The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-28
NEW n4nPsH1RE's BEAR MAN.
Hon. John Roberts OF stark and His
Great Speech on Bear Boanties.

The Hon. John Roberts OF Stark and His
Great Speech on Rear Boanties.
CoNcoRp, n. H., March 26.-The Legislature
of New Hampshire, whose biennial session was
brought to an end this week, was in many re-
spects o unique legislative body. The House Of
Representatives comprised 357 members, all
towns Of 600 inhabitants and some with fewer
being entitled to send members. The Legislature
was In session for twelve weeks and did not pass
twelve measures of general interest. Among
the measures which did get through were sev.
eral acts greatly strengthening the fsh and
game laws, and designed to make the Granite
State, like Maine, a sportsman's paradise.
These hsh and game laws are largely
in tho interest of the hotels and transpor-
tation companies, who find profit in entertain
ing sportsmen coming from other States. Some
times the bills were OF a nature TO conflict with
e ess tn ie ssrv 81 INC tourists mfstse and Tn visi n t n9 such ch'e as
trappers and hunters, who. while desiring to see
all valuable animals mIrlttiply, pursue the sane same
out representatives upon the floor Of the House,
and its spokesman was John Roberts,
addressed the Speaker from the viewpoint Of
experience; and his ,earnestness and the appre-
citation ti,t.na Of sh the fact SS,t that c be kaeT y, wf Hous he w Ths
him. Mr.: Roberts represented the town Of
Stark. and 70 a Democrat Of the styrdiest Jeffer-
penrance suggests Horace Greeley.
The first speech made by representative Ron
known to fellow members as the Bear Man. The
Bear bill proposed to repeal the bounty which the
srsts Psld to p tSs p sDeey Authorities Sssh ThssH as ss sTide MssS
bouptiss were paid by the State Treasurer; { Oyer Yer
inhabited BY a few bears and fever hu.
Which vent to Albany excited the suspicion
of a member from a distant section Of
there s ssa.G some sn Crooked eedA Work. albany is near %
the frontier OF Maine, and 1t vas believed that
TIE bears Of the Pine e.. Tree S, STATE te an ana q those honmt or
Maine Counties are paid for the noses Of bears,
money. The member who introduced tho repeal
bill believed that New Hampshire might as well
tn thus S prevent ga' double ioa Ieu pay3 me- f. When The b il
Robsrts. arose and surprised tho House with a
"fknow bear. he said, ''just as well as I
know members OF this House. have been In
killed, and have killed ten bears myself. Our
section 10 poor. 1t is a good grazing country,
them. We cannot raise apples or make cider.
because tho bears climb the trees to get apples
and break The branches he !, off, fila Bears Be mem a1s bad ID
this House from the cities that they would give
eo TO shoot Q bear; Let them come up To- STARK.
give them S5 for their trouble, ! shall never
dare go home II this bill passes"
Mr.. Roberts sat down and the House killed tho
bill.
Since his success In the bear debate Mr..
Roberts has been In demand by House leaders to
advocate their measures, but he has uniformly
declined to take part in any discussion unless
upon a subject with which he 10 personally &C
quainted and in which he or his constituents
are interested, and whenever he has spoken he
has had the satisfaction of seeing the side which
he took get tho larger number OF votes.
The venerable boar hunter Is as gentle as a
girl In manner. and quiet and unobtrusiye, ex-
cept when his feelings are aroused. He iB q
strong Prohibitionist. He Is a good listener as
well as an effective talker, and one OF the most
conscientious members OF the House, his seat
seldom being vacant. During his long life In the
Roberts has been the hero OF not a few adven;;
lures. During a snow blockade on the Grand
Trunk Railroad an accident occurred. A train
had left the track and the engine was over
turned IN q huge drift. When the wreck
had been looked over It was discovered that one
reached that he must be under the engine.
There was no. time to got tools or apph-
ances to lift tho engine or even dig. under
II. Mr.. Roberts undertook the task. Burrow-
ing with his hands, he excavated an opening
into which he drew nrst his head and then his
cept the bottoms OF his boots. Willing hands on
top of the snow bank held his feet, and, although
| nearly exhausted and suffering intensely from
the cold-for tho Thermometer in Stark Is seldom
far away from the zorO mark In, wtnter-he
finally reached the victim at the bottom and
occasional rests. Mr.; Roberts prevented thesHow
rescued him. Mr.. Robsrts's hands were badly
| 6n0sthltten.