The state herald., 1893-09-22
BATTLES WITH BRUlN.

LA AIS Wa IL x)1tOxlNs
THE HERO OF NUMEROUS
FIERCE ENCOUNTERS.
Incident In tho Life of Man Who Was
u Huntsr-Bruin brought to Bay--A
Very Exciting Dance Fierce Iand-to-
Paw Conflict.
Alfred Page, New England, s most
famous bear hunter, died at Went
worth. N. H.. recently, aged 60 years,
and although the hcro of many u
hard fought scrimmage, no loft this
world from natural causes, his death
resulting from sold and stroke of
paralysis. This gieat Ni,hrod Was
born in Dublin, N. H., and the assd-
Citations OF tho granite state proved
too strong for him to sever auritig
his Lifetime. In his early boyhood
the fascinations OF the chase OBJ
tanned such strong hold upon him,
that, although ilattoring induce
ments were proirered to follow agri-
cultural or mechanical pursuits. the
woods and streams claimed him as o
willing devotee.
His reputation >, crack shot and
daring hunter rapidly spread through
out the country. and tho appearance
of any lnrge wild animal OF dangerous
character was Immediately followed
by message to him, when he woul !
repair to tho spot, and as q general
thing the life OF the "varmint" paid
the penaltgAof his intrusion. Bruin
was is>fat8rite meat, and he would
follow the trail day and night, In
fair weather and foul missing many
d meal III his earnest pursuit Of
eame
On on, occasion way back In the
forties. Iage was taking hunting
trip up on Carr's mountain, which
was fhvorite resort Of his. With
him was young man Of little OK
porienco In tho woods. One night
they made their camp on tho side OF
tn" mountain in spot that was
covered with beeches Page know
how fond bears were OF the beech
nuts and kept his eye out for bsa,'
signs He found place whore there
were unmistakablc marks Of one of
these animals having beon around.
and began to think how no Gould
trap tho old fellow. Knowing that
S would DO OF no use TO set his traps
on the hillside, he thought perhaps
he might coax the animal down to a
LITTLE brook that ran near by. So he
took two large traps and set them in
the brook SOME distance apart and
baited thehi.
Fer two days nothing was touched,
but On the third the upper trap was
missing. Page and his companion
followed tho tracks down stream and
occasionally found tracks OF blood
and signs OF struggle whore the
bear had got tho heavy trap caught
in tho roots and behind stones
Turling little mound sharply they
came plump upon Mister Bruin
caught In some bushes. Juggling.
clawing and growing In n way that
5hc WV 'hliI al uls WAY
would have to suffer. As the two
hunters came up, the bear made n
sudden turn around tho bushes and
came face to face with them. much
to his surprise, Both fired at him,
but just then he succeeded In tearing
his paw out of the trap and made for
them fcrociously. Pages companion
turaed and ran. but the hunter.
though a young man at that time,
had faced bears often enough to hold
his ground.
4 second shot hit tho brute aud he
weIt down, but. rs IL proved. he was
!ar from dead. Page Thought he
mi; hit as well make IL sure thing,
and was loading UP hgain for d iiiJi
shtt, vhta tho bear shambled to his
feet and went for Hint Clubbing his
qua. the hunter hit the animal again
AMI again without, however, do.
ing much damage beyond shattor-
ing his rifle stock and lingering his
opponent Only tho tallost kind of
lodging kopt him from the lnfuri-
n, I'd animals claws Fortunately for
HIN his hunting dog. which had
iseard tho fuss Just at that moment.
came tearing through the bushes and
pluckilr set his tee,h IN che " the
bears hind legs. Tho bear turned
and snapped Mt him, but tho dog be.
ing game and 1.-the simply let go one
leg and grabbed tho OTHER.
Then ensued rs lively dance rs
Old Cars mountain ever saw. All
the time hunters aud hunted were
working their way down stream
toward the other trap, which no one
thought OF. II was brought 10 their
attention quick enough, for In ont o!
the measures In tho furious eotlllion
dog and tear We're dancing the latter
suddenly set his foot square In the
jaws which snapped and hold him.
Page now saw his. chance. and RIM
back 70 -horc his companion had
dropped his rife In his hasty flight,
seized II. reloaded and put bullet
into bruins brain just us hc had sue
cccded la tearing trap No, from It's
tastenings. aud wa coming up for
round No. 2 with anything bat good
intentions. That settled Page for
taking green woodsmcn out with
aim. He aud his dog kept company
Alone aiter that. Whenever deeds Of
arsino slaughter were In the wind.