The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1895-03-29

~ may lead, with an instinct like an
indians. He notes the slightest turn
OF leaf or twig, the fresh mark ON a
rotton log, the footprint on moss where
another would see nothing. He seldom
oalts MS traps, knowing pretty nearly
where the bears foot will fall. 1t is a
constant wonder how man of his
slight physique can tramp his forty
miles day over the toughest and
widest parts of the Chicorua range,
through the tangle of "blow-downs"
and the thickets of spruce and hem
lock. lie seems to be all sinew, with
not an ounce of superfluous flesh, and
long exercise of this sort has made him
hardy and enduring. He travels light
~ armed, gun and knife his weapons,
sometimes only a revolver, as he can
usually shoot at short range If the bear
be still alive in the trap.
Sometimes the bear is dead, but not
often, for he will live a week with his
leg caught fast in trap. Attached to
the trap is stout chain, longer or
shorter, and at the end of the chain
series of hooks, something like the
hukes OF an anchor. These are to pre-
vent the bear from escaping with the
trap; they catch and impede his travel
ing far But sometimes he drags the
trap long distances, and then he has to
be tracked, which is not difficult, as he
bushes" well-marked path in his
frantic efforts to escape. This is the
cruel feature of bear trapping, and one
shudders to think of the anguish of the
animal with his leg clutched for DAYS
between the long, sharp teeth of the
trap, driven perhaps clear to the bone.
But Mr.. M is humane man by ma
ture and visits his traps often, so that
his game does not suffer long. The
bear Is usually too weak, if ne has
been held in the trap day or two, to
show much fight. One more often is
dispatched with a club than with
gun.
The best time to get good shot at
bear is when the acorns and blue ber-
ries are in season. tie is extravaganza
ly fond of both, as we'll as of hive of
wild honey, which he devours regard
less of a whole swarm of furious bees
attacking his impervious sides. If he
cannot find acorns enough on the
ground for his breakfast-for, like
most wild animals, the early morning
is the time when he wants his chief
meal of the day-he climbs the oak
trees and will break off or twist toward
the trunk of the trees limbs six inches
in diameter. This he does with his
fore legs, which are immensely power
full His whole strength seems to be
concentrated in them. His manner
with blueberry bushes is much more
gentle, in fact, quite human. 1t is
sight never to be forgotten to see a
bear picking the delicious mountain
blueberry, that is, if you are at the
proper distance, say, on one side of a
ravine and the bear on the other. It
is then that Sir Bruin resembles Mr..
Homo. He sits erect on his launches,
reaches out his arms, for now they do
not seem legs, and closing them round
good thick cluster of the bushes,
draws them up to his breast, and pro-
ceeds to pick the fruit as daintily as
lady eating Strawberries with fork.
1t is in the season of berries, acorns
and other autumnal fruit, with an oc-
casional tree of honey, that he lays on
store of fat for his long winter nap
in some cave or rocky den, which he
seldom leaves before early spring.
Although Mr.. Nj seldom has to ex-
ercise his skill in shooting bear, he is
probably the best shot ii the lower
ranges of the White mountains. His
only rival is boy now abont fifteen
years old. The remarkable thing in re-
gard to this boy is that he has but one
sound arm, the other having been par.
alyzed from birth. His left arm hangs
like soft. limp rope, yet it is wonder
full how much he can help himself with
it. He will swing it around rake
staff or fork handle and do almost as
much work as if he had two arms
And with a shotgun or rifle he is tri-
umphant over beasts and birds; on the
wing, in tree, on ground or water, no
bird or animal can escape his quick and
unerring aim.
1t is singular how often the crippled
and manned undertake the very things
that seem the most impossible for
them, and usually with success. There
IS distinguished artist in Antwerp
VINO, having no arms, paints with his
toes.
People who live in the lowlands, in
towns and cities, know little of the life
of the boys and girls of the mountains.
The girls help their mothers and early
learn all the parts of houseworls; they
also help in the bayfield,, and general
ly know how to milk cow. Perhaps
it will interest some girl to know that
in the earliest language of our race,
the Aryan, daughter meant milkmaid.
The boys work in the fields and woods