Of the
distance he must travel in the dark. He
had heard the reports in regard to the dan
ger OF travelling through these woods in
the nightt time; but his business was ur-
gent, and he felt that he must 90 on
Nothing occurred to mar the quietness of
the darkness. till he arrived al the foot of
the big hill but here, all of sudden
man appeared nearly in the middle of the
road, armed with heavy club. He stopped
/ his horse and asked the supposed robber
what he wanted but received no answer
/ Again he demanded his business; but no
answer broke the awful silence of the mo-
ment. The man was terrified and during
the impulse of the moment, he plunged
| the spurs into his horses flank, and he
/ shot by the armed villain like light He
/ heard, as he supposed the whiz of the club
/ in dangerous proximity to his head; but
he escaped harm, and his noble beast after
an hours run brought him safe to town
Great was the excitement in the little VII
lsge Of G., when all had heard the start
ling news BY daylight the next morning
dozen men were armed with shot guns,
headed by the indomitable 'Gowen,' who
swore he would quarter that robber if he
got his hands on him. In about two hours
this fighting band arrived upon the battle
field. The robber was still there; but he
had metamorphosed into a spruce top,
which some kind hand had stuck into a
mire in the road to indicate danger. A
big laugh made the old woods ring, AID
after emptyng few bottles of the old
style Medford, they returned quietly
home"