The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-17
1.-THE BEAR AT
BLOWING ROCK. :
BY JOHN WILLIS HAYS.
Youth's Companion.

,lIa was white haired and old. but his
great muscular frame and face, WIN
strength and heat of the chase, seemed
not TO belong TO a man of seventy years.
..I'd like to eat thet bar, hide an tai
lowr' he hailed
It's Big Tom Wilson, screamed aa
urchin, and all chorused, Its Big Tom
such a chasei Twenty miles" he
pulled as he came nearer and buried hls
face in the pail OF water. I'D like to eat
him nose and tail. But don't shoot! he
called. for my acquaintance had mean
while found a rifle, and was ramming
home a charge Don't shoot! | promis-
ed Mr. Hornaday live bar for his show,
and when they hear o this one in the
valley they sent over to Caney for me.
freed him long go If I'd "a had my old
bar dog He's at home, no count
Better kill him. says the old woman.
Don't you do it, Big Tom says l.; AN
old friend as stood by you i'll many fight
when he could, now you stand by him
when he can't An SO ! says to the old
woman. Feed him milk, and let him lay
by the hearth, if he is no count You'll
/ be old and blind and no count yourself
some day. says /, Big Tom "
be brought quickly down, raised a great
err clamor. Then, seeming to realize that
something was amiss, they turned from
| the tree to question the old man, only to
rush back again.
/ Tom called for a rope and they got him
large and very strong one. Then,
grasping low-hanging bough, the old
man drew himself into the tree.
! The bear, seeing an enemy coming up.
growed fercely, showed his teeth, and
reared upon his launches, with paws on
guard. Big Tom. too, began to growl
and show his teeth, such as was left 10
him. At this the bear crouched and
whined once more, looked about and
seemed ready to drop supinely among the
dogs.
| At that Big Tom began to reyile him:
ITS knife in your ribs, old coward,
you need. LIE Mr.. Hornaday knowed
you, it's never you'd get to 'sociate with
his lions and varmnits You amt fifteen
| to neighbor with a polecat. Who'd be-
caught going for to see such an old white
| liver?"
| The bear seemed to resent these asper-
| sions. for he bristled up, growled again.
and moved out somewhat upon the limb.
Now and then he would pause in uncer-
| tainty. looked first at the man. then at
| the open-mouthed dogs, and again try
with his weight the bending bough.
Tom swung himself lightly to the limb
above, and crawled along it until thu
bear was immediately beneath him; then
leaned down and once more yillifed the
beast. which presently reared up on it's
launches.
This gave Tom the opportunity he
sought. He dropped a moose over the
bears body and gave the rope n quarter
turn about the limb.
The bear tore sayagely at the tighten
ing cord, make pass yainly at the man
then desperately doubled into ball
and rolled from the tree There was
Icommotion among the houghs, twang-
ing Of rope, yelping of dogs, scatter
ing of children; but the rope held fast
and the bear swung suspended, clawing
the air and wounded one over bold dog
that jumped up at him.
To force basket muzzle over his
head. lock a chain about his neck and
the tree, drive back the dogs and lower
away the ropes, Were things soon done,
and the bear WIS Big TOMS
Whether this creature has yet been
delivered to Mr. Hornaday's show, Or
whether Big Tom holds him a prisoner
Int Blowing Rock I have not learned; but
should you visit the Rock Greek Zoo in
Washington, and see there a bear mark
ed with scalded spot on the haunch,
you may rest assured that his kin roam
Grandfather Mountain. and that you
know something of his own life story.