The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1895-07-04

lneln, Will iiusti IlliS anu stap HOunu
to the enchanted wilderness, to return
only when ladened with the fruits o
chase, and rcplete with tales of hal
bredth escapes, and thrilling encounter
Frequently they had not far to 90
for it often occurred, that within IT,,
boundry Of the present limits of tn,
Incorporated Village of Logan, the,
found and confronted dangers, anc
reveled in excitement, that miles O
tramping through tangled bush anc
bough could not have brought forth
1t was on quiet autumn morning
in the early twenties, that John Penc,
Jr., son Of the old pioneer John Penc,
Sr., who had Years prior, chosen til,
Valley as his future home, and wh,
with his family were then domicilec
in double log farm house, on til,
exact spot where DR.. Finney's resi-
dence now stands, started out. gun il
hand, for short hunt: the supply o
meat in the home larder having rur
very low. john was we'll up to tho
haunts of game, had practical knowl
edge Of their habits and feeding
grounds, and with step as stealthy a:
an Indian on the war path, he made
his way for dense copse, or thicke
surrounding clear pool of water a
the foot of hill about two hundred
Yards north of the present residence
of Editor Green.
The plateau upon which Logan il
situated forms a natural amphithea
tre, The hills surrounding the plane
are mostly of the glacial age, com
posed of fine washed gravel, along
the sides of which, bright clear water
bubbles forth in small continuou:
streams, and in the early days, before
the utilization Of these springs, the
water collected at depressed places,
forming small lakes, or pools, pacific
yet pure: on the border and for some
distance away, these pools were sur
rounded with vigorous and tangled
growth Of underbrush, over shadowed
by the giant oak, the spreading beech,
the quivering asp and the massive
elm, forming protective barrier,
and a cool retreat.
Here after night fall, and often dur,
ing the day, the denizens OF the forest
were wont to come, quenchlng their
thirst, and to ravel in its refreshing
depths. It was such spot that our
young "Nimrod' quietly and slowly
approached and where he met with a
temporary "Water!oo." Crack, crack
crach three times went bis trusty rifle,
and then, with countenance DER
spread with fear, and nerves un.
strung, he dropped his gun turned
upon his heel and made cracks" for
the settlement.
The first place he reached being
my fathers shop, just erected in the
woods on the corner of Main and
Mulberry Street (now Slishers corner)
in he rushed, his looks indicating a
strange condition of mind and body,
a mixture Of the wildness of wound
ed buck, with the dejectedness Of 4
whipped cur,yet John was no coward.
The sudden intrusion, the perspective
before him, the ludicrous unusual,
unaccountable, efiigy of frightened
frontiers man, caused my father to
exclaim, sin the name of God John
what is the matter, what has happen
ed" "Gimme chance boss" Gee
whilikins, twas mighty close shave
for me this morning: you see, went
out for a short hunt, taking but little
ammunition with me, and while pass
ing through the big thicket back
there, creeping slyly along, thinking
there might be deer or turkey lurk-
ing about the pool, heard a slight
noise, and STOPPING down, peered
through an opening, and what should
l see but a big she black bear lying
on the ground, resting her chin be-
tween her paws, sleeping. I up and
took good aim, placing the ball be-
tween her eyes she rolled over and
never kicked: commenced loading
again, hardly got the bullet home be-
fore a half grown cub ran up and
commenced nursing the dead mother:
l fired again and sent him to his long
home, Just then another cub appeared
''on deck" felt in my pouch and
found that I had but one split ball
left, hadn't lead enough when mould
ing my bullets, and the last run only
half filed the mould, but [ rammed it
down, primed and fired, when such a
squall as that cub sent up, was sin
to Davy Crockett. Gee gosh, how
he yelled, then the brush began to
crack, the bushes parted, and with
eyes, hair all turned up the
wrong way, the old he bear, came
tumbling, roaring do"n the hill, now
what could do, empty gun, no am
m unition, raging, snorting, vengeful
big bear right on me, | thought fast,
and it came into my mind that if |
meana TO fight bear another day it