The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-01-03
A BEAR HUNT
By Noted Nimr0ds in the Noun
tains of Kentucky.
Judge Cooper anr. Captain Henry Con
spicuous in the Chase.
THE SECOND EDEN DISCOVERED
I've travelled this wide world over,
Bnt this yarn takes the cake.

A special from Frenchburg, Dec. g.,
to the Cincinnati Enquirer, says: For
some time past n number Of bears have
been playing havoc with the sheep aud
pigs in the southern part of. this Meme
fee) county, and at the close of the spe-
cial session OF our circuit court number
of men, noted for their skill IN capturing
the wiley bruin, organized themselves
into party to rid the country of these
bears Among them were Judge John
T.. Cooper aud William Henry, OF Mont.
gomery, who have reused the grizzly in
his lair in the Rockies of Montana; II. ID.
Combs, of this place, who, in the trouble
some days of '95 sighted his piece at the
red skin, grizzly or bison of the west with
all the ardor of veteran ranger; j. II.
Williams, county attorney Deputy Sher-
itfWilliam Branham, Rufus Hale, Beatty
Day, Alonzo Eggleston and others of
lesser note. With an excellent pack of
hounds the party started early Monday
morning for the favoritc haunts of the
bear, on a creek called Chimney Top"
Arriving in due time they halted near
Coomer's mill and held a council of war
Rufus Hale, an old bear hunter, WAS
elected captain OF the driving division,
and Capt. VIM Henry officer of the day.
Capt Hale, with some half dozen men
and double that number of dogs, started
abreast up said creek, which, for rugged
ness and grandeur of scenery, surpasses
the canyons of the Colorado. This stream
they patrolled for about four hours, but
to no purpose, as il was discovered that
the bear had escaped to another creek
Laurel Fork. But, meanwhile, Capt.
Henry and Deputy Branham had so
skillfully deployed the gun division that
it was impossible for bruin to have es-
capped alive. As it was now certain that
we were where the bear had been and
that their escape was impossible, the
question of arms and their efficiency was
anxiously discussed. An old bear hun
ter from the Cumberland Mountains de-
clared that a good round sandstone was
more effective in a bear fight than Capt
Henry's shotgun. Judge Cooper had II
large repeating rifle of heavy caliber, 50
he was stat oncd in the stand that COM
mandcd the pass through which the bear
had passed, and right heroically did he
maintain his position, though it was
afterward noticed that his horse was
hitched suspiciously near log that was
an excellent help To mount On the
next stand was placed q. ID. Combs, and
drawer man never gave chase TO the
red man Of the plains (working in the
lead). No bear could have passed him
without seeing him, rs he had fire OF
pine knots and his horse ready for any
emergency. Third in order came j. TX.
Williams, who had tied his horse ut his
stand and hung the saddle bags contain
ing the refreshments up IN tree, and
ambushcd himself by exploring the ter
rtory not frequented by the bear.
Enthusiastic rs the hunters were, the
thoughts of the delicious lunch prepared
by Mrs. Branham caused them u seek
for Mr.. Williams. But his post was de
serted. and il was only after lengthy
that he and the lunch were found. When
found he bore signs of great excitement.
II being now certain that we were in the
land of bears and had them surrounded,
the question was how TO get them. So,
after quelling the excitement consequent
upon the temporary absence Of one of
our members, and dispatching the lunch,
Capt. Henry gave the final orders for
''ciosing in" and in support Of bis views !
related many of his thrilling experiences
in the far west. But
"Thc best-laid plans o. mice and men
Gang aft aglee."
The bears did escape, and were again |
located on Parched Corn creek. the hun. |
tiers having committed the blunder N
driving the bears down the creek instead /
of up.
The day being spest, preparations for
the night were made, and the party re.
paired 10 the hospitable home of w.
Branham, Joseph Ledford aud Beatty
Day. Early next morning Capt. Henry
rallied his men, more eager for the chase
than before. And, though his ranks
were somewhat thinned BY dc>ertion. he
bravcly descended the Glady Heights,
and after dcploying his men, went ON
alone in charge of the dog, aud thereby
hangs II tale which j. best told in Capt.
Henry's own words:
"Aftcr leaving the n!cn on the stands the
number being small aud, therefore. not able
10 command ~ much territory as the day I
peiorel set oui alone With the dog, taking [
Judge Gooper's large rifle with me. II was ,
lOt long before | struck signs of bear, and ,
n following them was led over the toughest
,nuntry thai the sun ey-rr shone nFon--oVcr
Ills, across ravines, through canyons, aver [!
noantalus and Ia every descFibable ieaiare