The Monmouth inquirer., 1897-08-19
MY FIRST AID VENTURE.


Not every young fellow has the priv
ilege, or rather good luck, to kill his
first bear at eighteen. But in the sum-
mer Of 1885, few days after my eigh-
teenth birthday, brought bruin down
in single combat, although it nearly
cost me my life.
This incident of itself would have
been sufficient excitement and glory
Tor one day, but circumstances made
my desperate encounter with the bear
only a prelude to dangers that capped
the climax Of a most eventful days ex-
perience.
Consequently this is not SO much a
bear story as the introduction might
suggest.
lived on a farm in the northern
part of Maine in that year, and spent
what time could in the woods, hunt
In game and setting traps for all kinds
of furry animals. My experience in
woodcraft dated back several years,
and, though merely youth, I knew a
good deal about hunting wild game.
was passionately fond Of the sport and
an expert with the rife.
Bears abound in the Maine woods at
certain seasons of the year, but gener-
ally they are small brown and black
bears. not much larger than big dog.
/ had the utmost contempt for many of
these creatures. But one hot day, late
in the summer, discovered one that
commanded my respect and made me
very anxious to kill him.
/ was seated on a fallen tree in the
thickest part of the woods, eating my
lunch and cooling my parched lips
with the water from gurgling spring
near by Suddenly a crash among the
bushes about a dozen rods away at
tracted my attention
Looking in the direction whence the
noise proceeded, I saw an enormous
black bear standing upon his launches,
eating blackberries. He was scooping
them in by the quart, stripping the
bushes with his mouth as if half
starved AS l watched the animal a
desire to bring him down took pos
session of me. felt sure that could
send bullet through his heart from
my position.
Ny rife was loaded and stood against
a ghboring tree | took it cautious
ly, cooked it without attracting the at
tention of the bear and aimed 1t at
the creatures heart. | could hear
loud growl almost simultaneously with
the report of the rifle, and then rea-
lized that had invited danger
The bear was only wounded and was
rushing toward me with the most saw
age expression upon his face that
ever saw on any animal. just had
time to take aim again and send anoth-
er bullet at the infuriated beast. But
even this did not check his headway.
He came staggering along with blood
In his eyes and with his heavy paws
appraised.
dropped my gun and took out my
long hunting knife. / realized that
had only one chance in ten, but would
fight hard for that one chance
Everything seemed blurred for an
instant. / saw the black body of the
bear towering over me, ready to strike
me down. In my right hand l held the
knife firmly, ready to give violent
lunge at the right moment.
But the blow never fell. The bear
staggered and tottered before me and
dropped at my very feet in its death
agonies. The two heavy bullets had
performed their mission satisfactorily.
All would have been we'll with me
had been active in moving beyond the
reach of the struggling animal, but In
his violent movements bruins heavy
naws came in contact with my left leg,
and. as if realizing that he had caught
his murderer, he began to claw and
tear the skin and flesh. He lived only
half minute after falling, but in that
time he had given me flesh wounds
that / would remember for several
months. The flesh was torn in places
almost to the bone, and the whole leg
was rendered almost useless.
NV pleasure at killing the big bear
was partly cooled down by my sad
plight. / was five miles from nome.
and nv Journey through the woods
would be slow and laborious. The pain
soon became excruciating and started
up to get home before my leg grew SUN
and cramped.
spent about two hours in covering
one mile. and then seated myself on
the ground, faint and exhausted.
was In this position when a fine look
ing deer rushed past me, as II pursued
by hounds. Even in my agony fol-
,owed the creature with my eyes until
nut OF sight, thinking what a splen-
aid shot he would have made for me.
Rut the deer was no sooner out OF
eight than another followed from the
same direcNon, fleeing rapidly through
the woods. | expected next to see q
hunter or hear the baying OF hounds.
p,,t instead of that small brown bear
came stumbling along, following after
the deer.
fine and looked to see il another ani-
mai was coming in the procession !
almost laughed to myself when my
ewes caught sight of two big rabbits
jumping along behind the two deer ana
bear.
would have interpreted these signs
anicker than / did. did not under
sale stand tie meaning Of this strange pro-
ression Of Wild animals until nearly e
score Of various kinds of creatures nas
passed me. They were a't po4zo - '