Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-05-29
A Big Bear Hunt.

TO make everything plain, it will
be necessary to give some Of the
details. For The last three weeks
there was large bear in Shaw's
Ridge, killing somebody's sheep
every night, and to destroy tue
destroyer has been the interest Of
every one. Many Of the men Of
this section have spent two days
previous to the one which we will,
in the following, endeayor to de-
scribe, but the two previous days
were without success. Previous to
May %, we had planned and organ
lied another hunt, to be put in
force on that day. So the day
came gloomy, and not being very
favorable for farm work we had a
general turn out 50 in all. Judg-
ing where the bear was concealed,
we crossed his retreat with skir-
mish line-men with guns loaded
and we'll primed, and very anxious
to get sight Of Bruin-and we
were not long in suspense.
The attacking line of several men
and twenty boys soon found Bru-
|in's concealment, and the dogs be-
ing anxious for the fun, too, charg-
ed him at once, and the bear COM
menced his retreat with all haste.
But being unaware Of the danger
which lay across his path. he, in
his hasty retreat, ran into the un-
expected line, where he found fire
and smoke, which was not SO pleas
ant as eating mutton. He first ran
upon Mr.. Ben Hoover, who fired on
him with a Winchester, and, pass
inc some others who did not get a
chance for a shot, ran along the
lire from where he first struck it
to the end. Passing one post where
the sentinel had left without or
ders, he came next to Mr.. I. M.
DevericEs, who is an old veteran
and had been on post before and
knew what it was to stay there.
He fired on Bruin, lodginga home
rife ball in his old body, but taat
did not stop him, and in a short
distance he came upon Mr. Dan
, Rexrode. who had just arrived, and
not having had tine to hitch his
horse, the bear and horse both got
scared. and he was prevented from
) getting a shot. This turned the
bear in his course. and Bruin, dog
and all came in a pile to &: V. Err
vine. who fred another shot into
him, this making the third shot
imbedded in hlsbody. After recely'
inc the third one he didn't go faI
: until he lay down, and then thu
!. dogs left him and came back; but
not being satisfied to stop so neal
his enemies, Bruin got up and wen
farther on. Dir. Hoover and Mr.
y Clark Leech following the trail BY
/, the aid Of the dogs soon came upor
: him lying in his bed, too sick to g
farther. The dogs bayed him ull
: till Messrs. Hoover and Leach
charged him with a Winchester an'
y shot guns and fired five more shot
into him, upon which he gave
piteous howl and died. When tn
: hunters all came up there wa
! great exultation over the trophy O
n our hunt. ;,
u The bear being too big to b
=. handled with convenience by phys
. ical strength, Geo. Hiner procure
his team and sled and hauled hin
: to Mr.. Geo. Hooks, where Their
: were a number Of ladies and chill
f dren assembled to see the mOnsre'
q After being viewed By all, he wa
e dressed, cut into pieces and wegt
}. ed. which showed him to weig
J. $50 pounds after dissection. Iii
foot measured 7 inches, and hi
j. length feet.
.e There were many in the hun
n who have seen. and helped to XII
It big bears, but none of them had ev
v. err before seen such a bear as thi
J. From his appearance he was til
lie grandpa Of many bears.
- SELDOM.
Headwaters, Va, May rs,