The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-06
ECHors or sRouSDHoo D4E
some Bears that Observed -ProG Dodge
say. That Now He Believes In n.

some Rear. that Observed I -ProG Dodge
says That Now Ho Relieves In II.
ROULETTE. Pa. Feb. h.-Every bear In the
sinnema honinR country may have come out
OF his hole on last Friday to look for his
shadow. so far as folks know, but Il Is certain
that ono old fellow came out. Last Friday was
grounding day. but Sinnemahoninx woods
men can't understand why the ID Of February
should be called grounding day any moro
than bear day or coon dav. for according to
them. bears and coons come out OF their VIM
ter quarters to look around and see whether
they should stay out or go back again for
six weeks lust as well as groundhogs do.
But this particular bear woke I'M and came
crawling out anyhow. and he saw his shadow.
but he might better have kept on with his nap
and remained In ignorance Of the weather on
grounding day. for he will never see his
shadow again.
John Blake way down on the East Fork.
who is an observant citizen OF that edge OF the
Hemlock Belt had n suspicion that this bear
would poke his nose out OF doors on Feb. 2. so
he was in that vicinity with his gun bright and
early. He got there in time to see Bruin walk
deliberately out from his nest under the roots
OF fallen tree. and stretch himself and yawn
Just like person will when he wakes from Q
sound seep. Blake waited until the bear
walked some distance away. so he could see
his shadow II he wanted to; then he shot him
in the head. The bear started to go back to
his nest and Blake shot him through the neck.
and the bear ceased 20 be a prognosticator OF
either fair or foul weather forever more.
Over In the lower Pine Creek country. In
Lycoming county. the bears seemed to take .
deeper interest in the weather on grounding
day. Either that. or there are more bears to
look for weather along Pine Creek than there
are on the SinnemahoninE. According to the
returns now IN. tangible evidence OF the i'm.
FebTmnry as as the aThitsT Of their moyements
tor the next SIX weeks was given by no less
than seven Pine Creek bears coming out
1t is known that two OF these. although
they saw the infallible warning OF their shad-
ows that the coming six weeks would be weeks
OF zero weather and perhaps bli azardsa did not
go back TO their winter quarters This was
an entirely involuntary act on their part.
WOodsman Charley WigSeT and his gun ~ But
by all ortho 'ox Fine Crockcrs., They were the
means Of making a convert to the accepted
Georges dodge. the bark man at Little Canon.
hearted old gentleman. and who lives in Fhile-
brother George, lie IL an amateur book nat
so ago lie WAS there a. eroundhog dag came
around and hearing folks wondering whether
when 5ne hear zane ,, on that dhS TO LOOK or
people would know what kind OF weather they
might calculate on; he rebukei them for their
belief in that silly superstition and talked
learnedlY to them about the impossbility Of
bears leaving their dens IN midwinter He
in a comatoss state which only tho natural
course OF the seasons could change to one Of
The professor as he is Familiarity known at
and around Little Canon, took his usual tramp
In the woods on last Friday The weather was
a tribe bracing but the sIy was bright. Tho
professor wandered meditatiye!y along up -
SoWn on roes to o. rss e %9 sne there s s
heard noise, aud looking up he saw bear
than twenty ySSd is" away gazing al him mo- VIII
bold and impudont look that frightened the
good old gentleman: The professor iumped
and ugly show OF teeth. staggered oil across
the brook and disappeared.
The sudden appearance OF the bear, which,
according to all book precedent should at that
moment have been sleeping soundly IN some
the professors meditations that lac turned to
quit that unconventional spot As he turned
that he came near tumbling off Of his rock.
There confronting him WAS another bear with
The old genteman's nerves were not
equal 70 this second apparltion and he got his
heels toward II as soon as he could and scram-
bisd up the steep bank TO escape in that direc-
ton, His fright became absolute terror when
the summit summit stood p thirG bsSr bigger tRsa
either OF the Others This bear thrust us head
the edge 81 me s Sfhk ba sRd ha the
dashed wildly across IT, aud when he reached
ss 6TShS wss hSss and P sssa sR s mad
being unable for some time to reply 10 any Of
the hurried and anxious Inquiries OF the FAM
fly. caused great excitement and apprehension
in tho household BY aud by he recovered.
and to his brGthers requests 20 know whAt
had happened. he would make only one reply:
There is nothing the matter with me, said
he. Hut | am convert to the theory that
bears do wake up and come out on the second
day of February"
II is not likely that any one would ever have
known the story OF the way the professor was
converted II Charley MigRer hadn't gone out
that day 20 keep his eye peeled for bears that
were looking FOR their shadows. lie was be-
hind tree not lar awAy from the spot where
the professors conversion occurred. and he
saw the whole Lively panorama He not only
enjoyed the show, but alter he got over laugh
ing al II. he followed the bears and Killed TIVE