Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-26
SHE RACED WITH A BIG BEAR.
A Wheelwoman's Thrilling Ride Along
q Forest Road in Vermont.
Overhauled by the Beast-While
Bruin Was Entangled in the
Spokes the Girl Climbed a Tree.
Two Hunters Arrived in Time to
Prevent a Tragedy, But the Bear
Escaped.

Woodford, VT, October 25.-Miss
Jessie Loughran, of Jersey City, who
is visiting her aunt, Mrs. James Da-
Wis, near this place, recently had
thrilling adventure with large black
bear.
Miss Loughran is an enthusiastic
wheelwoman, and when she came from
Jersey City she brought her bicycle
with her. She left home rather early
the other morning, and was about five
miles distant from her aunt's house
when she decided to return home.
She had not gone far on the return
trip when she heard the sharp crack OF
a rifle. That is nothing unusual at
this time Of the year in Vermont, for
are many hunters in the woods. Miss
Loughran would probably not have
paid more than passing attention to
the shot had she not heard Immediately
afterward heavy body crush wildly
through the underground skirting the
roadside She turned around in some
alarm, and in doing so lost her bal
Hardly had she left the wheel when
large black bear rushed out of the
woods into full view. 1t was evident
that the animal was wounded. for it
snorted wildly with rage and endeav-
ored to lick its left shoulder.
Miss Loughran emitted a scream of
terror and made desperate attempt
to remount her wheel. Never before
she said afterward, did her wheel be-
have so disreputably. 1t wobbled as
it had never wobbled before; it ca
vorted with all the wickedness of an
unbridled broncho.
No sooner did the bear see Miss
Loughran than it gave a peculiar
snort and made a dash for the young
woman. Miss Loughran made an
other desperate attempt to mount her
wheel, and this time she was success
full. Just as her feet caught the ned
ais and the first burst of speed was
acquired, the bear shot I'D alongside
her, and with one savage dart of his
paw tore a jagged piece out of the side
of her Tapping skirt.
The little wheelwoman looked down
upon the enraged bear and wondered
with a wildly beating heart. how long
the race against death would last. So
long as the bear did not get tangled ND
in the wheels of the bicycle. and so
long as she ran against no obstruction
that would throw her off or bring the
bicycle to stop, she felt reasonably
sure of getting away from the animal
But fate had not decreed that Miss
Loughran should escape absolutely IN
scathed. The bear got over ground
with surprising CELEBRITY and galloped
with wonderful speed. Once. when
'ounding turn in the road. the bear
irew so near the wheel again that If
ore another piece from Miss Ioupb-
ans skirt. The sharp claws even
vent deeper, and with characteristic
emininity, Miss Loughran screamed Of
he top of her voice.
It's a wonder l was not hoard |
n Woodford,' she said afterward !
while recounting her adventure. 81
bought every minute was to he NV
ast.''
But luckily for the young woman
he bear did not get mixed up in the
wheels of the bicycle. Not a mile of
round Shad been covered in the mad
ace with the bear, yet Miss Lougb-
an imagined that she had gone at
east half way to the New York State
me-
Inc bear was painting holly and was
ow gaining steadily on her: the IN
ense strain and excitement of the
ace was telling on the young wo.
IAN and she was rapidly losing her
erve and strength. In moment O.
Mingled despair and desperation she
egan to pedal with renewed yigor
ut the squirt had been made too late
he enraged bear was upon her
9th OF the bears forepaws fastened
lemselves on the hind wheel of the
lcycle. The claws sank deep into the
neumatic tire, the wheel, rider and
ear went topping over in confused
Ass IN the dusty highway.