The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-03-14
SAVED BY SLIPPERY ELM.
= YOUNG HUNTERS WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE WITH A BEAR.

Green Brier Nimrods hunting over the
Bear Meadow grounds in PENNSYLVANIA
recently. Wingate had been standing
watch on deer crossing almost the
entire day without espying any game.
Toward evening he started on the re-
turn to camp for the night.
Hurrying over the rocks and fallen
trees in his descent from the top of
the ridge on hich he had been stand
ing, he struck what appeared a we'll
marked trail. AS it led in the direc-
ton he wanted to go, Wingate decided
to follow il.
He had not gone far when he stepped
on something that yielded under his
weight. There was a snap and claug
of metal, shower of twigs and leaves
thrown in the air, a binding Sensation
about his right ankle, aud Wingate
found himself caught in the Jaws of
big bear trap. The pain experienced
by the blow on the bones when the
teeth OF the trap sprang caused him to
swoon.
Just how long he remained uncon-
scious Wingate could not tell. When
he revived he saw big she bear sit
ting on her launches not a rod awav.
with the hunters gun in her paws.
Fast in steel trap, weakened by the
pain he was suffering, faced by vi
ciOus animal that was in possession of
his only weapon of defence. Wiugate
felt that he was, indeed, in a fix.
Wiugate's first impulse was to cry
aloud for help, but he knew the hunt
ing camp was miles away and that his
cries could not be heard. He made
an attempt to reach his gun, which by
this time the bear had dropped. but
tue move was met by such n threaten
ing growl from Bruin that he STONED
short. Possibly half hour passed
thus when the bear showed signs of
increasing rest!essness. Snarling and
growing, twisting aud turning, hut
with always watchful eye on Win
gate, the old bear expressed deter
mination 10 stay it ont.
The hunter racked his brain for
some possible way Of escape. He had
been stealthily trying the springs of
the trap, but found them beyond his
power to move, and he had about Given
up hope, with thought that it was
only matter of time until he would
De seized, when, like an inspiration,
an idea flashed through his head
The trap was chained about a large
tree, the chain being loose about the
trunk, but locked shut. Wincate's
idea was that if lie could climb the
tree, dragging the trap with him. he
might escape. Summoning NIL his
available strength for one supreme eff
fort, he arose on his left foot. clasped
the tree and climbed for his life. The
tree happened to be a slippery elm
that had been barked for a distance
from the ground so that the chain
slipped up easily. He was fully ten
feet from the earth before the bear
seemed to realize what was being done.
With rush and blood-curdlinr
! Growl Bruin made for the tree. while
the hunter climbed still higher. Win.
6 ties leg was badly torn and bruised.
I'D the blood trickled down the tree
| side, red trail to the ground below.
As events proved, this alone saved his
life. Bruin did not at once begin to
| climb the tree, but danced about on
her hind legs, and, with her month
wide open, licked the drops Of blood
which had flowed from Wincate's euble.
1hen most unexpected thing hap
| pened. The bear having moistened
| the barked elm, it became rs slipnerv
as glass, and when she undertook 70
| climb the tree she could no more do II
than one could climb a creased pole.
lime after time did she try to raise
herself along the tree trunk, but each
! effort only resulted in her sliding
J back to the bottom. The longer she
tried, the more enraged the bear be.
| came. In the fury and fuss the trunk
of the elm became covered with q
lather and the bear soaked with il
! Finally the animal became so ex-
hausted from her efforts to get MP the
tree that she could no longer stand ON
her feet. Covered with the elm mice
! from head to foot. the great brute
slipped and rolled in complete helm.
lessness. Again aud again she tried
/ to get on all tours. but struggle as she
would. the effort was always in vain
| with all the pain he suffered. and a
| realization OF the danger he bal so
| narrowly and prOvidentially escaped
! Wlugate could not help but laugh AZ
/ the sight beneath him, and he was not
! slow to take advantage Of such a
chance Of fortune.
He knew that IL he did not act NJ
once the slippery la.her that then
rendered The bear so helpless would
! soon dry. aad then the opportunity
would be passed Slipping down the
tree again, be was able, by lying ~
full length on the ground. TO reach
| his gun, and with 10 once i'm his nos.
session It was but the work Of min
| ute 20 send a Winchester ball crash
/ ing through the bears skull. ouietipo
Bruin forever, aHi leaving him mn
meuaced to try 20 liberate himself
I from the trap.
For almost half ON hour Win-ato
| pounded the trap with stones i'm an
/ effort 20 break d. His strength was
! fast failing, and he was about to give
mp IN despair when the hammerir7
| arrested the attention Of some hunters
I who were returning 90 ramp bv
trail further down the ridge. GA 20.
ing to- iud the cause for the hammer.
\ ing. the men found their communion
/ fast IN the bear trap
10 was but the work of minute To-
release Wingale, but his ankle was
then In such bad shape that he had ~
/ be carried into camp. Fortunately