The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-26
BRUINS GRATITUDE.
HE SAVED THE LIFE OF THE MAN
WHO DID HIM A SERVICE.

NAT smith Has Been Telling For Half
Century.
In tho mountains of central Pennsyl-
sanla there lived until few years ago
celebrated hunter and trapper named Ma
thaniel Smith, who could tell many hair
breadth escapes and encounters with the
Wild beasts OF that mountainous section.
One OF his favorite stories, which he used
to tell until tho day of his death, was of a
most exciting visit to his cabin In the dead
OF night OF huge black bear which after
ward saved his life. In his own words the
story was as follows:
Along In tho forties lived in q cabin
In the mountains of central Pennsylvania
and followed hunting and trapping In
those days bears still carried off tho farm
ers pigs, deer pastured in tho wheat, coons
ate his corn, and the wolves and foxes
helped themselves to his property. You
may we'll guess that those were tho days
when tho hunter was in his glory.
I'm the lato fall of 1S4S had been fol-
lowing deer trail oil day. 1t was rather
lato at night when 1 got to my cabin,
which had q small chimney or fireplace at
the farther end from tho door, where I
Kept good fro of big logs during the
night. My bed was just behind tho door,
was not long in getting bite OF supper
and going to bed, as was very tired. AS
1 addressed hung my clothes up at the
fire to dry, my rifle and hunting knife on
n rack at tho side of tho chimney.
II was aroused about O'Clock In the
morning by scratching at tho door. I
listened, and ut tho same time WIS trying
to remember whether 1 had pulled tho
latohstring in before going to bed. How
ever, before had settled tho matter In my
mind the door swung open, and something
about as tall rs q man came hobbling In.
My fro had burned very low. There
were only few largo Goals that cast fee
BILE light through tho room. / heard q
low moan and a scratching on the floor
Cold chills began to run up my back as
the thought struck mo that my untimely
visitor looked in the uncertain light like q
bear. just then tho Goals of fire flickered,
and in tho momentary light l saw the
largest bear of my life. Astonishedp
Well, yes, I should say SO.
II lay quiet, studying how was to en-
terrain my unlimited guest, while every
minute its moaning would crate on my
cars. Tho room seemed to become gradu-
ally lighter. Then thought of tho moon
being In It's last quarter, and, just rising
was casting It's fecblo rays through the
open door.
In u few minutes I could SEQ the old
fellow pretty plainly and watch his actions
Ho would draw himself together, then
draw one Of his hind feet to his nose and
lick 1t with his tongue, then roll and moan
again. all the time keeping that foot raised
from the floor. My curiosity got the bet
ter of my fear, and watched him with
Increased interest. I must have looked ut
him moro than an hour, when l said to
myself: Nat Smith, you are u tarnal old
fool to let that grooming old crltter keep
you In bed till brond daylight, when you
ought to be looking after your traps. Be
sides that you must fight this fellow with
your hunting knife; tho rifle Is not load
3D. Now that it was light in tho cabin
thought 1 would look him over and then
chase him out or fight. saw streak on
his forehead, commencing just above tho
nose and running at an angle up across
his face to the left ear, about 2 inches wide
and bare as my hand. Then, as he held
up his foot, said, Great Scott, what a
footP 1t was swollen and about four or
| five times the size OF tho others slipped
out at the foot of the bed and moved to-
ward the sholf whore my knife 10y, fearful
that he might start the fight before was
ready. However,, got tho knife. With
| tight grip 1 was about to plunge 1t into
his heart, when he stuck up TINT foot. 40
| oompanied by such o suffering and plead
ing look that 1 put my left hand on his
| foot and moved 1t all over tho sole.
TO my surprise, no held still and SEEM
| cd to BIO pleased. AS continued to rub
| felt what 1 took to DO tho big end of a
| white thorn. 1 took my knife and, with
a sudden jerk. pulled 1t out Jehosi-
phatl With yell of pain the bear scooted
| out the door as fast as his lamo foot would
| let him.
There, said I, Smith, by your fool
| ing with that thorn you lost bearskin
worth at least IS, not to say anything
about n quantity Of f1ne juicy bear steaks
well, some six or eight weeks after that
we had fine tracking snow. started out
In the morning and not far from the cabin
I came across q bear track which fol-
lowed until some time after noon. was
satisfied now that tho tracks led to small
thicket a number Of yards ahoad which I
knew to be q flno place for my game to
conceal itself. approached 1t with great
care with my rifle to my shoulder while
thought L saw tho bushes slightly move,
when something came down on my head
and shoulders that knocked me to the
| ground. AS fell my head struck somo
| hard substance and knew no more. How
| long lay do not know. AS I became
conscious felt DIR In my face; it seemed
| to me like tho breath Of some animal
With my right hand carefully reached
for my knife and with firm grip Of the
handle opened my eyes to deal a death
| blow to what animal 1t might be. Imag-
Inc my anger and surprise when I looked
straight In the face Of my recent midnight
visitor. That scar on his forehead was as
plain as the nose on your face.
Just as was about to give him tho
| full length of my knife no backed off and
trotted down the mountain side. jumped
up quickly TO get my rifle before he got
out of range, when for the first time 1
| noticnd blood drnn from NM faaa NJ. CO.,